sollst

Sollst is the second-person singular present tense form of the German modal verb sollen. Sollen expresses obligation, duty, or expectation, and is used to indicate that someone is supposed to do something. It can also convey recommendations, advice, or a polite suggestion depending on context, and appears in indirect or reported speech, as well as in instructions and rules.

Conjugation in the present tense is: ich soll, du sollst, er soll, wir sollen, ihr sollt, sie/Sie sollen. In the simple past (Präteritum) the forms are: ich sollte, du solltest, er sollte, wir sollten, ihr solltet, sie sollten. The Konjunktiv II (subjunctive) forms mirror these Präteritum forms: ich sollte, du solltest, er sollte, wir sollten, ihr solltet, sie sollten. For perfect tenses, German typically uses a double infinitive with a supporting verb, e.g., ich habe gehen sollen, du hast arbeiten sollen, to express that someone was supposed to do something.

Usage notes: sollen describes obligations imposed by others—such as rules, orders, or social expectations—rather than internal necessity. It differs from müssen, which expresses a stronger, more unavoidable requirement, and from haben zu, another construction for stated duties. Sollen can also express advice or a recommendation when the speaker conveys what is considered appropriate.

Examples include: "Du sollst deine Hausaufgaben machen." (You are supposed to do your homework.) "Sie sollen den Bericht bis morgen einreichen." (They are to submit the report by tomorrow.) Negative forms: "Du sollst das nicht tun." In questions: "Soll ich dir helfen?" The form is also used in polite instruction: "Sollten Sie Hilfe benötigen, rufen Sie mich an."

Etymology: sollen is cognate with Dutch zullen and English shall, from a Proto-Germanic root denoting obligation or duty.