A1-30 · Ask permission with dürfen
Rules
Use dürfen and man darf to describe permission, and distinguish a prohibition from a lack of obligation.
About 5 minutes to read · 13 quiz questions
01
May I?
Dürfen expresses permission. Use ich darf, du darfst and er/sie darf. In a question, put the modal first: Darf ich hier sitzen? The final verb stays in the infinitive.
Darf ich hier sitzen?
May I sit here?
Du darfst hier warten.
You may wait here.
Mara darf Fotos machen.
Mara is allowed to take photos.
Darf ich das Fenster öffnen?
May I open the window?
Hier means here. Fotos machen means to take photos. These examples describe rules in an imaginary classroom and museum, not rules for every real place.
02
Rules for everyone
Man means people in general. It takes the singular form darf: Hier darf man essen. Add nicht for a prohibition: Hier darf man nicht rauchen.
Hier darf man essen.
People are allowed to eat here.
Man darf hier nicht rauchen.
People are not allowed to smoke here.
Hier darf man nicht parken.
Parking is not allowed here.
Im Museum darf man leise sprechen.
People may speak quietly in the museum.
Man darf nicht means it is not allowed. Man muss nicht means it is not necessary. Rauchen means to smoke; parken means to park a vehicle.
03
Permission for a group
Use wir dürfen, ihr dürft and sie dürfen. Formal Sie also takes dürfen. A teacher uses ihr with the class and Sie with a visitor.
Wir dürfen hier lernen.
We are allowed to study here.
Ihr dürft jetzt gehen.
You may leave now.
Die Besucher dürfen warten.
The visitors may wait.
Dürfen wir das Fenster öffnen?
May we open the window?
Dürfen describes permission, while können usually describes ability in these lessons. A person may be able to do something but still need permission.
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