Mögen vs. Möchten vs. Gern in German
Mögen, möchten and gern all mean something like “to like” or “to want”, but you use them in very different situations. In this lesson Luzi explains the modal verb mögen with its conjugation and four uses, then shows you why möchten is not a verb of its own, and finishes with the bonus tip gern.
What Is the Verb mögen?
German has six modal verbs: können, mögen, wollen, sollen, dürfen and müssen. Mögen means to like somebody or something. It is actually the least common modal verb. The most common one is können. There are two reasons:
- Mögen is usually used as a main verb. That means there is no second verb at the end of the sentence. So it is not used like a normal modal verb with two verbs.
- There are more common substitutes: gern and möchten.
Conjugation of mögen
| Pronoun | mögen |
|---|---|
| ich | mag |
| du | magst |
| er, sie, es | mag |
| wir | mögen |
| ihr | mögt |
| sie, Sie | mögen |
Careful: ich mag and er mag have no ending, and the vowel changes from ö to a in the singular.
The 4 Uses of mögen
1. Gefallen (Liking Something)
You express that you like something or somebody. Mostly without a second verb, so mögen acts like a main verb.
- Magst du Bücher lesen? (Do you like to read books?)
- Wir mögen Pizza. (We like pizza.)
- Sie mag ihn. (She likes him.)
2. Ablehnung (Rejection)
The opposite: you do not like something. Again mostly without a second verb.
- Sie mag nicht Fußball schauen. (She does not like to watch football.)
- Ich mag meinen Chef nicht. (I do not like my boss.)
- Sie mögen kein Müsli. (They do not like muesli. Muesli is a famous healthy breakfast with oats, fruit and yogurt or milk, and it comes originally from Switzerland.)
3. Unlust (Not Feeling Like It)
Here it is about the feeling: you do not feel like doing something.
- Magst du morgen nicht mitkommen? (Don't you want to come with us tomorrow?)
- Heute mag ich nicht arbeiten. (I do not feel like working today.)
- Sie mag nicht mehr lesen. (She does not feel like reading anymore.)
4. Wunsch (A Wish): Use möchten
For a wish you use möchten, and this is where it gets important.
What Is möchten?
Möchten is not a verb of its own and not a modal verb either. It is the Konjunktiv II (subjunctive two) of the verb mögen. It means “would like to” or “want to”. You can conjugate it, but it has no infinitive and no original form. The infinitive is always mögen.
- Möchtest du ein Glas Wasser? (Do you want a glass of water?)
- Ich möchte ans Meer fahren. (I would like to go to the sea.)
- Sie möchten Pommes essen. (They want to eat French fries.)
möchten in the Restaurant
A much more common situation is the restaurant, or any situation where you ask for something. This is where Germans use möchten all the time:
- Ich möchte einen Kaffee, bitte. (I would like a coffee, please.)
- Sie möchte ein Schinkenbrot, bitte. (She would like a ham sandwich, please.)
- Entschuldigung, wir möchten bezahlen, bitte. (Excuse me, we would like to pay, please. You say this to the waiter.)
Bonus Tip: gern
Gern is an adverb, and it is a very common and useful one. It also means “to like”.
- Du lernst gern Deutsch. (You like to learn German.)
- Ich esse nicht gern Tomaten. (I do not like to eat tomatoes.)
mögen or gern?
With objects and activities, Germans usually use gern instead of mögen as a modal verb. It is much more common.
| With mögen (possible) | With gern (more common) |
|---|---|
| Magst du Bücher lesen? | Liest du gern Bücher? (Do you like to read books?) |
| Wir mögen Pizza essen. or Wir mögen Pizza. | Wir essen gern Pizza. (We like to eat pizza.) |
| Sie mag schwimmen. | Sie schwimmt gern. (She likes to swim.) |
For people, both ways are fine: Sie mag ihn or Sie hat ihn gern (she likes him). Gern haben also means to like something or somebody. The question Hast du sie gern? means the same as Magst du sie? (Do you like her?).
Your Homework
At the end of the video Luzi asks three similar questions. Answer one of them, or all three:
- Was machst du gern? (What do you like to do?)
- Was ist dein Hobby? (What is your hobby?)
- Was magst du? (What do you like?)
What to Learn Next
Continue with the next modal verb in German modal verb wollen explained, and see all six together in all German modal verbs: the complete guide. If you missed the first one, watch the modal verb können. For the word gern in the sentence, see the position of gern, and for more ways to say you like something, how to say “like” in German.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between mögen and möchten?
Mögen means to like somebody or something (Ich mag Pizza). Möchten expresses a wish and means “would like to” (Ich möchte einen Kaffee). Möchten is the Konjunktiv II of mögen.
Is möchten a modal verb?
No. Möchten is not a verb of its own and not a modal verb. It is the subjunctive two (Konjunktiv II) of mögen. You can conjugate it, but it has no infinitive. The infinitive is mögen.
When do you use gern instead of mögen?
With objects and activities, gern is much more common: Wir essen gern Pizza instead of Wir mögen Pizza essen. For people, both are fine: Sie mag ihn or Sie hat ihn gern.
How do you conjugate mögen in German?
Ich mag, du magst, er/sie/es mag, wir mögen, ihr mögt, sie/Sie mögen. The singular has an a instead of ö, and ich and er have no ending.
How do I order in a restaurant in German?
Use möchten: Ich möchte einen Kaffee, bitte or Wir möchten bezahlen, bitte. It is the polite way to ask for something.
Modal verbs are the key to speaking German early. In our A1 German online course you learn all six of them step by step with videos, worksheets and a textbook, and you can ask us questions in every exercise.
