Conceding a Point with "Mogen"
The verb mogen is often used to express permission ("to be allowed to"). However, it is also frequently used to concede a point before introducing a counter-argument, translating to "may well" in English.
To build this pattern, combine the conjugated form of mogen with the phrase dan wel.
| He may well be insanely famous, but he has no friends. | Hij mag dan wel waanzinnig beroemd zijn, maar hij heeft geen vrienden. |
The sentence structure follows the standard rules for modal verbs: the conjugated form of mogen (such as mag) takes the second position in the clause, and the main verb (like zijn) is pushed to the very end. The phrase dan wel typically sits right after the conjugated verb. Finally, follow up with maar (but) to introduce your counter-argument.
| The presenter may well be vain, but he is sincere. | De presentator mag dan wel ijdel zijn, maar hij is oprecht. |
Using Other Verbs
While this construction frequently uses zijn (to be) to describe someone's traits, it works just as well with other verbs, such as lijken (to seem) or hebben (to have).
| Her face may well seem beautiful, but it is usually fake. | Haar gezicht mag dan wel mooi lijken, maar het is meestal nep. |
| That actor may well have privileges, but he has no privacy. | Die acteur mag dan wel privileges hebben, maar hij heeft geen privacy. |
The Cost of Fame
When debating the lifestyles of celebrities, this grammatical pattern is highly effective. You will often see it paired with vocabulary related to fame (de roem), influence (de invloed), and artificiality (kunstmatig).
| The fame may be artificial, but her influence is enormous. | De roem mag dan wel kunstmatig zijn, maar haar invloed is enorm. |
| The celebrity may have the fame, but she is insecure. | De beroemdheid mag dan wel de roem hebben, maar zij is onzeker. |
