Learn Dutch: Mogen we de auto vanmiddag gebruiken? - May we use the car this afternoon?

Mogen we de auto vanmiddag gebruiken?

May we use the car this afternoon?

Breakdown of Mogen we de auto vanmiddag gebruiken?

de auto

the car

mogen

to be allowed to / may

Questions & Answers about Mogen we de auto vanmiddag gebruiken?

Why is gebruiken at the very end of the sentence?

This is because of the verb bracket rule. The modal verb mogen (may) takes the active verb spot at the front. This pushes the main action verb (gebruiken, meaning to use) all the way to the end of the sentence in its full dictionary form.

Why does the sentence start with Mogen we instead of We mogen?

Because this is a yes/no question. You turn a statement into a question by putting the active verb first. So, We mogen (We may) becomes Mogen we (May we).

Does vanmiddag mean "this afternoon" or "from the afternoon"?

It means "this afternoon". In Dutch, adding the prefix van- to a time of day points to "this" specific one. You will also see this pattern in vanmorgen (this morning) and vanavond (this evening).

Could I ask this question using kunnen (can) instead of mogen (may)?

You could, but it changes the meaning! Mogen is specifically used to ask for permission (are we allowed to use the car). If you used kunnen, it would sound like you are asking if it is physically possible or if you have the ability to use it.