--- title: "Kunnen, mogen and durven" level: A2 chapter: "Verbs now" canonical: https://www.dutchfluency.com/grammar/kunnen-mogen-durven updated: 2026-10-08 author: Dutch Fluency license: CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) --- # Kunnen, mogen and durven _Kunnen_ means "can": you are able to do something, or something is possible (_Ik kan zwemmen_). _Mogen_ means you are allowed to (_Mag ik hier parkeren?_), and with a person it can also mean to like someone (_Ik mag haar wel_). _Durven_ means to dare, with or without _te_: _Ik durf niet te springen_ and _Ik durf niet springen_ are both correct. ## The pattern > _Kunnen_ is about ability or possibility, _mogen_ is about permission, and _durven_ is about courage. The second verb is an infinitive (the basic form of a verb, like _zwemmen_) and usually goes to the end of the sentence. - _kunnen_: _ik kan, jij kunt, hij kan, wij kunnen_. _Jij kan_ is also correct and very common in speech. In a question: _Kun je komen?_ or _Kan je komen?_ - _mogen_: _ik mag, jij mag, hij mag, wij mogen_. No _-t_ in the present tense, not even after _jij_ or _hij_. - _durven_: _ik durf, jij durft, hij durft, wij durven_, with the normal endings, like _werken_. - After _kunnen_ and _mogen_, the infinitive comes without _te_. After _durven_, _te_ is optional. - _Mogen_ plus a person, usually with _wel_, _graag_ or _niet_, means to like that person. ## Examples | Ik **kan** goed zwemmen. | I can swim well. | | **Kunt** u mij even helpen? | Could you help me for a moment? | | In deze winkel **kun** je alleen pinnen. | In this shop you can only pay by card. | | De trein **kan** vertraging hebben. | The train may be delayed. | | **Mag** ik hier parkeren? | Am I allowed to park here? | | Op de stoep **mag** je niet fietsen. | You're not allowed to cycle on the pavement. | | Ik **mag** mijn nieuwe buurman wel. | I quite like my new neighbour. | | Fatima **mag** de nieuwe teamleider niet. | Fatima doesn't like the new team leader. | | Ik **durf** niet **te springen**. | I don't dare to jump. | | Carlos **durft** aan de telefoon nog geen Nederlands **te spreken**. | Carlos doesn't dare to speak Dutch on the phone yet. | ## Why it works this way Before you do something, ask three questions. Is it possible, for your body, your skills or your schedule? That is _kunnen_. Is it okay with the rules or the person in charge? That is _mogen_. Are you brave enough? That is _durven_. Compare: - _Ik kan morgen niet komen._ (I'm busy or ill.) - _Ik mag morgen niet komen._ (Someone said no.) - _Ik kan niet springen._ (My knee hurts.) - _Ik durf niet te springen._ (I'm scared.) In everyday speech, people also ask _Kan ik hier parkeren?_ The clearest way to ask permission is still _Mag ik...?_, and in shops it is a very common way to ask for something: _Mag ik een tasje?_ The short answer is often just _Ja hoor, dat mag._ English "may" can also mean "perhaps". For chance, use _kunnen_ or _misschien_, not _mogen_: "It may rain later" is _Het kan straks gaan regenen_ or _Misschien gaat het straks regenen_. The liking meaning of _mogen_ is for people: _Ik mag Bas wel_ means you think Bas is quite a nice person. Think of it as letting someone into your life. For food and drinks, Dutch usually says _Ik vind koffie lekker_ or _Ik drink graag koffie_ (see graag). If you speak German, keep "mögen" for coffee out of your Dutch. _Durven_ is relaxed about _te_, and it also works with _het_ or _dat_ instead of a verb: _Durf jij dat? Nee, dat durf ik niet._ For more on _te_, see [infinitives with te](https://www.dutchfluency.com/grammar/infinitive-with-te), and for the verb at the end, [the verb bracket](https://www.dutchfluency.com/grammar/verb-bracket). Remember: _kunnen_ checks your skills and the situation, _mogen_ checks the rules, _durven_ checks your nerves. ## Watch out - Not: _Ik kan te zwemmen_ Say: _Ik kan zwemmen_ (no _te_ after _kunnen_ or _mogen_) - Not: _Hij magt hier niet roken_ Say: _Hij mag hier niet roken_ (_mogen_ has no _-t_ ending in the present) - Not: _Ik kan zwemmen heel goed_ Say: _Ik kan heel goed zwemmen_ (the infinitive goes at the end) - Not: _Hij durf niet te springen_ Say: _Hij durft niet te springen_ (_durven_ has normal endings: _hij durft_) ## Quick check 1. Fill in the right form of _kunnen_: _Daan ... heel goed koken._ 2. Fill in the right form of _mogen_: _In de trein ... je niet roken._ 3. Choose _kan_ or _durft_: _Sanne is bang voor honden en ... de hond van de buren niet te aaien._ 4. Ahmed thinks the new colleague is a nice person. Fill in a form of _kunnen_, _mogen_ or _durven_: _Ik ... hem wel._ ## Answers 1. _kan_ (_hij kan_ has no _-t_) 2. _mag_ (_je mag_, no _-t_) 3. _durft_ (it is about fear, and after _kunnen_ the infinitive has no _te_) 4. _mag_ (_mogen_ with a person means to like) ## Use it today At the supermarket or the bakery, ask for one thing with _Mag ik...?_, for example _Mag ik een tasje?_ Then tell a friend or colleague one thing you can do and one thing you don't dare to do yet: _Ik kan goed fietsen, maar ik durf nog niet in het Nederlands te bellen._ ## Questions learners ask **What is the difference between kunnen and mogen in Dutch?** Kunnen means you are able to do something or that it is possible, as in Ik kan zwemmen. Mogen means you are allowed to do it, as in Mag ik hier parkeren? **Does mogen mean to like in Dutch?** Yes, when it is used with a person: Ik mag haar wel means "I quite like her" and Ik mag hem niet means "I don't like him". For food and drinks, Dutch usually says Ik vind koffie lekker or Ik drink graag koffie. **Do you say durven te or durven without te in Dutch?** Both are correct. Ik durf niet te springen and Ik durf niet springen mean the same thing: I don't dare to jump. From the Dutch Fluency Grammar: https://www.dutchfluency.com/grammar. Shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.