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Topic test · A1

The verb wollen 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.

He wants to go home.

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

I’d like a coffee. (in a café)

möchte. When ordering, tone matters: will sounds like a command, and mag means “I like” — that is not an order.

Ich will morgen .

I want to work tomorrow.

arbeiten. After a modal verb the second verb stays an infinitive and takes no zu.

Do you want to come along?

Willst du. The du form is willst; in a question the verb moves to the front.

I don’t want to work today.

nicht goes before the infinitive. The negation word stands right before the infinitive at the end of the sentence.

I want to become a doctor. (my decision)

Ich will Ärztin werden. This is about a goal and a decision → wollen is the right verb. The infinitive is not conjugated and takes no zu.

Would you like something to drink? (polite offer)

Möchten Sie. When you offer something, wollen sounds plainer and less polite. Mögen Sie… shifts to “do you like…”.

ihr am Samstag kommen?

Do you want to come on Saturday?

The ihr form is wollt. Singular: ich/er will, du willst.

Which one suits a waiter in a café best?

will is grammatically correct but sounds like a child insisting. The language of ordering is möchte + bitte.

Which one is correct?

After the question word the verb is in second position (willst) and the infinitive at the end (machen) — the frame of a modal sentence never changes.

“Ich wille nach Berlin.” is a correct sentence.

False. With modal verbs the ich form takes no ending: it must be Ich will.

Was du werden?

What do you want to be?

willst. The modal verb wollen (to want) is irregular. With du the stem vowel changes and it becomes willst.

Build the sentence: I want to work tomorrow.

Tap the pieces to build the sentence

The conjugated modal verb is in second position and the main verb (arbeiten) stands at the very end as an infinitive.
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. wollen = your own decision

    A strong, clear wish: Ich will Ärztin werden. The language of plans and goals.

    Er will nach Hause gehen.

  2. When ordering, use möchte

    will at the table sounds like a child insisting; the language of service is möchte + bitte.

    Ich möchte einen Kaffee, bitte.

  3. Conjugation: will/willst

    ich/er will · du willst · wir/sie wollen · ihr wollt — no umlaut, just like sollen.

    Willst du mitkommen?

  4. The frame never changes

    Modal second, infinitive last: Was willst du heute machen?

    Ich will heute nicht arbeiten.

Traps

Commonly mixed up

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

  • Ich will einen Kaffee. (to the waiter)

    Ich möchte einen Kaffee, bitte.

    The grammar is right, the tone is wrong — an order calls for möchte.

  • Du willt mitkommen?

    Willst du mitkommen?

    du → willst; the question starts with the verb.

  • Ich will morgen arbeite.

    Ich will morgen arbeiten.

    After a modal comes the infinitive.

  • Er will Arzt sein. (meaning: he wants to enter the profession)

    Er will Arzt werden.

    Entering a profession takes werden; the version with sein shifts to the meaning “claims to be” at B1.