dürfen
may/to be allowed to
A modal verb expressing permission. Irregular in present tense (ich darf, du darfst). 'dürfen nicht' means 'must not' (forbidden) — a critical distinction from 'müssen nicht' (don't have to).
Conjugation
Present Tense (Präsens)
| Pronomen | Form |
|---|---|
| ich | darf |
| du | darfst |
| er/sie/es | darf |
| wir | dürfen |
| ihr | dürft |
| sie/Sie | dürfen |
Simple Past (Präteritum)
| Pronomen | Form |
|---|---|
| ich | durfte |
| du | durftest |
| er/sie/es | durfte |
| wir | durften |
| ihr | durftet |
| sie/Sie | durften |
Perfect (Perfekt)
| Auxiliary | Partizip II |
|---|---|
| haben | gedurft |
z.B.: Ich habe gedurft
Subjunctive II (Konjunktiv II)
| Pronomen | Form |
|---|---|
| ich | dürfte |
| du | dürftest |
| er/sie/es | dürfte |
| wir | dürften |
| ihr | dürftet |
| sie/Sie | dürften |
Example Sentences
Darf ich Sie etwas fragen?
May I ask you something?
Hier darf man nicht parken.
You are not allowed to park here.
Dürfte ich Ihren Ausweis sehen?
Could I see your ID? (very polite)
Usage Tips
'Darf ich...?' is the polite way to ask for permission: 'Darf ich hier sitzen?' (May I sit here?). More formal than 'Kann ich...?' which focuses on ability.
Common Mistakes
Confusing 'darf nicht' with 'muss nicht': 'Du musst hier nicht rauchen' (you don't have to)
Related Verbs
Related Grammar
Explore More
Helpful tools for anyone learning German. No signup required.
92 grammar topics organized by CEFR level, from A1 beginner to C1 advanced. Each topic includes examples, common mistakes, and learning tips.
See how de-de works alongside popular German learning tools.
Master German sounds with IPA guides and practice tips.
German courses tailored to your goals.
10 daily news from Germany, adapted to your language level
Ready to speak German?
Start your AI-powered German course today. No subscription — just your OpenAI API key (~$0.50/week).