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The modal verbs express ability, wishes, necessity and permission, and zullen is used to make a suggestion. They are followed by an infinitive, placed at the end of the clause.
Modal verbs and the infinitive at the end: kunnen, willen, moeten, mogen#
Formation
The modal verbs kunnen, willen, moeten and mogen are conjugated and stand in the place of the finite verb: second in a statement, first in a yes/no question. The second verb is an infinitive, placed at the end of the clause, and the other parts of the sentence stand between the two verbs. The singular forms are irregular, the plural forms regular.
| kunnen | willen | moeten | mogen | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ik | kan | wil | moet | mag |
| jij | kan | wil | moet | mag |
| u | kan | wil | moet | mag |
| hij/zij/het | kan | wil | moet | mag |
| wij | kunnen | willen | moeten | mogen |
| jullie | kunnen | willen | moeten | mogen |
| zij | kunnen | willen | moeten | mogen |
Kunnen has kan with ik and hij / zij / het, and kunt with jij and u; jij kan and u kan are also standard, though more informal in the Netherlands. Willen has wil with ik and hij / zij / het, and wilt with jij and u; jij wil is also standard. Mogen has mag in the whole singular, and moeten has moet, its stem ending in -t. Before je and jij, kunt and wilt are written without -t: Kun je …?, Wil je …?; Kan je …? is also standard.
Negation. Niet is placed before the infinitive at the end: Ik kan morgen niet komen. A ban, English “must not” or “not allowed to”, is usually expressed with mag niet: In de trein mag je niet roken.
Use
Kunnen expresses ability or possibility (“can, to be able to”). Willen expresses a wish or an intention (“to want”); it is also followed by a noun alone: Ik wil een glas melk. Moeten expresses necessity or obligation (“must, to have to”). Mogen expresses permission (“may, to be allowed to”).
- Mijn dochter kan al goed zwemmen.My daughter can already swim well.
- Wil je een kopje thee?Do you want a cup of tea?
- Ik moet morgen om zeven uur in de fabriek zijn.I have to be at the factory at seven tomorrow.
- Mag ik vanavond naar het feest?May I go to the party tonight?
- In het museum mogen de kinderen niet rennen.The children are not allowed to run in the museum.
- Wij willen in de zomer naar Italië reizen.We want to travel to Italy in the summer.
Difference from English
In English the infinitive follows the modal verb directly; in Dutch it is placed at the end of the clause: “My son can speak English well” is Mijn zoon kan goed Engels spreken. Ik wil means “I want”, not “I will”. English uses can for ability and for permission; Dutch has kunnen for an ability and mogen for a permission: Lotte kan fietsen, Lotte mag fietsen. “To have to” is moeten, never hebben.
Common mistakes
Ik kan spreken goed Engels.→ Ik kan goed Engels spreken.The infinitive is placed at the end of the clause.Zij wil koopt een jas.→ Zij wil een jas kopen.After a modal verb, the second verb is an infinitive.Hij wilt een pizza.→ Hij wil een pizza.The form of willen with hij, zij and het has no -t.Ik heb te werken.→ Ik moet werken.Necessity is expressed with moeten.
→ See also: The verb in second place: Morgen werk ik (A1)
Practise
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Suggestions with zullen: Zullen we …?#
Formation
A suggestion is made with Zullen we at the start of the question and an infinitive at the end: Zullen we gaan?. Zullen is the form with wij and we; ik and hij / zij / het take zal, jij and u take zult (jij zal is also standard).
| zullen | |
|---|---|
| ik | zal |
| jij | zal |
| u | zal |
| hij/zij/het | zal |
| wij | zullen |
| jullie | zullen |
| zij | zullen |
Use
Zullen we …? is used to propose something to do together, as English “Shall we …?” and “Let's …” are. Zal ik …? is used in the same way to offer help: Zal ik koken? (“Shall I cook?”). A suggestion is accepted with Ja, dat is goed or Ja, leuk!.
- Zullen we vanavond naar de bioscoop gaan?Shall we go to the cinema this evening?
- Zullen we in het park lunchen?Shall we have lunch in the park?
- Zullen we zaterdag samen sporten?Shall we do some sport together on Saturday?
- Zal ik je helpen?Shall I help you?
Difference from English
“Let's go to the beach” and “Shall we go to the beach?” are both Zullen we naar het strand gaan?. The infinitive has no word for English “to” before it.
Common mistakes
Zullen we gaan naar het strand?→ Zullen we naar het strand gaan?The infinitive is placed at the end of the question.Zal we koken?→ Zullen we koken?We takes the plural form zullen.
In short
| Verb | Meaning | Singular | Plural | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| kunnen | can, to be able to | kan; kunt with jij, u | kunnen | Ik kan zwemmen. |
| willen | to want | wil; wilt with jij, u | willen | Zij wil lezen. |
| moeten | must, to have to | moet | moeten | Wij moeten werken. |
| mogen | may, to be allowed to | mag | mogen | Mag ik zitten? |
| zullen | shall (suggestion) | zal; zult with jij, u | zullen | Zullen we gaan? |
Practise
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