Jeg måtte vente på stationen.

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Breakdown of Jeg måtte vente på stationen.

• på: at
• vente: to wait
• måtte: must

Questions & Answers about Jeg måtte vente på stationen.

Does bolded verb måtte mean “had to” or “was allowed to” here?

In this sentence it most naturally means “had to”: Jeg måtte vente = “I had to wait.”
However, måtte can also mean “was allowed to” in other contexts, especially with gerne or in the negative:

• Jeg måtte gerne vente. = “I was allowed to wait.”
• Jeg måtte ikke vente. = “I wasn’t allowed to wait.”

How is måtte different from skulle and (blev/var) nødt til?

All three can translate as “had to,” but they differ in feel:

• måtte: necessity due to circumstances or rules right then and there. Neutral and very common.
• skulle: an expectation, plan, or requirement (often scheduled/assigned). “I was supposed to.”
• blev/var nødt til (at): strong, inescapable necessity. “I had no choice but to.”

Examples:

• Jeg måtte vente. = I had to wait (circumstances made me).
• Jeg skulle vente. = I was supposed/required to wait.
• Jeg blev nødt til at vente. = I had no choice but to wait.

Why is it vente and not the past form ventede after måtte?