Before you start
Meet müssen
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
All 3 meanings
- (auxiliary, with an infinitive → “müssen” replaces the past participle) to have to (do something); must; to be obliged (to do something); to need (to do something).
- (intransitive, with past participle “gemusst”) to have to do something implied; must; to be obliged.
- (colloquial, euphemistic) to need to go to the bathroom.
Forms
How müssen changes
| Pronoun | Präsens | Präteritum |
|---|---|---|
| ich | muss | musste |
| du | musst | musstest |
| er/sie/es | muss | musste |
| wir | müssen | mussten |
| ihr | müsst | musstet |
| Sie | müssen | mussten |
Partizip II gemusst · Perfekt with haben
Three examples
- 1Ich muss heute arbeiten.I have to work today.present-tense obligation
- 2Wir mussten gestern früh nach Hause gehen.We had to go home early yesterday.Präteritum obligation
- 3Ich bleibe zu Hause, weil ich heute arbeiten muss.I’m staying home because I have to work today.verb at the end after weil