möchten

Möchten is a German modal-like verb used to express wishes, desires, or polite requests. It is historically the Konjunktiv II form of mögen, but in modern German it operates as an independent verb with its own present tense forms. In everyday speech, möchten signals a softer or more courteous way to express what one would like.

Möchten is typically used together with another verb in the infinite form. The conjugated form in a sentence is followed by the main action in the infinitive at the end of the clause. For example: Ich möchte heute Abend Pizza essen. Was möchten Sie trinken? This makes it a common choice for offers and inquiries, such as in service settings: Möchten Sie noch etwas?

Conjugation in the present tense is: ich möchte, du möchtest, er möchte, wir möchten, ihr möchtet, sie möchten. There is no separate simple past form in the standard present-tense paradigm; to refer to past wishes or intentions, speakers use alternatives such as ich wollte, ich hätte gerne, or ich hätte mögen, depending on the context.

Negation is straightforward: ich möchte nicht, er möchte kein Problem verursachen. The phrase can be strengthened with gern or lieber for nuance, e.g., Ich möchte lieber Tee als Kaffee. Compared with wollen, möchten is considered more polite or tentative, making it the preferred choice for requests, offers, and formal situations.