Talking about what you must do around the house

TALKING ABOUT WHAT YOU
MUST DO AROUND THE
HOUSE
Featuring modal verbs!
There are several verbs you can use to talk
about what you do around the house:
sollen (should)
As in “I should make my bed.”
 müssen (must, to have to)
As in “I must wash the dishes.”
 wollen (to want to)
As in “I don’t want to feed the dog.”

sollen
ich soll
du sollst
er/sie/es soll

wir sollen
ihr sollt
sie/Sie sollen

wollen
ich will (nicht)
 du willst
 er/sie will

wir wollen
 ihr wollt
 sie/Sie wollen

müssen
ich muss
 du musst
 er/sie/es muss

wir müssen
 ihr müsst
 sie/Sie müssen

In a sentence with a modal verb:
The modal verb is in 2nd position,
conjugated (with an ending)
 The secondary verb goes to the end of the
sentence or clause, in its infinitive (-en) form
 Ich + muss + das Geschirr + spülen.
 I must wash the dishes.
 Er + soll + das Badezimmer + putzen.
 He should clean the bathroom.

You try! Translate the following to
English!
Wir sollen den Tisch decken.
 Er will nicht babysitten.
 Ich muss die Wäsche waschen.
 Der Junge soll den Rasen mähen.
 Du musst den Fußboden fegen.
 Ich muss mein Zimmer putzen.
 Sie will den Hund nicht ausführen.

You try! Translate the following to
German!
You must help mom.
 She wants to wash the car.
 They have to vacuum the living room.
 You should feed the cat.
 We must take out the garbage.
 You must set the table.
 I have to clean the bathroom.
 He should mow the lawn.
