Inedia

Hey, everyone! I was hoping someone could help me out with a little doubt I have. German's such a compelling but demanding language!

Here it is: my grammar reference text gave this example to explain a special use of the verb "dürfen":

Ich darf zur Arbeit

and translated it as:

I must go to work.

Now, I'm a bit puzzled. I thought "müssen" or "brauchen" could be used to convey that meaning. I couldn't find anything helpful even on my dictionary. Can you help me out?

Many, many thanks!

Framboise

Hello, Inedia !

In this context, ‘dürfen’ is used ironically and its meaning is ‘müssen’ (must; have to).

"Ich darf zur Arbeit (gehen)." means actually: "Ich muss (wohl) zur Arbeit (gehen)."

Inedia

Hi Framboise

So it is used ironically! That actually makes more sense now, even if I can't quite "feel" the irony as we havn't got anything like that in Italian (at least I reckon so). I'll take it as it is; I still need to gain the feeling for the language, so I'll just be patient.

Thanks a lot for your help!

vitharr

another possible translation into english might be:
"I may go to work." like after you were sick or so.

Avila

Oh my dear! I truely understand that you're confused.
To translate "I must go to work" as "Ich darf zur Arbeit gehen[/b]" you have to think outside the box. I wouldn't get that idea at first go and German is my mother language! But well if the "darf" in this case is meant ironically I would translate it - in the figuartive sense - as "Oh well! I'm allowed to go to work! Isn't that fantastic? I'm allowed to go to work". (But with keeping the current job market situation in the back of your mind it's not that unrealistic to be happy because you have the chance to work)
Usually you can translate the German "darf" as "may", "be allowed to" or "be able to". Cases in which you have to translate "darf" as "must" are nearly non-existing.