Dutch Verb 'Moeten' (to Have to, 'be obliged to,' 'Ought to,' 'Should,' 'Must') - Smartphones Page

Moeten 2 is a very unusual strong verb: it's not the vowel/diphthong that changes for the past tense, but a consonant is added (I can't think of any other Dutch strong verb that only has a consonant change for the simple past tense)

moeten to have to

-

moest had to

-

(gemoeten) had to

overview
moeten		to have to (etc.)
ik moet		I have to
wij moeten		we have to
ik moest		I had to
wij moesten		we had to
2

simple present tense
moeten		to have to (etc.)
ik moet		I have to
jij moet		you have to (singular, informal you)
hij moet		he has to
wij moeten		we have to
jullie moeten		you have to (plural, informal you)
zij moeten		they have to
U moet		you have to (polite you)

simple past tense
ik moest		I had to
jij moest		you had to
hij moest		he had to
wij moesten		we had to
jullie moesten		y'all had to
zij moesten		they had to
U moest		you had to

The perfect tense 'ik heb gemoeten' 2 'I had to' is very unusual. Actually, I can't think of any example that uses the past participle 'gemoeten.' A more common construction is 'ik heb moeten' 2 followed by a verb infinitive - more below
auxiliary verb hebben

Sample Sentences - Present Tense

We moeten met de trein terug naar Amsterdam 2 We need to catch the train back to Amsterdam

Je moet wel willen 2
Je moet 't wel willen [You really have to want (it)] - You need a strong desire (for it) - It's only going to work -or- I'm only going to help you if you have a strong wish for it ('fire in the belly')

Ik moet toch weten wat er gebeurt in de wereld 2 3 I really need to know what's going on in the world

Je moet 't zelf weten 2 3 ["You need to 'know' it yourself"] - It's up to you, you must take the decision yourself (with a strong undertone that it never was the speaker's responsibility, the addressee is ignoring his advice: it's not my problem, I wash my hands of it, "It's your funeral"

Je moet stil zijn You have to be quiet Als het concert begint moet je stil zijn When the concert starts you have to be quiet Als de muziek begint moet je stil zijn When the music starts you have to be quiet

Je moet het zelf doen 2 3 You have to do it yourself

Je moet voorzichtig zijn 2 3 You have to be careful Je moet beter oppassen 2 3 You have to pay more attention, you should be more careful

Iemand zal een oplossing moeten vinden Someone will have to find a solution

Als het licht rood wordt moet je stoppen 2 3 When the light turns red you have to stop Als het licht rood is moet je stoppen 2 3 When the light is red you have to stop

Als 't moet 2 If it has to be

Er moet ergens een lek zijn There has to be a leak somewhere

Er moet een betere manier zijn 2 3 There has to be a better way (to do something)

Die week moet ik werken That week I have to work, that week I'm working

Hoe laat moet je opstaan? 2 What time do you have to get up?

'Dan moet je vroeger opstaan' 2 3 (saying) 'Then you'll have to get up earlier' - i.e. for that you'll have to be more alert and more active

Ik moet om acht uur weg I have to leave at eight o'clock

... dat ik zei 'Nou moet ik gaan' 2 ... that I said 'now I have to [go] leave'

Ik moet om acht uur op m'n werk zijn 2 3 I have to be at work at 8

Moet je nog eten? 2 3 Do you still have to eat? Have you not eaten yet?

Moeten we al zo gauw weg? 2 3 Do we have to leave that [quickly] soon?

Vandaag moet ik een boom omzagen in Heelsum Today I have to cut down a tree in Heelsum

We moeten doorgaan 2 3 We have to continue (with what we're doing) - we can't give up

Waarom moet het zo moeilijk zijn? 2 Why does it have to be so difficult? Waarom kan 't niet gemakkelijk zijn? 2 Why can't it be easy?

't Moet wel leuk blijven 2 3 [It has to stay nice] - Keep it nice, don't let it become unpleasant

Je moet 't goed in de gaten houden 2 3 (saying) You have to watch it closely

Je moet de sokken d'r in zetten 2 3 (saying) ["You have to put the socks in it"] - 'run faster,' 'speed up'

Wie niet sterk is moet slim zijn (saying) ['Those who are not strong (powerful) ...'] - 'If you're not strong you have to be clever'

Moet je overstappen? Do you have to change trains? (buses, planes)

Ik moet in Zwolle overstappen 2 I have to change trains in Zwolle

Ik moet er vandoor 2 I gotta go, I have to get going, I have to leave now

Er moet iets veranderen 2 Something got to change

Vis moet zwemmen 2 3 4 Fish got to swim (When you're eating fish you should drink)

Je moet ermee leren leven 2 3 You'll have to learn to live with it (something bad or unpleasant isn't going away)

Hoe laat moet ik je wakker maken? What time should I wake you up?

Moeten we de dijken nog verder verhogen? Should we, do we have to raise the dikes still further?

Je moet wat drinken 2 3 You should drink something (hydrate)

Als je vis eet moet je ook wat drinken 2 3 4 When you're [eating] having fish, you should also drink (something)

Je moet ijzer smeden als 't heet is 2 3 You should ['smith'] forge iron when it's hot

Je moet je ontspannen 2 3 You should relax. Relax!

Je moet met je tijd meegaan 2 3 slow You should [go along with] adapt to the (changing) times

Daar moet je mee ophouden 2 You should stop doing that, Stop that!

Je moet niet flauw worden 2 3 ["You shouldn't start feeling weak"] ~You should eat something

Je moet niet overdrijven 2 You shouldn't exaggerate

Je moet je d'r niet mee bemoeien 2 You shouldn't meddle, you should stay out of it

We moeten er wat aan doen 2 We should do something about it We kunnen niet zo doorgaan 2 3 We can't go on like this Je moet er wat aan doen 2 3 4 You should do something about it

Ik moet naar de kapper 2 I should go to [see] the hairdresser, I should get a haircut

Ik moet met 't eten aan de gang ['I should get going with the food'] - I should start cooking

Dat moet eerst op 2 3 4 [That should first be finished] - We should use (or eat) that first

Ik weet niet wat ik moet doen 2 I don't know what I should do, what to do

Weet jij hoe je het moet zeggen? Do you know how you should say it, how to say it?

Je moet een gegeven paard niet in de bek kijken 2 3 You shouldn't look into the mouth of a gift horse - Do not inspect gifts

Daar moet je mee oppassen 2 3 4 You should be careful with that, You'd better be careful with that

Moet je niet doen! You shouldn't do that, don't do that, not a good idea to do that

Moet kunnen! 2 It should be possible! There shouldn't be a problem with it

Ik moet er niet aan denken 2 I don't want to think about it, it's too horrible to contemplate

Ik moet naar ... 2 3 I want to go to ... (travel destination)

Ze moet je dringend spreken 2 She urgently wants to talk to you also:  Ze wil je dringend spreken 2 She wants to talk to you urgently

Het moet van z'n moeder 2 3 It is required by his mother, ~his mother wants it

The Past Tense of 'Moeten'

Ik moest gras maaien I had to mow [grass] the lawn

Ik moest rennen om de bus te halen 2 3 I had to run to catch the bus

Moest je overstappen? 2 3 Did you have to change trains? (buses, planes)

Moest je lang wachten? 2 3 4 Did you have to wait long?

Ik moest me overgeven 2 3 I had to surrender

We moesten hard werken We had to work hard

't Moest niet mogen 2 3 4 It shouldn't be allowed, how can a thing like that happen, 'How does the Lord allow?' But usually this is said in the slang version: 't Most niet magge 2

"Je moest je schamen" 2 You should be ashamed of yourself

There's not always an obligation, necessity or something that couldn't be avoided, moeten is sometimes used for things that just happen, like

Ik moest overgeven 'I had to throw up' is not much different from:
Ik heb overgegeven 2 3 4 5 I have thrown up

Sometimes English doesn't use a word like 'moeten'
Hij zei dat ik het aan Jan moest geven 2 3 He said to give it to John

The Perfect Tense of 'Moeten'

Ik heb gemoeten 2

ik heb moeten 2

Ik heb moeten leren 2 I've had to learn

Ik heb moeten leren lezen I've had to learn to read

Ik heb moeten leren improviseren 2 I've had to learn to improvise, improvisation

Ik heb moeten laten zien I've had to [let see] show

Ik heb moeten constateren dat ... [I've had to observe, I've had to find out that ...] - I have unfortunately found out that ... (and I'm not happy about it)

Dat had ik niet moeten zeggen 2 I should not have said that (an apology or recognition of a mistake)

Dàt had ik moeten zeggen 2 3 Thàt's what I should have said (finding the right phrase too late)

Ik had moeten weten dat ... I should have known that ... (something I forgot to think of)

Je zou beter moeten weten 2 You should know better, You should have known better (Are you ignorant? I'm disappointed in you)

Daar had je aan moeten denken 2 (3 4) You should have thought of that

Dat had ik veel eerder moeten doen 2 (3 4) I should have done that [much earlier] long ago

Dat had ik niet moeten doen 2 3 I shouldn't have done that With a different stress the line takes on a somewhat different meaning:
Dat had ik NIET moeten doen That's what I shouldn't have done, that's what was wrong

Ik had geschiedenis moeten gaan studeren I should have studied history in college (or university,) I should have chosen history as a student

het moeten toegeven van fouten (the) having to admit to mistakes het moeten toegeven fouten gemaakt te hebben 2 3 (the) having to admit to having made mistakes Ik moest toegeven fouten te hebben gemaakt 2 3 I had to admit to having made mistakes

'het heilige moeten' 2 3 'the sacred duty' - a very strong urge to perform a certain task

(de) moet 2 3 is a technical term for the impression made in the paper in old-fashioned printing, 'dent'

In Dutch, D's at the end of words are pronounced as T's, so (de) moed sounds exactly the same as 'moet' but it means 'courage' - moedig 2 is 'brave, courageous'
(het) moetje 2 is a marriage forced by pregnancy

'Moet' 2 3 is also part of several compound words but without the 'obligation' meaning, for instance ontmoeten 2 ('to meet' - to come across one or more people by chance or arrangement) ->>
- de) ontmoeting 2 - a meeting of that kind
and tegemoet ('towards,' "to meet ")
- (de) tegemoetkoming 2 ('compensation')
Een onzekere toekomst tegemoet 2 3 Towards an uncertain future
English 'to meet' can also mean people sitting around a table discussing things like business, science or government. The Dutch word for that is vergaderen - think of 'gathering' for deliberations. A meeting of that kind is (de) vergadering

'Hoeven'

niet 2

geen

ik hoef 2 - wij hoeven 2 - ik hoefde 2

(You could think it should be 'hoefte' because F is in the " 't kofschip" - but the verb is 'hoeven' - the weak verbs of the V/F and Z/S shift get D in the simple past tense and the past participle - more)
'Hoeven' does not have a past participle; when in the perfect tense combined with other verbs the infinitive hoeven is used - more

Ik hoef geen bonnetje 2 I don't need a (cash register) receipt

Hij hoefde zich niet te bewijzen He didn't have to prove himself

Van mij hoeft 't niet 2 For me it's not necessary, ~I don't need it (I don't care)

Je hoeft niet weg te gaan 2 3 You don't have to [go away] leave (you can stay, for example for dinner) Je hoeft 't niet te doen 2 You don't have to do it, you can leave it alone

Je hoeft niet bang te zijn 2 3
You don't have to be afraid, there's no reason to be afraid

't Hoeft niet grappig te zijn 2 3 4 It doesn't have to be funny 't Moet wel interessant zijn 2 [But] it has to be interesting

Je hoeft geen 'U' te zeggen 2 3 4 You don't have to say 'U' (the polite address) Je mag wel 'je' zeggen 2 It's OK to say 'je' now (the informal address)

Dat hoeft niet 2 3 There is no need to do that, you don't have to do that

Ik hoef helemaal niks 2 3 Literally: 'I don't need anything at all' but usually meaning 'I don't need to do anything' (you can't make me do anything and/or I shouldn't feel any obligations, I only do what I want to do)

We hoeven niet te blijven 2 3 We don't have to stay (we can leave if we want to)

Ik hoefde niet te wachten 2 I didn't have to wait

Dàt hoef ik niet te horen 2 I don't [need] want to hear that (music) Ik hoef 't niet te zien 2 3 1. I don't need to see it
2. I don't want to see it

Ik hoef alleen maar brood 2 3 4 I only need bread, all I want is bread

't Hoeft alleen wat verf te hebben 2 3 [It only needs some paint] - All it needs is some paint, with a little paint the item will be OK

Dat hoeft maar eens per jaar 2 3 4 That only needs to be done once a year, that only requires action once a year

Dat hoeft pas als je twinitg wordt 2 3 That only needs to be done at when you reach age 20, that only requires action at age 20

Ik hoef m'n telefoon maar eens in de week op te laden 2 3 I only need to charge my phone once a week, my phone only needs to be charged once a week

Er hoeft maar iets te gebeuren of 't gaat helemaal mis 2 3 4 [It only needs a little something to happen and it'll go completely wrong] - Any little thing can offset the precarious balance and lead to disaster

't Is immers duidelyk dat men op die wys maar tweemaal in 't water hoeft te vallen om doodarm te wezen. For it's clear that in that way [you'll only have to fall into the water twice ...] you'll be a beggar when you fall into the water twice - Multatuli

We moeten de hond uitlaten 2 3 We have to walk the dog We hoeven de hond niet uit te laten 2 3 4 We don't have to walk the dog

When 'hoeven' is put in the perfect tense by 'hebben' and combined with other verbs, it will be in the infinitive form; adding 'te' to the other initiative is optional. (I have a slight preference for using it.)

Ik heb niet hoeven wachten 2
Ik heb niet hoeven te wachten 2 I didn't have to wait

Ik heb niet hoeven te betalen 2 I didn't have to pay

(de) behoefte 'need (for) - want (of)'
de behoefte aan warmte the need for warmth de behoefte aan rust 2 3 the need for quiet, rest hulpbehoevend [in permanent need of help]
See also:  nodig hebben to need below

(het) gebrek 2 lack of, want (of) - shortage, deficiency; also: ailment, failing - plural: gebreken 2
gebrek aan lack of, want (of)
(het) spraakgebrek 2 speech impediment een vitamine-D gebrek a vitamin D deficiency bij gebrek aan beter lacking a better alternative, in the absence of something better gebrek aan fantasie 2 3 lack, shortage of imagination gebrek aan belangstelling 2 lack of interest Met de ouderdom komen de gebreken 2 '[With] In old age defects appear' gebrekkig Nederlands 2 3 ['lacking, incomplete' - faulty] poor Dutch

(het) tekort 2 'shortage'
(het) begrotingstekort 2 'shortage (of funding) on a budget' Er is soms een tekort aan tomaten - tomatentekort Sometimes there is a shortage of tomatoes - tomatoes shortage een tekort aan vitamine D 2 3 a vitamin D deficiency "Woorden schieten tekort ..." 'Words fall short, words can't express, there are no words ...' (de) tekortkoming 2 3 shortcoming, fault or failure to meet a standard

With a space in-between, 'te kort' simply means 'too short'
Ik heb de plank te kort afgezaagd 2 I've cut the board too short

(De) hoef plural: hoeven (hoef / hoeven 2 3) is 'hoof,' the horn at the end of horses' (and some other animals') feet.
(Het) hoefijzer 2 is 'horseshoe' and the 'farrier' who puts it on is (de) hoefsmid 2 3 - more

Related Words

(de) dienstplicht 2

(de) stemplicht

(het) stemrecht 2

verplicht 2

'To want to' meaning 'to wish, to desire' is usually translated as willen 2 - see the 'willen' page

Ik wil een nieuwe fiets 2 I want a new bicycle

nodig	necessary, needed
onnodig 2 3 4 5	unnecessary, not necessary
zonodig 2	if necessary, when needed
nodig hebben 2	to need

Dat was niet nodig 2 That was not necessary, there was no need for that

Is 't echt nodig? 2 3 Is it really necessary?

Dat was nergens voor nodig 2 [That was necessary for nowhere] - That was not necessary at all, there was absolutely no need for that (why did you do that?)

Er moet nodig wat gebeuren 2 3 There is an urgent need for [something happening] action

Ik vind 't niet nodig 2 3 [I find it not necessary] - I don't think it's necessary, I think there's no need for it

de nodige voorbereidingen 2 3 the necessary preparations de nodige problemen 2 3 the unavoidable (and unpleasant) problems

een onnodig risico 2 3 an unnecessary risk

'To need' meaning feeling a necessity (to have, possess) is 'nodig hebben' 2

We hebben veel ijs nodig We need a lot of ice

Ik koop soms dingen die ik niet nodig heb 2 Sometimes I buy things I don't need

Ik heb meer tijd nodig 2 I need more time

Precies wat ik nodig had 2 3 Exactly what I needed

Ik heb hulp nodig 2 I need help

Als gehandicapte heb ik soms hulp nodig 2 3 As a person with a disability I sometimes need help

benodigdheden ['things needed'] - necessities, requirements

uitnodigen 2	to invite
(de) uitnodiging 2	invitation

te eten uitnodigen 2 to invite for [eating] dinner

See also '(de) behoefte' - '(the) need' above

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