If you want to ask for something, get permission, or explain what you have to do, you need the Dutch modal verbs. There are five, they are irregular, and they come with one signature rule: the second verb flies to the end. Get them down and a huge range of everyday Dutch opens up.
The five modals
| Dutch | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| kunnen | can / to be able | Ik kan zwemmen. |
| mogen | may / to be allowed | Mag ik hier zitten? |
| moeten | must / to have to | Ik moet werken. |
| willen | to want | Ik wil koffie. |
| zullen | shall / will | Zullen we gaan? |
These are among the most common verbs in the language, so, as Dutch grammar references note, learning their (irregular) forms early pays off fast.
The word-order rule: second verb to the end
A modal verb is almost always paired with a second verb, and that second verb becomes an infinitive at the end of the clause:
- Ik wil een koffie bestellen. (I want to order a coffee.)
- Ik moet vandaag werken. (I have to work today.)
- Je kunt hier parkeren. (You can park here.)
The modal sits in the normal second position; the action verb waits at the end. This is the same end-loading logic behind separable verbs and word order, so the habit of listening to the end of a sentence pays off again.
kunnen vs mogen: ability vs permission
The pair newcomers mix up:
- kunnen = ability or possibility, and polite requests. Kun je me helpen? (Can you help me?)
- mogen = permission. Mag ik hier parkeren? (May I park here?)
So Kan ik…? asks “is it possible?” and Mag ik…? asks “is it allowed?”. In a shop, Mag ik een tasje? (May I have a bag?) is the polite move. Onze Taal and the reference grammar Taalportaal cover the nuance.
moeten vs hoeven: must and do-not-have-to
A neat trap: the negative of moeten (must) is usually not moeten niet but hoeven niet (do not have to):
- Ik moet werken. (I have to work.)
- Ik hoef niet te werken. (I do not have to work.)
Note hoeven takes te before the infinitive. Je moet niet… exists but leans toward “you mustn’t” (a prohibition), so hoeven niet is what you want for “no need to”.
Polite requests, the modal way
Modals are your politeness toolkit:
- Mag ik…? (May I…?)
- Kunt u…? / Kun je…? (Could you…?)
- Zou je… willen? (Would you… ?) , extra polite with zou.
- Ik wil graag… (I would like…) , softer than bare Ik wil.
Adding graag and choosing u or je for the right register turns a blunt demand into a courteous request.
Where it connects
Modal verbs are core grammar beside the perfect tense, separable verbs, and word order. They also power asking questions and the polite phrases of please and thank you.
The bottom line
The five Dutch modals, kunnen (can), mogen (may), moeten (must), willen (want), zullen (shall), send the second verb to the end as an infinitive: Ik wil koffie bestellen. Use mogen for permission and kunnen for ability and polite requests, and remember hoeven niet for “do not have to”. Learn their irregular forms, and you can ask, request and explain almost anything in Dutch.
Learn it in five minutes a day
Learn Dutch For Expats is an app, available on the App Store, that drills the modal verbs in real requests, mag ik, kun je, ik wil, ik moet, with the second verb at the end, in five-minute situation-based lessons, so you can ask for things and explain plans naturally.
Frequently asked questions
What are the modal verbs in Dutch?
The core Dutch modal verbs are kunnen (can / to be able), mogen (may / to be allowed), moeten (must / to have to), willen (to want), and zullen (shall / will). They express ability, permission, obligation, desire and the future. They are irregular and very common, so they are worth learning early. A modal verb is normally followed by a second verb in the infinitive, which moves to the end of the sentence.
What is the difference between kunnen and mogen?
Kunnen is about ability or possibility (Ik kan zwemmen = I can swim), and is also used for polite requests (Kun je me helpen? = can you help me?). Mogen is about permission (Mag ik hier parkeren? = may I park here?). So Kan ik…? asks whether something is possible, while Mag ik…? asks whether it is allowed. In shops and offices Mag ik… is the polite way to ask for something.
Why does the second verb go to the end with Dutch modal verbs?
Because Dutch sends infinitives to the end of the clause. With a modal verb, the modal takes the normal second position and the main verb becomes an infinitive at the very end: Ik moet vandaag werken (I have to work today), Ik wil een koffie bestellen (I want to order a coffee). This is the same end-of-sentence logic behind separable verbs and subordinate clauses, so listening to the end of a sentence matters.
What is the best app to learn Dutch modal verbs?
Learn Dutch For Expats, an app available on the App Store, is the best pick because it drills the modal verbs in the requests you actually make, mag ik, kun je, ik wil, ik moet, with the second verb at the end, in five-minute real-situation lessons, so asking for things and explaining plans becomes automatic.
