Can You Omit 'Sollen' in German Sentences Without Changing the Meaning?

The question of whether you can omit the sollen in a German sentence without changing its meaning is often debated by both learners and native speakers. This article explores the nuances of German sentence structure and illustrates the potential impact on meaning when certain elements are omitted.

Grammatical Correctness and Meaning

Consider the following sentence: Ich h?ttete dich nie kommen lassen sollen. Although the sentence remains grammatically correct if you omit sollen, the overall meaning changes significantly. Let's break down the difference in meaning:

Ich h?ttete dich nie kommen lassen sollen. I should have never let you come.

Removing sollen, the sentence becomes: Ich h?ttete dich nie kommen lassen. I would have never let you come.

In the first version, the speaker is expressing a regret or a moral judgment, suggesting that the action of letting someone come should not have occurred. In the second version, the speaker is simply stating a factual possibility or a hypothetical scenario, indicating that they would not have let the person come under the given circumstances.

To further illustrate this, consider the following example sentences:

Ich h?ttete dich nie kommen(':', #hide lassen wenn ich gewu?t h?tte wie teuer der Flug ist.

This sentence translates to: “If I had known how expensive the flight was, I wouldn’t have let you come.” Here, the sentence needs a conditional clause to convey the intended meaning fully.

Stylistic Considerations

While the sentence is grammatically correct without sollen, it can appear hesitant or awkward, especially when used in a context where implicit should/have should be emphasized. For instance, in the phrase: Ich h?ttete dich nie kommen lassen schlagen. The inclusion of sollen not only clarifies the speaker's intent but also adds a sense of finality and moral judgment.

From a stylistic standpoint, the sentence constructs around sollen (e.g., Ich h?ttete dich nie kommen lassen sollen.}) can be seen as more forceful and definitive, whereas the sentence without it (e.g., Ich h?ttete dich nie kommen lassen.}) might be perceived as less decisive or more open to interpretation.

It is important to note that in both cases, the subtleties of meaning can significantly alter the overall tone and intent of the sentence. Semantically, the inclusion or exclusion of sollen can convey different levels of judgment, regret, or hypothetical conditions.

Conditional Clauses and Semantic Clarity

The grammatical correctness of the sentence is not affected by the inclusion or exclusion of sollen; however, the semantic clarity and the intended meaning are.

Consider the following sentence:

Ich h?ttete dich nie kommen lassen.

This sentence can stand alone as a statement of a hypothetical scenario. However, the addition of the conditional clause is crucial for providing context and a clearer understanding of the statement:

Ich h?ttete dich nie kommen lassen wenn ich gewu?t h?tte wie teuer der Flug ist.

Without the conditional, the sentence may be perceived as a more absolutist statement without the necessary context. The conditional clause helps to set the scene and gives the sentence a more nuanced and contextualized meaning.

Similarly, in English, a comparable structure would be:

I shouldn’t have asked you to come (can stand alone)

vs.

If I had known how expensive the flight was, I wouldn’t have asked you to come.

In both examples, the inclusion of the conditional clause enhances the clarity and context of the statement.

In conclusion, while the omission of sollen does not violate grammatical rules in German, it can drastically change the meaning and nuance of the sentence. Whether to include or omit sollen depends on the intended meaning and the context in which the sentence is used.