Modal Verbs: Moeten and Mogen
In Dutch, moeten means "must" or "to have to", expressing obligation or necessity. Mogen means "may" or "to be allowed to", expressing permission.
Like other modal verbs, their conjugations are slightly irregular in the singular forms:
| Pronoun | Moeten | Mogen |
|---|
| Ik | moet | mag |
| Jij / U | moet | mag |
| Hij / Zij / Het | moet | mag |
| Wij / Jullie / Zij | moeten | mogen |
Word Order and Obligations
Just like willen and kunnen, these modal verbs take the second position in a sentence, pushing the main verb to the end in its infinitive form.
This rule applies to separable verbs, too. When paired with a modal verb, separable verbs like invullen (to fill in) or opstaan (to get up) aren't split up; the entire unseparated word goes to the end of the sentence.
Asking Questions
In a yes/no question, the conjugated modal verb moves to the front of the sentence, while the main verb stays at the end.
Asking and Denying Permission
Use mogen to ask if something is permitted.
To state that something is not allowed, combine mogen with niet (not).
Rules and Restrictions
Instead of using a modal verb, a rule (de regel) can be stated directly by declaring that an action is strictly forbidden (verboden).
