Dutch Modal Verbs: How to Use Kunnen, Moeten, Mogen, Willen and Zullen

Dutch modal verbs are small words with an important job. They allow you to say whether something is possible, necessary, permitted, desired or expected.

Compare:

Ik werk vandaag.
I am working today.

Ik moet vandaag werken.
I have to work today.

The verb werken describes the action. The modal verb moeten adds the idea of necessity.

This article focuses on five modal verbs that Dutch learners encounter constantly:

• kunnen: can, to be able to
• moeten: must, to have to
• mogen: may, to be allowed to
• willen: to want to
• zullen: shall, will (used for proposals, promises and expectations)

Detailed Dutch grammars also include hoeven and several other verbs in discussions of modality. The five verbs above are particularly useful because they are frequent, irregular and normally combine with an infinitive without te.

Dutch Modal Verbs at a Glance

Modal verb	Main meaning	Dutch example	English translation
kunnen	ability or possibility	Ik kan goed zwemmen.	I can swim well.
moeten	necessity or obligation	Ik moet morgen werken.	I have to work tomorrow.
mogen	permission	Je mag hier zitten.	You may sit here.
willen	desire or intention	Wij willen Nederlands leren.	We want to learn Dutch.
zullen	proposal, promise or expectation	Zullen we beginnen?	Shall we start?

1. The Basic Structure

When a modal verb is combined with another verb, the modal is usually the finite verb, i.e. the verb that is conjugated according to the subject and tense. The main action remains in the infinitive.

The basic pattern in a Dutch main clause is:

subject + finite modal verb + the rest + infinitive

Ik kan Nederlands spreken.
I can speak Dutch.

Je moet morgen vroeg opstaan.
You have to get up early tomorrow.

Wij willen in Nederland studeren.
We want to study in the Netherlands.

Zij mag vanavond langer blijven.
She is allowed to stay longer tonight.

Notice that the infinitive comes at the end:

• kan … spreken
• moet … opstaan
• willen … studeren
• mag … blijven

No Te After These Five Modal Verbs

These five verbs normally connect directly to the infinitive:

Ik kan zwemmen.
I can swim.

*Ik kan te zwemmen. (incorrect)

Wij moeten vertrekken.
We have to leave.

*Wij moeten te vertrekken. (incorrect)

The related verb hoeven is different and does combine with te:

Je hoeft niet te komen.
You do not have to come.

2. Modal Verbs Can Also Appear Without an Infinitive

Modal verbs do not always have a visible second verb. Sometimes the missing action is clear from the context, or the modal is used independently.

Ik wil koffie.
I want coffee.

Je mag naar huis.
You may go home.

Ik kan het niet.
I cannot do it.

Zij wil niet mee.
She does not want to come along.

However, an infinitive could sometimes be added:

Je mag naar huis gaan.
You may go home.

However, the shorter version Je mag naar huis is completely natural. Dutch modal verbs can occur without an expressed infinitive when the intended action is sufficiently clear.

3. Present Tense Conjugation

The modal verbs are irregular. Their singular forms therefore need to be learned separately.

Verb	ik	jij/je	hij/zij/het	wij/jullie/zij
kunnen	kan	kunt / kan	kan	kunnen
moeten	moet	moet	moet	moeten
mogen	mag	mag	mag	mogen
willen	wil	wilt / wil	wil	willen
zullen	zal	zult / zal	zal	zullen

Examples:

Ik kan vanavond komen.
I can come tonight.

Jij kunt vanavond komen.
You can come tonight.

Hij kan vanavond komen.
He can come tonight.

Wij kunnen vanavond komen.
We can come tonight.

Kunt or Kan? Wilt or Wil? Zult or Zal?

With jij and je, both sets of forms are correct:

• jij kunt and jij kan
• jij wilt and jij wil
• jij zult and jij zal

The shorter forms kan, wil and zal are generally perceived as more informal in the Netherlands. That stylistic difference is less pronounced in Belgium.

In questions and inversion, the forms without -t are used:

Kun je morgen komen?
Can you come tomorrow?

Wil je koffie?
Would you like coffee?

Zul je op tijd zijn?
Will you be on time?

The alternatives Kan je …? and Zal je …? are also standard.

Be careful with the third person:

Hij wil komen.
He wants to come.

*Hij wilt komen. (incorrect)

Only hij wil is correct.

4. Past-Tense Forms

The past forms are also irregular.

Verb	Singular	Plural	Common English translation
kunnen	kon	konden	could, was able to
moeten	moest	moesten	had to
mogen	mocht	mochten	was allowed to
willen	wilde / wou	wilden / wouden	wanted to
zullen	zou	zouden	would

Examples:

Ik kon vroeger goed schaatsen.
I could skate well when I was younger.

We moesten lang wachten.
We had to wait a long time.

Hij mocht niet mee.
He was not allowed to come along.

Zij wilde leraar worden.
She wanted to become a teacher.

Ik zou dat niet doen.
I would not do that.

Wilde or Wou?

Both wilde and wou occur:

Ik wilde naar huis.
I wanted to go home.

Ik wou naar huis.
I wanted to go home.

Wilde is the safest neutral form in formal and careful writing. Wou is very common in informal speech and informal writing. The plural wouden is also used, but it is more clearly informal than the singular wou.

Is Zou Really a Past Tense?

Historically and grammatically, zou is the past form of zullen. In present-day Dutch, however, it is frequently used for:

• hypothetical situations
• advice
• polite requests
• situations that are not certain
• the future as viewed from a past moment

Ik zou meer rust nemen.
I would get more rest.

Zou je me kunnen helpen?
Could you help me?

Hij zei dat hij later zou bellen.
He said that he would call later.

5. Kunnen: Ability and Possibility

Kunnen can express both ability and possibility.

Ability

Ik kan goed koken.
I can cook well.

Zij kan nog niet zwemmen.
She cannot swim yet.

Kun je autorijden?
Can you drive?

Possibility

We kunnen morgen afspreken.
We can meet tomorrow.

Het kan vanavond regenen.
It might rain tonight.

Het kan zijn dat hij te laat komt.
It may be that he will arrive late.

Kunnen in Requests

Kun je me even helpen?
Can you help me for a moment?

Kunt u dit herhalen?
Could you repeat that?

These questions are grammatically about ability, but in practice they function as requests.

Kunnen with Languages

To describe the ability to speak a language, use:

Ik spreek Nederlands.
I speak Dutch.

or:

Ik kan Nederlands spreken.
I can speak Dutch.

Using only Ik kan Nederlands is common in some informal or regional speech, but it is not generally considered standard Dutch.

6. Moeten: Necessity, Obligation and Deduction

Moeten expresses something that is necessary, required or strongly advisable.

Ik moet vandaag werken.
I have to work today.

Je moet je paspoort meenemen.
You have to bring your passport.

We moeten nu vertrekken.
We have to leave now.

It can also express a strong conclusion:

Dat moet Jan zijn.
That must be Jan.

Ze moeten al thuis zijn.
They must already be home.

7. Moeten or Hoeven in Negative Sentences?

This is an important distinction.

Je moet niet komen

Je moet niet komen.
You must not come / You should not come.

The action itself is negative. It is necessary or advisable that you do not come.

Je hoeft niet te komen

Je hoeft niet te komen.
You do not have to come.

There is no obligation. You may come, but it is not necessary.

Compare:

Je moet vandaag niet werken.
You must not work today / You should not work today.

Je hoeft vandaag niet te werken.
You do not have to work today.

There is an important regional difference. In Belgian Dutch, Je moet niet komen can also mean You do not have to come. In Netherlands Dutch, it will normally be interpreted as You must not come. For clear communication across the entire Dutch-speaking area, use hoeven + niet + te when you mean that something is unnecessary.

8. Mogen: Permission and Prohibition

Mogen expresses whether something is permitted.

Permission

Je mag hier zitten.
You may sit here.

De kinderen mogen buiten spelen.
The children are allowed to play outside.

Mag ik even binnenkomen?
May I come in?

Prohibition

The combination mogen + niet means that something is not allowed:

Je mag hier niet roken.
You are not allowed to smoke here.

We mogen deze deur niet gebruiken.
We are not allowed to use this door.

Avoid translating these sentences with English may not, because that can also express uncertainty. Not allowed to makes the meaning clearer.

Kunnen or Mogen?

English often uses can for both ability and permission. Dutch usually distinguishes them.

Kan je zwemmen?
Can you swim?

This asks about ability.

Mag je hier zwemmen?
Are you allowed to swim here?

This asks about permission.

Compare:

Kan ik hier met een kaart betalen?
Can I pay by card here?

This asks whether it is practically possible.

Mag ik hier parkeren?
May I park here?

This asks whether parking is permitted.

9. Willen: Desire and Intention

Willen expresses what someone wants or intends to do.

Ik wil Nederlands leren.
I want to learn Dutch.

Zij wil later arts worden.
She wants to become a doctor later.

Wij willen volgend jaar verhuizen.
We want to move next year.

Using Graag

In requests and service situations, graag makes the sentence friendlier and more natural:

Ik wil graag koffie.
I would like some coffee.

Wij willen graag reserveren.
We would like to make a reservation.

Ik wil koffie is grammatically correct, but it may sound rather direct when ordering something.

The Same Subject or a Different Subject

Use an infinitive when the person who wants something is also the person who performs the action:

Ik wil gaan.
I want to go.

Zij wil Nederlands leren.
She wants to learn Dutch.

Use a clause with dat when the subject changes:

Ik wil dat jij gaat.
I want you to go.

Zij wil dat haar kinderen Nederlands leren.
She wants her children to learn Dutch.

10. Zullen: Proposals, Promises and Expectations

Dutch does not use zullen every time it refers to the future. The present tense is often sufficient when the time is clear:

Ik bel je morgen.
I will call you tomorrow.

Volgende week vertrekken we naar België.
We are leaving for Belgium next week.

Dutch can use the present tense, zullen or, in suitable contexts, gaan to refer to future events.

Promise or Intention

Ik zal je morgen bellen.
I will call you tomorrow.

Here, zal can make the sentence sound more like a promise or deliberate commitment.

Ik zal op tijd zijn.
I will be on time.

Proposal

Zullen we beginnen?
Shall we start?

Zullen we vanavond iets eten?
Shall we have something to eat tonight?

Expectation or Probability

Dat zal wel kloppen.
That is probably right.

Hij zal nu wel thuis zijn.
He is probably home by now.

Zou for Advice and Politeness

Ik zou dat niet doen.
I would not do that.

Zou je even kunnen wachten?
Could you wait a moment?

Ik zou graag een afspraak maken.
I would like to make an appointment.

11. Word Order with Dutch Modal Verbs

Main Clauses

In an ordinary statement, the finite modal verb occupies the second sentence position. The infinitive appears at the end.

Ik moet morgen werken.
I have to work tomorrow.

Zij kan heel goed zingen.
She can sing very well.

We willen op tijd vertrekken.
We want to leave on time.

When another element comes first, inversion occurs:

Morgen moet ik werken.
Tomorrow, I have to work.

Volgende week willen we vertrekken.
Next week, we want to leave.

In a yes-or-no question, the finite modal comes first:

Moet je morgen werken?
Do you have to work tomorrow?

Mag ik hier zitten?
May I sit here?

Subordinate Clauses

In a subordinate clause, both the modal verb and the infinitive appear at the end:

Ik denk dat ik morgen moet werken.
I think that I have to work tomorrow.

Ze zegt dat ze niet kan komen.
She says that she cannot come.

We weten dat hij wil vertrekken.
We know that he wants to leave.

For beginners, the neutral order modal + infinitive is a reliable choice:

• moet werken
• kan komen
• wil vertrekken

When the final verb group contains only a modal and an infinitive, the reverse order can also occur:

Ik weet dat hij morgen werken moet.

Preferences between moet werken and werken moet differ across regions and styles. The first order is the safest general pattern for learners.

12. The Perfect Tense and the Double Infinitive

The perfect tense becomes more unusual when a modal verb is combined with another verb.

Compare:

Ik moest werken.
I had to work.

Ik heb moeten werken.
I had to work.

In the perfect construction, Dutch normally uses:

finite form of hebben + modal infinitive + main infinitive

Ik heb gisteren moeten werken.
I had to work yesterday.

Zij heeft niet kunnen komen.
She was unable to come.

We hebben langer mogen blijven.
We were allowed to stay longer.

Hij heeft niet willen luisteren.
He did not want to listen.

The modal remains an infinitive instead of becoming a past participle. This is known as the replacement infinitive or double-infinitive construction.

Therefore:

Ik heb kunnen zwemmen. (correct)
I have been able to swim.

*Ik heb gekund zwemmen. (incorrect)

When the Modal Is Used Independently

When no second infinitive is present, a normal past participle is possible:

Dat heb ik nooit gekund.
I have never been able to do that.

Dat heb ik niet gewild.
I did not want that.

Compare:

Ik heb het niet gekund.
I was not able to do it.

Ik heb het niet kunnen doen.
I was not able to do it.

Hebben or Zijn?

In perfect constructions with a modal verb, hebben is generally the safest choice:

Hij heeft niet kunnen komen.
He was unable to come.

When the main verb normally forms the perfect tense with zijn, this may also be used:

Hij is niet kunnen komen.

The construction with zijn is common and accepted in standard Belgian Dutch. It also occurs in the Netherlands, but much less frequently. The construction with hebben is standard throughout the Dutch-speaking area.

For most learners, Hij heeft niet kunnen komen is therefore the simplest and most dependable pattern.

13. Modal Verbs and Politeness

Modal verbs help make requests less direct.

Direct and Normal

Kun je me helpen?
Can you help me?

Mag ik iets vragen?
May I ask something?

These are already normal and polite in everyday situations.

Softer

Zou je me kunnen helpen?
Could you help me?

Zou u even kunnen wachten?
Could you wait a moment?

Zou ik u iets mogen vragen?
May I ask you something?

Graag and Even

Graag expresses a preference or willingness:

Ik wil graag betalen.
I would like to pay.

Ik zou graag komen.
I would like to come.

Even often makes a request sound smaller or less demanding:

Mag ik even iets vragen?
May I ask you something?

Kun je even kijken?
Can you take a quick look?

Tone and context still matter, but these patterns are useful in both informal and formal communication.

The Most Important Rules to Remember (TL;DR)

The five modal verbs in this guide are kunnen, moeten, mogen, willen and zullen.

When they combine with another verb:

• the modal is conjugated
• the main verb remains an infinitive
• no te is used
• the infinitive appears at the end of a main clause
• both verbs appear at the end of a subordinate clause

Ik kan Nederlands spreken.
I can speak Dutch.

Morgen moet ik werken.
Tomorrow, I have to work.

Ik weet dat zij niet kan komen.
I know that she cannot come.

In the perfect tense, use the double infinitive:

Ik heb moeten werken.
I had to work.

Once these patterns become familiar, modal verbs make it much easier to express ability, necessity, permission, desire, advice and probability in natural Dutch.

Free Dutch Modal Verbs Cheat Sheet

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Download the free Dutch Modal Verbs Cheat Sheet for a one-page overview of the conjugations, meanings, word order, perfect tense and common mistakes.