Modal verbs can also function as full verbs; in this case, they are not connected to an infinitive but to adverbial phrases that denote direction (same for all modal verbs) or to an accusative object (modal verbs wollen, mögen, ich möchte and können). These sentences are usually elliptical and the infinitive is not mentioned, because its meaning derives from context.
| Examples | complement |
| Ich muss hin. | adverbial denoting direction |
| Sie will in die Stadt. | phrase denoting direction |
| Lisa möchte noch ein Stück Pizza. | accusative object |
| Ich kann Deutsch. | accusative object |