In Dutch, modal verbs help express preferences, abilities, desires, and intentions. Here’s a guide to the most common Dutch modal verbs: kunnen (can), willen (want), mogen (may/allowed to), and houden van (like/love). These verbs allow you to express things like preferences, abilities, and desires effectively.

1. Kunnen (Can / To Be Able To)

Kunnen is used to express ability or possibility, similar to "can" or "to be able to" in English.

Conjugation of Kunnen:

Examples with Kunnen:
"Ik kan zwemmen." = "I can swim."
"Kun jij Engels spreken?" = "Can you speak English?"
"Wij kunnen morgen komen." = "We can come tomorrow."

2. Willen (Want / To Want)

Willen expresses desire or intention, similar to "want" in English.

Conjugation of Willen:

Examples with Willen:
"Ik wil een nieuwe fiets." = "I want a new bike."
"Wil jij thee?" = "Do you want tea?"
"Zij willen samen studeren." = "They want to study together."

3. Mogen (May / To Be Allowed To)

Mogen expresses permission, similar to "may" or "to be allowed to" in English.

Conjugation of Mogen:

Examples with Mogen:
"Ik mag vanavond uitgaan." = "I am allowed to go out tonight."
"Mag hij binnenkomen?" = "May he come in?"
"Wij mogen hier niet parkeren." = "We may not park here."

4. Houden van (Like / Love)

Houden van is used to express liking or loving something. It’s not strictly a modal verb but is commonly used to express preferences.

Conjugation of Houden:

Examples with Houden van:
"Ik hou van pizza." = "I like pizza."
"Hij houdt van muziek." = "He loves music."
"Wij houden van de zomer." = "We love summer."

5. Using Modal Verbs in Sentences

In Dutch, modal verbs are typically followed by an infinitive (the base form of a verb) at the end of the sentence.

Examples:
"Ik kan goed koken." = "I can cook well."
"Zij wil een boek lezen." = "She wants to read a book."
"Wij mogen hier niet roken." = "We may not smoke here."
"Hij houdt van reizen." = "He likes to travel."

6. Summary Table of Modal Verbs

Learning these modal verbs gives you the ability to express abilities, desires, preferences, and permissions, which are essential for day-to-day conversations in Dutch!