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Verbs according to function 4
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Lecture1.1
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Lecture1.2
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Lecture1.3
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Lecture1.4
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Verbs according to meaning 7
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Lecture2.1
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Lecture2.2
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Lecture2.3
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Lecture2.4
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Lecture2.5
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Lecture2.6
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Lecture2.7
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Verbs according to form 3
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Lecture3.1
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Lecture3.2
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Lecture3.3
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Verbs according to conjugation 6
For purposes of conjugation Dutch verbs can be divided into regular and irregular verbs. Regular verbs follow a certain pattern in the way they are conjugated, whereas irregular verbs do not follow a pattern at all. The group of regular verbs is the largest, and this group can be divided further into weak verbs and strong verbs. The conjugation of a new verb (e.g. a verb borrowed from English) normally follows the rules of weak verbs.
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Lecture4.1
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Lecture4.2
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Lecture4.3
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Lecture4.4
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Lecture4.5
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Lecture4.6
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Tenses 9
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Lecture5.1
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Lecture5.2
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Lecture5.3
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Lecture5.4
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Lecture5.5
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Lecture5.6
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Lecture5.7
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Lecture5.8
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Lecture5.9
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Revision exercises: verbs 1
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Lecture6.1
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Modal verbs
Introduction
The modal verbs form a special category of Dutch verbs. They verbs are usually used with the infinitive of another verb to express ability or possibility (kunnen), obligation (moeten), permission (mogen) or volition (willen). The verb zullen (‘shall’) can also be seen as a modal verb. However, it is dealt with separately under:
Hoeven te is also a modal verb, but is a special case because it is always accompanied by a negative element. It is dealt with separately under:
All modal verbs are irregular, but moeten is only irregular in the past tense and willen only in the present tense.
Modal verbs can be used independently, i.e. without the infinitive of another verb. However, in those cases, an infinitive can usually be added.
Do you want an ice cream?
Do you want to have an ice cream?
When the infinitive of another verb is used along with the modal verb, the infinitive takes the last or penultimate place (see Sentence structure) in the clause.
Kunnen
The verb kunnen expresses ability or possibility, and can be translated with ‘to be able to’ and ‘can’.
You are only able to do sports at the Erasmus University with a sports card.
Can you cut the cheese?
Can we help?
Kunnen is irregular in the present tense:
ik | kan | I can |
jij | kunt/kan | you (informal) can |
u | kunt/kan | you (formal) can |
hij/zij | kan | he/she can |
wij | kunnen | we can |
jullie | kunnen | you (informal) can |
u | kunt/kan | you (formal) can |
zij | kunnen | they can |
The choice between kan or kunt (for jij and u) is arbitrary and depends on personal or even contextual choice. However, some people consider kunt to be more formal than kan and will restrict the use of kan to spoken language.
Moeten
The verb moeten expresses obligation, and can be translated with ‘to have to’ or ‘must’.
You have to try the Belgian chips.
Alan and Simone have to book a tennis court first.
Moeten is regular in the present tense.
Mogen
The verb mogen expresses permission, and can be translated with ‘to be allowed to’ or ‘may’.
Luuk is allowed to go to bed at nine o’clock tonight.
May we borrow your bus ticket?
Mogen is irregular in the present tense:
ik | mag | I may |
jij | mag | you (informal) may |
u | mag | you (formal) may |
hij/zij | mag | he/she may |
wij | mogen | we may |
jullie | mogen | you (informal) may |
u | mag | you (formal) may |
zij | mogen | they may |
Willen
The verb willen expresses volition, and can be translated with ‘to want to’. Note that willen cannot be translated with ‘will’.
Alan wants to play tennis with Simone.
What do you want to drink?
Willen is irregular in the present tense:
ik | wil | I want to |
jij | wilt/wil | you (informal) want to |
u | wilt/wil | you (formal) want to |
hij/zij | wil | he/she wants to |
wij | willen | we want to |
jullie | willen | you (informal) want to |
u | wilt/wil | you (formal) want to |
zij | willen | they want to |
The choice between wil or wilt (for jij and u) is arbitrary and depends on personal or even contextual choice. However, some people consider wilt to be more formal than wil and restrict the use of wil to spoken language.
Perfect tense of modal verbs
Dutch has two different structures for modal verbs in the perfect tense, where English only has one. This is because it is possible to use Dutch modals independently, without an infinitive. In that case the perfect tense is made with the past participle of the modal verb (in red in every first sentence below; see also modals used independently). Some modal past participles are irregular (see also perfect tense). When the infinitive is used, the modal verb is not a past participle but an infinitive (underlined in every second sentence below; see also: auxiliary verbs). The perfect tense auxiliary with modal verbs is always hebben.
kunnen
Ik heb nooit goed Frans kunnen spreken.
I could never speak French very well.
moeten
Hij heeft altijd zijn groenten moeten opeten.
He’s always had to finish his vegetables.
mogen
Ik heb nooit alcohol mogen drinken.
I have never been allowed to drink alcohol.
willen
Zij hebben altijd graag kinderen willen hebben.
They have always wanted to have children.
Note that zullen has no participle. For more information on the use of zullen, see Modal verbs: zou.
Past tense of modal verbs
The modal verbs kunnen, moeten and mogen are irregular in the past tense.
kunnen
ik | kon | I could |
jij | kon | you could |
u | kon | you (formal) could |
hij/zij | kon | he/she could |
wij | konden | we could |
jullie | konden | you (informal) could |
u | kon | you (formal) could |
zij | konden | they could |
mogen
ik | moest | I had to |
jij | moest | you (informal) had to |
u | moest | you (formal) had to |
hij/zij | moest | he/she had to |
wij | moesten | we had to |
jullie | moesten | you (informal) had to |
u | moest | you (formal) had to |
zij | moesten | they had to |
moeten
ik | mocht | I could / was allowed to |
jij | mocht | you (informal) could / were allowed to |
u | mocht | you (formal) could / were allowed to |
hij/zij | mocht | he/she could / was allowed to |
wij | mochten | we could / were allowed to |
jullie | mochten | you (informal) could / were allowed to |
u | mocht | you (formal) could / were allowed to |
zij | mochten | they could / were allowed to |