müssen
must/to have to
A modal verb expressing necessity or obligation. Irregular in present tense (ich muss, du musst). Important: negated 'müssen' means 'don't have to' (not 'must not' — that's 'dürfen nicht').
Conjugation
Present Tense (Präsens)
| Pronomen | Form |
|---|---|
| ich | muss |
| du | musst |
| er/sie/es | muss |
| wir | müssen |
| ihr | müsst |
| sie/Sie | müssen |
Simple Past (Präteritum)
| Pronomen | Form |
|---|---|
| ich | musste |
| du | musstest |
| er/sie/es | musste |
| wir | mussten |
| ihr | musstet |
| sie/Sie | mussten |
Perfect (Perfekt)
| Auxiliary | Partizip II |
|---|---|
| haben | gemusst |
z.B.: Ich habe gemusst
Subjunctive II (Konjunktiv II)
| Pronomen | Form |
|---|---|
| ich | müsste |
| du | müsstest |
| er/sie/es | müsste |
| wir | müssten |
| ihr | müsstet |
| sie/Sie | müssten |
Example Sentences
Ich muss morgen früh aufstehen.
I have to get up early tomorrow.
Du musst nicht warten.
You don't have to wait.
Wir mussten lange auf den Bus warten.
We had to wait a long time for the bus.
Usage Tips
Key difference: 'nicht müssen' = don't have to (optional), 'nicht dürfen' = must not (forbidden). 'Du musst nicht kommen' means you don't have to come, not that you're forbidden.
Common Mistakes
Translating 'must not' as 'muss nicht': 'Du musst nicht rauchen'
Related Verbs
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