Moesten

Moesten is a Dutch verb that serves as the past tense form of moeten, a modal auxiliary used to express obligation or necessity. In present tense it appears as moet (ik moet, jij moet, hij moet) and moeten (wij moeten, jullie moeten, zij moeten). Moesten is the corresponding past tense form for the plural subjects and for formal past contexts, as in wij moesten, jullie moesten, zij moesten. The form ik moest, jij moest, en hij moest is used for singular subjects.

Moeten as a modal is typically followed by another verb in the infinitive, for example: We moesten vertrekken. In perfect constructions, Dutch uses hebben plus the past participle gemoeten: We hebben moeten vertrekken. This combination expresses a completed obligation in the past.

Usage notes and nuances: moeste n expresses external or internal obligation that existed in the past, rather than a present obligation. It can convey necessity due to circumstances, rules, or personal decisions that applied at a past time. Negation is formed with moeten plus niet or with niet hoeven in some contexts, but the standard past tense negation is: we hoefden niet? (depending on construction) and for moeten, niet hoeven is often used to indicate “did not need to.”

Cross-language context: moeten is cognate with German müssen and English must; Afrikaans uses moet for present obligation. Moesten remains a core form in everyday Dutch, especially in reporting past obligations or recounting events.