Breakdown of Wij moesten vandaag solliciteren.
wij
we
vandaag
today
moeten
to have to, must
solliciteren
to apply
Questions & Answers about Wij moesten vandaag solliciteren.
How do I know whether to use moest or moesten?
Moeten means 'must' or 'to have to'. In the simple past, the singular form is moest (I/he/she had to) and the plural form is moesten (we/they had to). Since the subject is Wij (we), you use the plural moesten.
Why is this translated as 'had to' instead of 'must'?
In English, the word 'must' does not have a past tense form. Because moesten is the past tense of moeten (must/have to), it translates directly to 'had to' in English.
Why is the verb solliciteren all the way at the end of the sentence?
This is a standard rule for modal verbs in Dutch. The modal verb (moesten) takes the second position in the sentence, and it pushes the main action verb (solliciteren) to the very end in its full dictionary form (the infinitive).
Can I use solliciteren to say I applied for a visa or a university?
No, solliciteren is specifically used for applying for a job. If you are applying for an official document like a passport, you would use the verb aanvragen.