moet

Must

Level 1

Moet means must or have to, with the main verb at the end: Ek moet werk (I have to work).

How It Works

Form and order. Moet never changes: ek moet, jy moet, hulle moet. The main verb goes to the end: Ek moet vandag werk. See modal verb word order.

Meanings.

  • Need or duty: Ek moet werk. (I have to work.)
  • A rule: Jy moet hier stilstaan. (You must stop here.)
  • Strong advice: Jy moet die film sien! (You should see the film!)

Questions. Moet comes first: Moet ek vandag betaal? (Do I have to pay today?)

Must not. Moet nie ... nie forbids something: Jy moet nie so hard ry nie (You mustn't drive so fast). To say you don't have to, use hoef nie te: Jy hoef nie te kom nie.

Commands. In a command, moet nie usually joins into moenie: Moenie hard ry nie!

Past. The past form is moes (modals in the past): Ek moes werk.

Examples (6)

  1. Ek moet werk.

    I have to work.

    Word by Word: I must work.

  2. Jy moet dit lees.

    You must read it.

    Word by Word: You must it read.

    The main verb lees goes to the end.

  3. Ons moet vroeg opstaan.

    We have to get up early.

    Word by Word: We must early get-up.

  4. Moet ek vandag betaal?

    Do I have to pay today?

    Word by Word: Must I today pay?

  5. Jy moet nie so hard ry nie.

    You mustn't drive so fast.

    Word by Word: You must not so hard drive not.

    Moet nie ... nie forbids something.

  6. Jy moet genoeg water drink.

    You should drink enough water.

    Word by Word: You must enough water drink.

    Moet also gives strong advice.

Common Mistakes

  • Copying English have to with het om te.

    Ek het om te werk.
    Ek moet werk.

    Afrikaans uses moet for have to. Het om te does not mean must.

  • Leaving the main verb next to moet.

    Ek moet skryf 'n brief.
    Ek moet 'n brief skryf.

    The main verb goes to the end of the sentence, after the object: Ek moet 'n brief skryf.

  • Using moet nie when you mean don't have to.

    Môre is Saterdag. Jy moet nie werk nie.
    Môre is Saterdag. Jy hoef nie te werk nie.

    Moet nie ... nie means you must not. To say you don't need to, use hoef nie te.

How It Connects

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moetLevel 1Must

Learn This First

Moet follows the modal word order pattern.

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Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

moet