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Modal verbs in the perfect tense
When a modal verb is used in the perfect tense without a second verb, it is expressed in the perfect tense form. For example: Er hat das nicht gekonnt (He couldn't do it). Sie hat das nicht gewollt (She didn't want that). Ich habe nach Hause gemusst (I had [to go] home). However, when a modal verb is used in the perfect tense together with another verb, no perfect participle is used. Instead, the two verbs are given in their infinitive form. Example sentences:
- Er hat seine Hausaufgabe nicht machen können. (He couldn't do his homework).
- Sie hat die Reise machen wollen. (She wanted to take the trip).
- Ich habe nach Hause rennen müssen. (I had to run home).
The same rules apply for the past perfect with modal verbs and for the subjunctive past with modal verbs:
- Sie hatte ihn das fragen wollen. (She had wanted to ask him that.)
- Wir hätten das wissen sollen. (We should have known that.)
See also:
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