Modals in the Perfekt · hat kommen können
With another verb, a modal's Perfekt is haben + two infinitives (dictionary forms) at the end: Er hat nicht kommen können. Alone it is gekonnt, gewollt.
Examples
- Ich habe nicht kommen können.I couldn't come.
- Er hat arbeiten müssen.He had to work.
- Das habe ich nicht gewollt.I didn't want that.
Two ways to say it
For the past of können, müssen, wollen, dürfen, Germans mostly use the Präteritum (the simple past: konnte, musste). In conversation you also hear the Perfekt (the spoken past with haben):
Both mean "I couldn't come".
With another verb
two verbs at the end The Perfekt of a modal takes haben, and instead of a ge- form the modal stays an infinitive (the dictionary form), behind the other verb:
The other verb comes first, the modal last: kommen können, never können kommen.
On its own
gekonnt, gewollt Only when the modal has no other verb does it take the ge- form:
Always haben
Even with kommen or gehen, the helper is haben, because the modal decides:
In a weil clause
Here hat does not go last; it stands in front of the two infinitives:
You will read this more than you need to say it.
Common mistakes
What you'll practise
1. hat … kommen können
haben + the other verb + the modal, both infinitives (dictionary forms), at the end: Er hat arbeiten müssen.
- Hast du lange warten müssen?Did you have to wait long?
2. On its own: gekonnt, gewollt
A modal with no other verb takes its ge- form: Das habe ich nicht gewollt. With another verb it stays können.
- Er hat es nicht gekonnt.He couldn't do it.
Practise it until it sticks
Short drills built on these 2 skills, with instant feedback on every answer. Free to start.