Before you start
Meet dürfen
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
All 5 meanings
- (auxiliary, infinitive replaces past participle) to be allowed (to do something); to be permitted (to do something); may
- (intransitive or transitive, past participle as above) to be allowed or permitted to do something implied or previously stated; may
- (subjunctive II, auxiliary) expresses a prediction with mild doubt, that something is estimated or probable
- (colloquial) must, to have [got] to, gotta
- (obsolete, transitive, with genitive) to need, to require
Forms
How dürfen changes
| Pronoun | Präsens | Präteritum |
|---|---|---|
| ich | darf | durfte |
| du | darfst | durftest |
| er/sie/es | darf | durfte |
| wir | dürfen | durften |
| ihr | dürft | durftet |
| Sie | dürfen | durften |
Partizip II gedurft · Perfekt with haben
Three examples
- 1Du darfst hier sitzen.You may sit here.asking permission
- 2Wir durften gestern länger bleiben.We were allowed to stay longer yesterday.past permission
- 3Ich weiß, dass sie heute nicht darf.I know that she is not allowed to today.verb at the end after dass