sollen
should/to be supposed to
A modal verb expressing duty, suggestion, or hearsay. Unlike 'müssen' (must), 'sollen' implies external expectation or advice. Also used for reported speech: 'Er soll reich sein' (He is said to be rich).
Conjugation
Present Tense (Präsens)
| Pronomen | Form |
|---|---|
| ich | soll |
| du | sollst |
| er/sie/es | soll |
| wir | sollen |
| ihr | sollt |
| sie/Sie | sollen |
Simple Past (Präteritum)
| Pronomen | Form |
|---|---|
| ich | sollte |
| du | solltest |
| er/sie/es | sollte |
| wir | sollten |
| ihr | solltet |
| sie/Sie | sollten |
Perfect (Perfekt)
| Auxiliary | Partizip II |
|---|---|
| haben | gesollt |
z.B.: Ich habe gesollt
Example Sentences
Was soll ich machen?
What should I do?
Du solltest mehr schlafen.
You should sleep more.
Das Restaurant soll sehr gut sein.
The restaurant is said to be very good.
Usage Tips
'sollen' vs 'müssen': 'Du sollst nicht lügen' (you should not lie — moral duty) vs 'Du musst nicht lügen' (you don't have to lie). 'sollen' conveys advice or expectation from others.
Common Mistakes
Using 'müssen' for advice: 'Du musst mehr Wasser trinken'
Related Verbs
Related Grammar
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