German

Verb

dürfen ‎(irregular, third-person singular simple present darf, past tense durfte, past participle gedurft, auxiliary haben)

1. (auxiliary, infinitive replaces past participle) To be allowed (to do something); to be permitted (to do something); may.

   Darf ich gehen? — “May I go?”

   Ich habe gehen dürfen. — “I was allowed to go.”

2. (intransitive or transitive, past participle as above) To be allowed or permitted to do something implied or previously stated; may.

   Ja, du darfst. — “Yes, you may.”

   Ich habe es gedurft. — “I was allowed [to do] it.”

3. (subjunctive present, modal auxiliary verb) Expresses that something is estimated or probable.
   • 1934, Walther Kabel (as Max Schraut), Der Bluffer, Verlag moderner Lektüre, page 54:

     Die Wohnungen dürften ein wenig hellhörig sein.

     The walls of the apartments are probably a bit thin.

Conjugation

See also

• können
• müssen
• sollen