Classic stack

…, weil er hat kommen müssen. — spoken/colloquial reorderings exist, but written standard often keeps double infinitive with haben + modal + main verb.

Standard written

Patterns vary by region/register — notice what your textbook prefers.

Reading tip

Read the last three words first in long tails.

Practice

Underline the verb cluster in three long weil-sentences from a news article.

Practical Examples

1. German: Ich habe die Präsentation leider nicht fertigstellen können.

English: Unfortunately, I couldn't finish the presentation. Note: Used with a modal verb (können) in the Perfekt tense; können remains an infinitive at the end.

1. German: Er hat seine Schwester das Auto reparieren lassen.

English: He had his sister repair the car. Note: Used with lassen in the Perfekt tense; lassen remains an infinitive at the end.

1. German: Hast du den Vogel im Garten singen hören?

English: Did you hear the bird singing in the garden? Note: Used with a perception verb (hören) in the Perfekt tense; hören remains an infinitive at the end.

1. German: Wir hätten das Projekt viel früher beginnen sollen.

English: We should have started the project much earlier. Note: Used with a modal verb (sollen) in the Konjunktiv II Plusquamperfekt; sollen remains an infinitive.

1. German: Sie hat ihren Kindern nicht helfen dürfen.

English: She wasn't allowed to help her children. Note: Used with a modal verb (dürfen) in the Perfekt tense; dürfen remains an infinitive.

1. German: Niemand hat ihn die Wahrheit sagen hören.

English: Nobody heard him tell the truth. Note: Used with a perception verb (hören) in the Perfekt tense; hören remains an infinitive.

1. German: Ich werde das Dokument morgen unterschreiben müssen.

English: I will have to sign the document tomorrow. Note: Used with a modal verb (müssen) in the Futur I tense; müssen remains an infinitive.

1. German: Warum hast du mich nicht anrufen wollen?

English: Why didn't you want to call me? Note: Used with a modal verb (wollen) in the Perfekt tense (question); wollen remains an infinitive.

1. German: Die Kinder haben den Clown lachen sehen.

English: The children saw the clown laugh. Note: Used with a perception verb (sehen) in the Perfekt tense; sehen remains an infinitive.

1. German: Wenn ich mehr Zeit gehabt hätte, hätte ich dir helfen können.

English: If I had had more time, I could have helped you. Note: Used with a modal verb (können) in the Konjunktiv II Plusquamperfekt; können remains an infinitive.

1. German: Er hat sich das nicht gefallen lassen.

English: He didn't put up with that / He didn't let that happen. Note: Used with lassen in the Perfekt tense (negation); lassen remains an infinitive.

1. German: Man hat die Entscheidung nicht rückgängig machen können.

English: One couldn't undo the decision. Note: Used with a modal verb (können) in the Perfekt tense (impersonal subject); können remains an infinitive.

1. German: Sie hat die ganze Nacht arbeiten müssen.

English: She had to work all night. Note: Used with a modal verb (müssen) in the Perfekt tense; müssen remains an infinitive.

1. German: Ich habe dich nicht kommen sehen.

English: I didn't see you coming. Note: Used with a perception verb (sehen) in the Perfekt tense (negation); sehen remains an infinitive.

1. German: Hättest du das nicht anders formulieren sollen?

English: Shouldn't you have phrased that differently? Note: Used with a modal verb (sollen) in the Konjunktiv II Plusquamperfekt (question); sollen remains an infinitive.