AUXILIARY VERB
dürfen/ˈdʏʁfn̩/may; to be allowed to; can (permission)
dürfen is a German auxiliary verb that means may, to be allowed to, or can (permission). It is pronounced /ˈdʏʁfn̩/. In conjugation, the simple past is "durfte" and the past participle is "gedurft".
Definitions
1.to be allowed to do something; have permission(permission)
a.have permission (general)
Du darfst hier nicht rauchen.—You are not allowed to smoke here.
b.be permitted according to rules/law
Kinder dürfen diesen Film nicht sehen.—Children may not watch this film.
Conjugation
| Infinitive | dürfen |
|---|---|
| Present (ich) | darf |
| Present (du) | darfst |
| Present (er/sie/es) | darf |
| Preterite (ich) | durfte |
| Participle II | gedurft |
| Konjunktiv II (ich) | dürfte |
| Imperative (singular) | — |
| Imperative (plural) | — |
| Auxiliary | haben |
Frequently asked questions
- What does "dürfen" mean in English?
- "dürfen" means may, to be allowed to, or can (permission). It is a German auxiliary verb.
- How do you pronounce "dürfen"?
- "dürfen" is pronounced /ˈdʏʁfn̩/ in the International Phonetic Alphabet.
- What is the past participle of "dürfen"?
- The past participle (Partizip II) of "dürfen" is "gedurft", used with the auxiliary "haben".
- What is the simple past of "dürfen"?
- In the simple past (Präteritum), "dürfen" becomes "durfte" in the first person singular.
- What part of speech is "dürfen"?
- "dürfen" is a auxiliary verb in German.
