mag
May
Mag is about permission: Mag ek hier sit? (May I sit here?) Jy mag nie hier rook nie. (You may not smoke here.)
How It Works
Word order. Mag works like every modal verb: second place, with the other verb at the end. See Modal Verb Word Order.
- Asking: Mag ek inkom? (May I come in?) Mag ek u iets vra? (May I ask you something?) Mag ek is polite. With friends and family, Kan ek ...? is also common.
- Giving permission: Jy mag nou gaan. (You may go now.)
- Forbidding: Jy mag nie hier parkeer nie. (You may not park here.) This is the language of rules and signs. The second nie at the end is needed.
Three kinds of no. These look similar, but they say different things:
- Jy mag nie kom nie. You are not allowed to come.
- Jy hoef nie te kom nie. You don't have to come. See hoef nie te.
- Moenie kom nie! Don't come! See moenie.
Mag is not might. To say that something may happen, use kan: Dit kan môre reën. (It may rain tomorrow.)
Past. The old past form mog is no longer used in everyday Afrikaans.
Wishes. At the start of a sentence, mag can also express a wish, as in Mag dit goed gaan! This is a separate, more formal use. See mag (wishes).
Examples (6)
- Mag ek hier sit?
May I sit here?
Word by Word: May I here sit?
- Jy mag nou gaan.
You may go now.
Word by Word: You may now go.
- Jy mag nie hier rook nie.
You may not smoke here.
Word by Word: You may not here smoke not.
A rule. The second nie closes the sentence.
- Mag ons 'n foto neem?
May we take a photo?
Word by Word: May we a photo take?
- Kinders mag nie alleen swem nie.
Children may not swim alone.
Word by Word: Children may not alone swim not.
- Mag ek u iets vra?
May I ask you something?
Word by Word: May I you something ask?
U is the polite you, which suits a polite request with mag.
Common Mistakes
Leaving out the second nie in a prohibition.
Jy mag nie hier rook.Jy mag nie hier rook nie.When the sentence goes on after the first nie, a second nie is needed at the very end.
Putting the verb right after the subject in a question.
Mag ek sit hier?Mag ek hier sit?The verb for the action goes to the end, after words like hier.
Using mag nie for don't have to. The speaker wants to say that coming is optional.
Jy mag nie kom nie.Jy hoef nie te kom nie.Jy mag nie kom nie is correct Afrikaans, but it means you are not allowed to come. For don't have to, use hoef nie te.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Mag follows the modal word order pattern.
Related Patterns
- kanCan
Kan is for ability and possibility, while mag is for permission.
Level 1 - moetMust
Moet is for obligation; together with mag it covers most rules.
Level 1 - hoef nie teNot Have to: Hoef Nie Te
Hoef nie te means don't have to, which is different from mag nie.
Level 3 - moenieDon't: Moenie
Moenie gives a direct negative command: Don't!
Level 2 - mag (Wishes)Wishes with Mag
A more formal use of mag at the start of a sentence to express a wish.
Level 5
Words in This Pattern
Practice mag in Bubblegum
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