Grammar · Topic 11 · A1 · 8 questions · about 13 minutes

Modal verbs: kunnen, moeten, willen, mogen

Modale werkwoorden

Learn the verbs kunnen (can), moeten (must, have to), willen (to want), mogen (to be allowed to), hoeven and zullen. You will see how they are conjugated, that the second verb goes to the end, and what they mean in official texts.

Explanation

What are modal verbs for?

Modal verbs show that an action is possible, necessary, wanted or allowed: Ik kan zwemmen. (I can swim.) / Ik moet werken. (I have to work.) Like English 'can' and 'must', Dutch uses a separate verb for this.

Modal verbs come up very often in daily life and in official letters: U moet het formulier invullen. / Hier mag u niet parkeren. To understand a rule in a letter, it is often enough to understand the modal verb.

Conjugation

Modal verbs are irregular; pay special attention to the ik and hij forms: hij kan, hij wil, hij mag do not take -t. moeten, however, is regular. In questions with jij/je: Kun je…?, Wil je…?, Mag je…?

	kunnen	moeten	willen	mogen
ik	kan	moet	wil	mag
jij / je	kunt (kan)	moet	wilt (wil)	mag
u	kunt	moet	wilt	mag
hij / zij	kan	moet	wil	mag
wij / jullie / zij	kunnen	moeten	willen	mogen

The second verb goes to the endLocked

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Meanings, hoeven and zullenLocked

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From official letters and daily lifeLocked

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Polite requests and official textsLocked

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Common mistakesLocked

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Words you need

kunnencan, to be able to
moetenmust, to have to
willento want
mogento be allowed to, may
niet hoevennot have to
zullenwill, shall; to promise
de regelrule
de toestemmingpermission

Example questions

1 / 8

Question 1

Kies de goede vorm: Hij ___ goed koken.

Choose the correct form: He can cook well.

kunnen is irregular: hij kan, without -t.

Test yourself

1 / 8

0 of 8 answered · 0 correctYour answers are kept on this device.

Question 1

Kies de goede vorm: Hij ___ goed koken.

Choose an option

My answers

2Welke zin is correct?Locked
3Op een bord staat: 'Hier mag u niet roken.' Wat betekent dat?Locked
4Kies het goede woord: U ___ niet te betalen. Het is gratis.Locked

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