Jul 16 / Koen Kleinstra

Dutch Modal Verbs: Moeten, Willen, Kunnen, Zullen, Mogen

If you’re learning Dutch, mastering modal verbs is one of the smartest things you can do. These small but powerful verbs let you ask for things, make plans, offer help, and talk about rules or permissions.
Whether you speak Dutch at work, with your partner, or on the street, you'll use modal verbs many times, every single day.
In SociaTaal courses, I like to make Dutch grammar as simple and practical as possible, so you can use and practice it while speaking. Today, we're diving into moeten, willen, kunnen, zullen en mogen, together with clear explanations and tons of real-life examples you can start using right away.

What Are Modal Verbs in Dutch?

Modal verbs are helper verbs, which means they're not a real 'action', they just change the meaning of the main verb. You :
  • Talk about what you have to do
  • Say what you want to do
  • Ask for permission
  • Express ability
  • Make suggestions, plans or promises.
In Dutch, the five most common modal verbs are:
Dutch English Meaning
moeten must / have to
willen want (to)
kunnen can / be able to
zullen will / shall / making offers
mogen may / be allowed to

Dutch English Meaning
moeten must / have to
willen want (to)
kunnen can / be able to
zullen will / shall / making offers
mogen may / be allowed to

1. Moeten – "must" / "have to"

Moeten is used for obligations or necessities.

Examples of moeten:

  • Ik moet werken. (I have to work.)
  • Jij moet je huiswerk maken. (You must do your homework.)
  • Wij moeten om 9 uur beginnen. (We have to start at 9.)
  • Moet ik dit meenemen? (Do I have to take this with me?)
Polite softening:
In questions, moeten is less forceful:
| Moet ik helpen? (Should I help)
Personal tip: If you want to be softer, add "even":
| Moet ik even wachten? (Should I wait a moment?)

2. Willen – "want (to)"

Willen is the verb for expressing desire or requests.

Examples of willen:

  • Ik wil koffie. (I want coffee.)
  • Wil je iets drinken? (Do you want something to drink?)
  • We willen Nederlands leren. (We want to learn Dutch.)
Polite requests with graag:
  • Ik wil graag een broodje. (I would like a sandwich.)
  • Wil je graag zitten? (Would you like to sit?)
Personal aside: At cafés I always say "Ik wil graag...". It sounds much friendlier!

3. Kunnen – "can" / "be able to"

Kunnen expresses ability or possibility.

Examples of kunnen:

  • Ik kan zwemmen. (I can swim.)
  • Kun je mij helpen? (Can you help me?)
  • Wij kunnen morgen komen. (We can come tomorrow.)
  • Kan ik pinnen? (Can I pay by card?)
Regional difference:
In Belgium, you might hear kunt ge instead of kun je as in the Dutch speaking part of Belgium, they use "gij/ge" instead of "jij/je"

4. Zullen – "will" / "shall"

Zullen is used for making suggestions, offers, or future plans.

Examples of willen:

  • Zullen we gaan? (Shall we go?)
  • Ik zal je bellen. (I will call you.)
  • Zullen we morgen afspreken? (Shall we meet tomorrow?)
Soft offers:
  • Zal ik het voor je doen? (Shall I do it for you?)
My personal go-to phrase for polite suggestions:
| Zullen we even kijken? (Shall we take a look?)

5. Mogen – "may" / "be allowed to"

Mogen is for asking or giving permission.

Examples of mogen:

  • Mag ik hier zitten? (May I sit here?)
  • Je mag binnenkomen. (You may come in.)
  • Mag ik een vraag stellen? (May I ask a question?)
Polite cultural note:
Dutch culture often favors directness, but mag ik is a nice way to be extra polite.

📝 Vocabulary Recap

  • moeten – must, have to
  • willen – want (to)
  • kunnen – can, be able to
  • zullen – will, shall
  • mogen – may, be allowed to

Real-Life Conversation Examples

✅ At the supermarket:
  • Mag ik pinnen? (Can I pay by card?)


✅ At work:
  • Moet ik dat vandaag doen? (Do I have to do that today?)


✅ Making plans:
  • Zullen we iets drinken? (Shall we have a drink?)


✅ Offering help:
  • Zal ik je helpen? (Shall I help you?)


✅ Talking about skills:
  • Ik kan goed koken. (I can cook well.)
They’re small words with big impact, and they’re among the first things we teach in our course Nederlands Level 1 (A1-).

🌍 Cultural Note

Dutch people appreciate clarity and directness. Modal verbs help you be polite and clear without sounding too formal or stiff.
  • Ik wil graag is polite but direct.
  • Mag ik is essential for asking permission.
  • Zullen we is great for social invitations.

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FAQ: Modal Verbs in Dutch

How do I conjugate Dutch modal verbs?
They’re irregular! For example:
  • Ik wil, jij wilt, hij wil (willen)
  • Ik kan, jij kunt, hij kan (kunnen)
  • Ik moet, jij moet, hij moet (moeten)
  • Ik zal, jij zult, hij zal (zullen)
  • Ik mag, jij mag, hij mag (mogen)
Can I use modal verbs in the past tense?
Yes!
  • Ik wilde (I wanted)
  • Ik kon (I could)
  • Ik mocht (I was allowed)
  • Ik moest (I had to)
  • Ik zou (I would)
Are modal verbs used in formal Dutch?
Absolutely. They’re standard, but you can adjust politeness with words like graag or even.