Wir sollen den Text nicht abschreiben.

Because German main clauses normally follow the verb-second rule: the finite verb goes in position 2.

Here, sollen is the finite verb:

• Wir = subject
• sollen = finite verb
• den Text nicht abschreiben = the rest of the clause

So:

• Wir sollen den Text nicht abschreiben.

This is very normal German word order.

Sollen is a modal verb. In this sentence, it usually expresses an instruction, expectation, or obligation coming from someone else.

So wir sollen ... often means something like:

• we are supposed to ...
• we should ...
• we have been told to ...

It is different from a simple future meaning. Here it is not like English shall in modern formal English.

Because with a modal verb like sollen, the main action appears as a bare infinitive at the end of the clause.

Structure:

• Wir = subject
• sollen = modal verb
• den Text = object
• nicht = negation
• abschreiben = infinitive at the end

This is a very common German pattern:

• Ich muss gehen.
• Du kannst kommen.
• Wir sollen den Text nicht abschreiben.

Abschreiben is a separable verb:

• base verb: schreiben
• prefix: ab-

When a separable verb is used as the finite verb in a main clause, the prefix separates:

• Wir schreiben den Text ab.

But when it is used as an infinitive, especially after a modal verb, it stays together:

• Wir sollen den Text nicht abschreiben.

So both forms are correct, but they appear in different sentence structures.

Because Text is the direct object of abschreiben, so it takes the accusative case.

Text is masculine, so:

• nominative: der Text
• accusative: den Text

That is why the sentence uses:

• den Text

Here nicht negates the action abschreiben.

In German, nicht is often placed:

• before the part being negated, or
• toward the end of the clause if it negates the whole verbal idea

So:

• Wir sollen den Text nicht abschreiben.

This means the action of copying the text is what is being negated.

Compare:

• Wir sollen nicht den Text abschreiben.
  This would suggest: not the text specifically, perhaps something else instead.

So the position of nicht can change the emphasis.

Because modal verbs in German are followed by a bare infinitive, without zu.

So you say:

• Wir sollen abschreiben.
• Ich kann kommen.
• Du musst lernen.

Not:

• Wir sollen zu abschreiben. ❌

German uses zu with many other infinitive constructions, but not after modal verbs like:

• können
• müssen
• wollen
• sollen
• dürfen
• mögen

This is a very common question.

Sollen usually means:

• someone expects it
• someone says it should be done
• you are supposed to do it

Müssen usually means:

• it is necessary
• you have to do it
• there is stronger obligation

So:

• Wir sollen den Text nicht abschreiben.
  = We are supposed not to copy the text / We have been told not to copy it.

• Wir müssen den Text nicht abschreiben.
  = We do not have to copy the text.

That second sentence does not mean the same thing. It means copying is unnecessary, not forbidden.

For a strong prohibition, German often uses:

• Wir dürfen den Text nicht abschreiben.
  = We must not / are not allowed to copy the text.

Usually, no.

Although sollen and shall are historically related, in modern usage they do not match well.

Wir sollen ... usually means:

• we are supposed to ...
• we should ...
• we have been told to ...

English we shall is much less common in everyday speech and often sounds formal, old-fashioned, or legal.

So it is better not to translate sollen automatically as shall.

Yes. German allows some flexibility, as long as the finite verb stays in position 2 in a main clause.

For example:

• Den Text sollen wir nicht abschreiben.

This is also correct. It puts more emphasis on den Text.

But the neutral, standard version is:

• Wir sollen den Text nicht abschreiben.

Sollten is the past subjunctive form of sollen and often means:

• we should not copy the text
• a softer recommendation or advice

Compare:

• Wir sollen den Text nicht abschreiben.
  = We are supposed not to copy the text.
  (instruction / expectation)

• Wir sollten den Text nicht abschreiben.
  = We should not copy the text.
  (advice / suggestion)

So sollen and sollten are related, but the tone is different.