In this lesson, you will learn all about modal particles in the German language, what kind of particles they are, when and how they are used, and what they mean.
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What are modal particles?
List of the most important modal particles
ABER ▪ AUCH ▪ BLOß ▪ DENN ▪ DOCH ▪ EBEN ▪ EIGENTLICH ▪ ETWA ▪ JA ▪ MAL ▪ NUN EINMAL ▪ NUR ▪ RUHIG ▪ SCHON ▪ VIELLEICHT ▪ WOHL
What are modal particles?
Modal particles are words that express the speaker’s attitude towards what is being said. They include words like aber, doch, ja, mal, and schon, which can alter the tone of a statement and make the speaker’s intentions and attitudes clear. Modal particles are often used to seek agreement, show surprise or annoyance, soften a direct question or statement, and provide reassurance.
There are numerous modal particles in German, and some of them, such as doch or ja, are used in various contexts. The meaning of modal particles in German is not easily translated and must be interpreted based on the context. These particles allow the speaker to emphasize the importance of their statement. Thanks to modal particles, the speaker can express their attitude towards what is being said.
For example:
Im Kino waren wir gestern.
Im Kino waren wir doch gestern.
In the second sentence, the particle doch is used by the speaker to say that they went to the cinema yesterday, but that he would rather go, for example, to the theater. Modal particles occur frequently in informal spoken language.
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Grammar Contents
List of the most important modal particles
aber
- aber is used in exclamations, expressing surprise.
Das ist aber eine schöne Überraschung! - aber as an opposite conjunction has the meaning but.
Es regnet, aber es ist nicht kalt.
auch
- auch is used in interrogative sentences without a question word (Ja/Nein – Fragen), expressing concern.
Wirst du auch wirklich da sein? Vergisst du das auch ganz bestimmt nicht? - auch is also used in interrogative sentences with a question word (W- Fragen). The question takes on a rhetorical or accusatory character.
Wie konntest du auch nur so naiv sein? - auch means: and, also, likewise.
Leon kommt, Mia auch ( = ebenfalls)
bloß
- bloß is used in interrogative sentences with a question word, it expresses surprise and confusion, nur can have the same meaning. (bloß = nur)
Was hast du da bloß wieder angestellt! - bloß is used in the imperative, expressing threat and warning.
Komm bloß nicht zu spät! - bloß as an adverb means only.
Ich habe bloß (= nur) 5 Euro bei mir, kannst du mir etwas leihen?
denn
- denn is used in questions. It expresses a reaction to a situation, such as doubt, surprise, objection, kindness.
Was ist denn hier passiert? – reakcija na haotičnu situaciju
Kommt Denis denn heute? – reakcija na predhodno pitanja, iznenađeno pitamo. - denn as a causative conjunction has the meaning because.
Ich komme nicht mit, denn ich habe keine Zeit.
doch
- doch is used in declarative sentences. It expresses a reproach, an objection, a suggestion that the speaker is dissatisfied.
Es ist doch immer das Gleiche mit ihm! - doch (mal) is used in exclamatory sentences, it enhances surprise or shame.
Das darf doch nicht wahr sein! - doch is used to express a wish that cannot be fulfilled at the moment of speaking.
Wenn er doch gleich käme!
Doch as a affirmative word: Hast du keine Zeist? – Doch, natürlich habe ich Zeit.( Don’t you have time for Zeist? – Yes, of course I have time.)
Doch as an opposite conjunction: Sie ist da, doch ( = aber) sie hat die Fahrkarte vergessen.
eben
- eben is used in declarative sentences. It expresses resignation, pessimism, reconciliation with fate.
Das ist eben so. - eben as an adverb has the meaning exactly.
Er war eben hier.
eigentlich
- eigentlich is used in questions, it expresses interest, in the sense, I always want to ask you that.
Kannst du eigentlich Spanisch? - eigentlich kao pridev i prilog ima značenje izvorno, zapravo. eigentlich as an adjective and adverb has the meaning originally, actually.
Sein eigentlicher Name lautet anders.
Eigentlich heißt er Thomas, Tom ist nur sein Spitzname.,
etwa
- etwa is used in questions, se koristi u pitanjima, it reinforces in the question disbelief.
Willst du etwa zu Fuß gehen? - etwa as an adverb means approximately (ungefähr).
Meine Heimatstadt hat etwa 80 000 Einwohner.
ja
- ja is used in declarative sentences and indicates shared knowledge, doch has the same meaning.
Ihre Wohnung liegt ja so günstig. - ja is used in the imperative, it expresses a warning and a threat.
Erzähl das ja nicht weiter! - ja is used in exclamatory sentences, expressing astonishment, surprise, often irony.
Das ist ja toll! - ja serves as an affirmative answer:
Hast du Zeit? – Ja, natürlich.
mal
- mal is used in imperative and declarative sentences, it makes the statement non-committal, less urgent and therefore more polite.
Ruf mich mal an. - mal as an adverb has the same meaning as einmal – once.
Er war mal (= einmal) ein guter Tennisspieler.
nun einmal
- nun einmal is used in declarative sentences, expressing reconciliation with the situation.
Das ist nun einmal so! - nun as an adverb means now (jetzt)
einmal as an adverb means only once.
This combination is only possible with modal particles.
nur
- nur is used in questions, expressing wonder and confusion.
Was hat er nur? - nur as an adverb has the meaning only.
Ich habe nur 20 Euro bei mir. - nur is used in the imperative, expressing threat and warning, bloß has the same meaning.
Iss nur! - nur as an adverb has the meaning only.
Er ist auch nur ein Mensch!
ruhig
- ruhig is used in questions with a question word, it expresses permission with additional assurance.
Das kannst du ruhig benutzen. - ruhig as an adjective or adverb means quietly, calmly.
Er lag ruhig und schlief.
schon
- schon limits an affirmative answer, a statement, expresses only hesitant agreement.
Das stimmt schon. - schon as an adverb means already.
Meine Eltern sind schon da.
vielleicht
- vielleicht is used in exclamatory sentences, expressing strong astonishment.
Der hat sich vielleicht aufgeregt! - vielleicht as an adverb means: možda
Er kommt vielleicht morgen.
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Grammar Contents
wohl
- wohl is used in declarative sentences, expresses doubt.
Es wird wohl gleich da sein. - wohl as an adverb, it is partially written together with the verb:
Leben Sie wohl!
Hier kann ich mich wohlfühlen ( = gut fühlen).
Note: Modal particles do not appear at the beginning of a sentence. They are always placed in the middle of the sentence, usually before “auch” or “nicht,” which are adverbs of manner and adverbs of place. Modal particles are not stressed, with exceptions including “bloß” and “nur” when used in warnings, and “ja” in threats.
This list is not exhaustive. Some particles can also be combined, such as “doch mal,” “aber wohl,” “ja mal,” “denn doch,” “doch endlich,” “doch immer,” “ja auch,” and others. The meanings of these combinations cannot be deduced from the individual parts, nor can the order be changed.
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