The modal verb: möchten
The verb möchten means "would like." It is used to express desires and make polite requests.
Like other modal verbs, the ich and er/sie/es forms are identical.
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| ich | möchte |
| du | möchtest |
| er/sie/es | möchte |
| wir | möchten |
| ihr | möchtet |
| sie/Sie | möchten |
The Sentence Bracket
When using möchten with another verb—like trinken (to drink) or bestellen (to order)—the sentence bracket rule applies. In statements and W-questions, the conjugated möchten takes the second position, and the main verb goes to the very end of the sentence in its infinitive (dictionary) form.
| What would you like to drink? | Was möchten Sie trinken? |
For a yes/no question, möchten moves to the first position. The main verb stays at the end.
| Would you like to order something? | Möchten Sie etwas bestellen? |
Everything else—like the objects you are ordering or time words like jetzt (now)—is bracketed between the two verbs.
| We would like to order the salad now. | Wir möchten jetzt den Salat bestellen. |
You can also use möchten without a second verb to simply state what you want. Adding bitte (please) makes the request polite.
| I would like a beer and a water, please. | Ich möchte ein Bier und ein Wasser, bitte. |
