Teaching guidelines +/- 15 minutes

Learn to use the Dutch modal verbs moeten (must), kunnen (can), and mogen (may) to express obligations, abilities, and permissions with examples like 'Je moet op tijd komen' and 'Je mag hier niet roken'.
  1. Must indicates obligations, as in 'Je moet op tijd komen'.
  2. Can is used for possibilities or abilities, such as 'Ik kan koken'.
  3. Mogen gives permission or prohibition, such as 'Je mag hier niet roken'.
Persoon (Person)Moeten (must)Kunnen (Can)Mogen (May)
Ikmoet (must)kan (Person)mag (may)
Jijmoet (must)kan (Person)mag (may)
Hij/Zij/Hetmoet (must)kan (Person)mag (may)
Wijmoeten (must)kunnen (can)mogen (may)
Julliemoeten (must)kunnen (can)mogen (may)
Zijmoeten (must)kunnen (can)mogen (may)

Exercise 1: Modale werkwoorden (moeten, kunnen, mogen)

Instruction: Fill in the correct word.

Show translation Show answers

mogen, kan, moet, mag

1.
Je ... op tijd op school zijn.
(You must be at school on time.)
2.
Jullie ... niet vergeten de olie toe te voegen.
(You must not forget to add the oil.)
3.
Ik ... goed dansen.
(I can dance well.)
4.
Hij ... vandaag niet naar de les komen.
(He cannot come to the lesson today.)
5.
Hij ... elke dag om 7 uur opstaan.
(He has to get up at 7 o'clock every day.)
6.
Je ... de boter smelten voor het recept.
(You have to melt the butter for the recipe.)
7.
Je ... niet roken in het restaurant.
(You are not allowed to smoke in the restaurant.)

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct solution

1. Je ___ altijd een schort dragen tijdens het koken.

(You ___ always wear an apron while cooking.)

2. Wij ___ dit recept makkelijk maken.

(We ___ easily make this recipe.)

3. Je ___ hier niet eten.

(You ___ may not eat here.)

4. Ik ___ de oven voorverwarmen voor het bakken.

(I ___ must preheat the oven before baking.)

5. Jij ___ goed koekjes bakken.

(You ___ can bake cookies well.)

6. We ___ hier alleen groenten snijden.

(We ___ are only allowed to cut vegetables here.)

Understanding Modal Verbs in Dutch: moeten, kunnen, mogen

This lesson introduces you to three essential Dutch modal verbs: moeten, kunnen, and mogen. These verbs express obligation, ability, and permission, respectively. Mastering them will help you communicate daily needs, possibilities, and rules in Dutch.

Overview of Modal Verbs

  • Moeten indicates an obligation or necessity. For example, "Je moet op tijd komen" means "You must arrive on time." It conveys something that is required or expected.
  • Kunnen expresses ability or possibility. For instance, "Ik kan koken" means "I can cook," showing a skill or capability.
  • Mogen is used for permission or prohibition. "Je mag hier niet roken" means "You are not allowed to smoke here," indicating what is allowed or not allowed.

Conjugation of Modal Verbs

Modal verbs conjugate according to the subject. Here are the present tense forms for moeten, kunnen, and mogen:

PersonMoetenKunnenMogen
Ik (I)moetkanmag
Jij (You singular)moetkanmag
Hij/Zij/Het (He/She/It)moetkanmag
Wij (We)moetenkunnenmogen
Jullie (You plural)moetenkunnenmogen
Zij (They)moetenkunnenmogen

Key Expressions and Examples

  • Je moet altijd een schort dragen tijdens het koken. – You must always wear an apron while cooking.
  • Wij kunnen dit recept makkelijk maken. – We can easily make this recipe.
  • Je mag hier niet eten. – You may not eat here.
  • Ik moet de oven voorverwarmen voor het bakken. – I have to preheat the oven before baking.
  • Jij kunt goed koekjes bakken. – You can bake cookies well.
  • We mogen hier alleen groenten snijden. – We are only allowed to cut vegetables here.

Important Notes on Usage

In Dutch, modal verbs often come directly before the main verb in the sentence without a preposition, unlike English where auxiliaries combine with full verbs differently. For example, "Ik kan zwemmen" translates literally as "I can swim" but the modal verbs are integral parts of the sentence structure.

Some useful phrases to practice include:

  • Moeten: Ik moet werken (I must work), Je moet luisteren (You must listen)
  • Kunnen: Ik kan lezen (I can read), Hij kan praten (He can talk)
  • Mogen: Mag ik binnenkomen? (May I come in?), Je mag niet roken (You may not smoke)

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Kato De Paepe

Business and languages

KdG University of Applied Sciences and Arts Antwerp

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Last Updated:

Thursday, 17/07/2025 09:29