B1-72 · Explain rules with man and modal verbs
Living in Germany
Use man with muss, darf, kann and soll to explain registration, house rules and the difference between forbidden and not necessary.
About 5 minutes to read · 12 quiz questions
01
At the citizens' office
German rules are often stated with man and a modal verb. Man means people in general and is singular, so the modal takes the er/sie/es form: man muss, man darf, man kann, man soll. The infinitive goes to the end of the sentence.
Nach einem Umzug muss man sich beim Bürgeramt anmelden.
After a move, you have to register at the citizens' office.
Beim Amt muss man oft lange warten.
At the office, you often have to wait a long time.
Man soll den Pass zum Termin mitbringen.
You are supposed to bring your passport to the appointment.
Man kann viele Formulare auch online ausfüllen.
You can also fill in many forms online.
Sich anmelden means to register your address, and die Anmeldung is the registration. Das Bürgeramt is the local citizens' office; das Formular is a form.
02
House rules
Many buildings have a Hausordnung, a list of house rules. Man darf says what is allowed, and man darf kein or nicht says what is forbidden. Man is always the subject, so a noun at the start of the sentence is the object: Den Müll muss man trennen.
| Meaning | Rule with man |
|---|---|
| obligation | man muss |
| permission | man darf |
| prohibition | man darf nicht |
| possibility | man kann |
| instruction | man soll |
| no obligation | man muss nicht |
In unserem Haus darf man nach 22 Uhr keine laute Musik machen.
In our building, you are not allowed to play loud music after 10 p.m.
Im Treppenhaus darf man keine Fahrräder abstellen.
You are not allowed to leave bikes in the stairwell.
Den Müll muss man trennen.
You have to separate the rubbish.
Im Hof darf man am Wochenende grillen.
You are allowed to have a barbecue in the courtyard at the weekend.
Das Treppenhaus is the stairwell, der Hof the courtyard. Den Müll trennen means to separate the rubbish for recycling.
03
Forbidden or not necessary?
Be careful with negation. Man darf nicht means it is forbidden. Man muss nicht means it is not necessary: you can, but you don't have to. Context often makes the difference clear.
Man muss nicht persönlich kommen, denn man kann den Antrag auch online stellen.
You don't have to come in person, because you can also submit the application online.
Ohne Fahrkarte darf man nicht mit dem Bus fahren.
You are not allowed to ride the bus without a ticket.
In vielen Orten darf man am Sonntag keinen Rasen mähen.
In many places, you are not allowed to mow the lawn on Sundays.
Bei der Anmeldung muss man nichts bezahlen.
You don't have to pay anything for the registration.
English must not is darf nicht in German, not muss nicht. Mähen means to mow; der Rasen is the lawn.
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