VerbA2

sollen

should, ought to · to be supposed to · to be said to, reportedly

Sollen expresses what someone is supposed to do, should do, or is said to do. It often carries a sense of duty, expectation, or hearsay, and is softer than müssen (must).

What sollen means

  1. should, ought to — expressing advice, duty, or moral obligation
  2. to be supposed to — expressing an instruction or expectation from someone else
  3. to be said to, reportedly — reporting what others claim, without confirming it

Heard in real German videos

Lines where sollen was actually spoken, from German videos watched with DeutschChat.

  • So, wie soll ich es braten?So, how should I fry it?
  • Warum soll ich das denn machen?Why should I do that?
  • Was soll ich bloß tun?What am I supposed to do?

Example sentences

  • Du sollst deine Hausaufgaben machen.You should do your homework.
  • Ich soll morgen früher zur Arbeit kommen.I'm supposed to come to work earlier tomorrow.
  • Er soll sehr reich sein.He is said to be very rich.
  • Was soll ich tun?What should I do?

Grammar

Present (ich/du/er)soll / sollst / soll
Simple pastsollte
Perfecthat gesollt (rarely used; usually replaced by 'sollte')
Separableno
Casetakes bare infinitive

Sollen is a modal verb. In the perfect tense, Germans usually avoid 'hat gesollt' and use the simple past 'sollte' instead.

Common phrases

  • soll ich ...?should I ...? (offering to do something)
  • was soll das?what's that supposed to mean? / what's the meaning of this?
  • sollte man wissenone should know

The mistake English speakers make

English speakers often confuse 'sollen' with 'müssen'. 'Sollen' implies an external expectation or advice, while 'müssen' means necessity or compulsion. Use 'sollen' for 'should' and 'müssen' for 'must'.

Don’t confuse it with

  • müssen — Müssen expresses necessity or compulsion, while sollen expresses an expectation or advice from someone else.
  • wollen — Wollen expresses one's own desire or intention, while sollen expresses an external obligation or hearsay.

Questions learners ask

What is the difference between 'sollen' and 'müssen'?

'Sollen' means 'should' or 'to be supposed to', indicating an expectation or advice. 'Müssen' means 'must' or 'to have to', indicating necessity or compulsion.

How do you use 'sollen' to report hearsay?

Use 'sollen' with an infinitive to say that someone is said to do something, e.g., 'Er soll reich sein' (He is said to be rich).

What is the past tense of 'sollen'?

The simple past is 'sollte' (ich sollte, du solltest, er sollte, etc.). The perfect 'hat gesollt' is rarely used; Germans prefer 'sollte'.

Related words

müssenwollendürfenkönnenmögenbrauchen