CEFR StudyA1 German

kann, muss or will?

kann, muss or will?

Same word order, three different worlds:

  • kann = ability or possibility
  • muss = necessity
  • will = a strong want

And a false-friend warning: German will is NOT English “will” — it means want! For a polite request: Können Sie bitte …?

Tip

Ich will = I want. For future plans English says "will", German just uses the present: Ich komme morgen.