---
title: "Indirect Commands, Rumors, and Claims — German grammar C1"
description: "Learn C1 German indirect commands, rumors, and self-claims with sollen, mögen, and wollen."
canonical: "https://cefra.app/en/explore/de/grammar/c1/german-indirect-reporting-commands-rumors-and-claims"
lang: "en"
learning_language: "de"
cefr_level: "C1"
updated: "2026-07-11"
alternates:
  en: "https://cefra.app/en/explore/de/grammar/c1/german-indirect-reporting-commands-rumors-and-claims.md"
  fr: "https://cefra.app/fr/explore/de/grammar/c1/german-indirect-reporting-commands-rumors-and-claims.md"
  pl: "https://cefra.app/pl/explore/de/grammar/c1/german-indirect-reporting-commands-rumors-and-claims.md"
  ru: "https://cefra.app/ru/explore/de/grammar/c1/german-indirect-reporting-commands-rumors-and-claims.md"
---

# Indirect Commands, Rumors, and Claims

[Cefra](https://cefra.app/en.md) › [German](https://cefra.app/en/explore/de.md) › [Grammar](https://cefra.app/en/explore/de/grammar.md) › [C1](https://cefra.app/en/explore/de/grammar/c1.md) › Indirect Commands, Rumors, and Claims

Report polite requests, instructions, commands, and prohibitions with mögen, sollen, müssen, and dürfen, and mark rumors or distanced self-claims with sollen/wollen, including past and passive forms.

Last updated: July 11, 2026

`sollen`, `wollen`, and `mögen` can signal not only modality but also the **source** of a statement. They let speakers report information without endorsing it as fact.

## Rule-to-example map

| Rule                               | German example                                                                       |
| ---------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| polite indirect request with mögen | Die Vorsitzende bat, der Gast möge noch einen Moment warten.                         |
| indirect instruction with sollen   | Der Redakteur sagte, ich solle den Absatz kürzen.                                    |
| strict prohibition with dürfen     | Die Aufsicht warnte, niemand dürfe den Saal betreten.                                |
| urgent command with müssen         | Der Einsatzleiter befahl, alle müssten das Gebäude sofort verlassen.                 |
| indicative sollen is possible      | Die Chefin sagte, wir sollen morgen früher anfangen.                                 |
| present-time rumor                 | Die Ministerin soll einen Rücktritt erwägen.                                         |
| rumor about the past               | Die Ministerin soll den Entwurf bereits geändert haben.                              |
| rumor in the stative passive       | Die Akten sollen seit Montag verschwunden sein.                                      |
| rumor in present event passive     | Die Brücke soll derzeit überprüft werden.                                            |
| rumor in past event passive        | Die Brücke soll bereits überprüft worden sein.                                       |
| present self-claim                 | Der Berater will alle Risiken kennen.                                                |
| past self-claim                    | Der Berater will frühzeitig gewarnt haben.                                           |
| self-claim in the passive          | Der Zeuge will bedroht worden sein.                                                  |
| source minimal pair                | Die Firma soll Steuern vermieden haben. / Die Firma will alle Regeln beachtet haben. |
| evidence and distance              | Sie soll die Datei gelöscht haben; bestätigt ist das nicht.                          |
| no future tense required           | Der Konzern soll nächstes Jahr neue Stellen schaffen.                                |

## Forms and meaning

- **sollen + infinitive** reports what other sources claim; the speaker keeps distance.
- **wollen + infinitive** reports a person's claim about themself and often signals doubt.
- Anteriority uses **past participle + haben/sein**: _soll gegangen sein_, _will gewarnt haben_.
- Past event passive uses **past participle + worden sein**: _soll geprüft worden sein_.
- In indirect commands, the addressee becomes the subject. `möge` is polite/elevated, `solle` neutral-directive; `müsse` and `dürfe nicht` strengthen obligation or prohibition.

## Exercises

[Start practice](https://cefra.app/en/explore/de/grammar/c1/german-indirect-reporting-commands-rumors-and-claims/practice)

1. Classify each statement by source or function: command, rumor, or self-claim. (10 tasks)
2. Rewrite the direct statement as a complete indirect report with the appropriate modal verb. (10 tasks)
3. Correct the sentence, paying attention to source, time reference, and passive form. (10 tasks)