Genau
Topic test · A1

The verb sollen test

13questions
8minutes
60%pass mark
Start the test Read the topic first

One question at a time, the clock runs. Answers stay closed like a real exam: you see every correct answer with its explanation at the end. Score 60% to finish the topic.

Topic test

13 questions, easy to hard

Pick an option and press «Next». You can go back and change it. Anything left blank counts as wrong.

Shall I help you?

Soll ich. The “Shall I…?” pattern is built with sollen. Muss ich…? would mean “Do I have to…?”.

The doctor says I’m supposed to sleep more.

ich soll. The wish comes from someone else (the doctor) → sollen. darf would be permission, will your own wish.

Er um acht kommen.

He’s supposed to come at eight.

soll. With modal verbs the er/sie/es form is the same as ich and takes no ending.

I think you should see a doctor. (friendly advice)

solltest. The soft form of advice. sollst sounds like an instruction, musst like a necessity.

What should I do?

Was soll ich machen? sollen is used when you ask for advice. Was muss ich machen? would mean “what do I have to do?”.

You shall not lie.

nicht lügen. The infinitive is not conjugated and takes no zu; nicht stands in front of the infinitive.

I’m supposed to be there at eight.

Ich soll. The instruction came from someone else → sollen. muss only states a necessity and doesn’t carry “I was told”; darf would be permission.

What is the core of sollen?

sollen = the instruction comes from someone else: the doctor said so, mum wants it, that’s the rule. Your own wish is wollen.

wir heute Abend ins Kino? (suggestion)

Shall we go to the cinema tonight?

The pattern for suggestions: Sollen wir …? = “Shall we …?” — Soll ich …? = “Shall I …?”

What is the difference between sollst and solltest?

Du sollst … = someone says so (harsh). Du solltest … = I think you’d better (soft). The Konjunktiv carries the subtlety here.

The sentence “Du sollst zum Arzt gehen.” gives friendly advice.

False. sollst sounds like an instruction or order; for friendly advice you should use solltest.

ich das Fenster aufmachen?

Shall I open the window?

Soll. Offers of help in the form “Shall I…?” are made with the pattern Soll ich...?

Build the sentence: The doctor says I’m supposed to sleep more.

Tap the pieces to build the sentence

When you pass on someone else’s wish (the doctor’s), sollen is used.
Quick rules

The rules in three lines

The full topic lives on its own page. This is only the core you need for the test.

  1. sollen = the instruction comes from someone else

    A doctor, a boss, a rule — someone else wants it: Ich soll mehr schlafen. (the doctor said so)

    Der Arzt sagt, ich soll mehr schlafen.

  2. Soll ich …? = Shall I …?

    The pattern for offering help: Soll ich dir helfen? · for a shared plan: Sollen wir ins Kino?

    Soll ich dir helfen?

  3. solltest = friendly advice

    The Konjunktiv form softens it: Du solltest zum Arzt gehen. (I think you’d better go)

    Du solltest mehr schlafen.

  4. Easy conjugation: no umlaut

    ich soll · du sollst · er soll · wir sollen · ihr sollt — the only modal in the family whose stem never changes.

    er soll um acht kommen

Traps

Commonly mixed up

Where a direct translation breaks. The hard questions come from here.

  • Ich soll Ärztin werden. (when it’s your own decision)

    Ich will Ärztin werden.

    Your own wish is wollen; sollen carries someone else’s plan.

  • Du sollst zum Arzt gehen. (meant as friendly advice)

    Du solltest zum Arzt gehen.

    sollst passes on an order; advice needs the Konjunktiv.

  • Was soll ich machen? = What am I doing?

    Was soll ich machen? = What should I do?

    The pattern asks for advice or expresses helplessness, not the present tense.

  • Er sollt um acht kommen.

    Er soll um acht kommen.

    The third person singular takes no -t.