🔄😕

How to Say ‘I would have to change that’ in German

Ich müsste das ändern

ikh MUES-teh dahs EN-dern

[ikh MUES-teh dahs EN-dern]

💬 Usage Tip: müsste is the softer, "would have to" version of muss, marked by the added umlaut and -e. It makes a change request sound less demanding.

Phrase Breakdown

Ich müsste

ikh MUES-teh

I would have to

Subjunctive of 'müssen', a polite form. Round your lips for 'ü'.

Example

Ich müsste früher gehen.

I would have to leave earlier.

Words in this phrase

Ich

[ikh]

The pronoun 'ich' in nominative form.

Example

Ich bin da.

I am here.

müsste

[MUES-teh]

would have to

Subjunctive form of 'müssen'; a polite way to say you would need to do something.

Example

Ich müsste die Reservierung verschieben.

I would have to postpone the reservation.

das ändern

dahs EN-dern

change that

The object 'das' plus the infinitive at the end. Say the 'ä' like the 'e' in 'bed'.

Example

Kannst du das ändern?

Can you change that?

Words in this phrase

das

[dahs]

that / it

'Das' can mean 'that' or 'it', depending on context.

Example

Das macht Spaß beim WM-Schauen.

That is fun when watching the World Cup.

ändern

[EN-dern]

to change

Verb meaning to alter or modify something, like a booking.

Example

Kann ich die Personenzahl ändern?

Can I change the number of people?

Guides for German learners

Duolingo vs Pimsleur: Tapping on a Screen or Talking Out Loud?Duolingo vs Pimsleur: five minutes of tapping versus thirty minutes of speaking. What each is good at, what each costs, and which to pick for your goal.

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