Irregular Verbs Recap

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Verb Irregularities Recapitulation

Refresh your understanding of Dutch irregular verbs, exceptions to the general verb rules

Strong Verbs		'Zijn' = 'to Be'

'Hebben' = 'to Have

'Kunnen' = 'Can' / 'Mogen' = 'May 'Zullen' = 'Shall, Will'

Infinitives Instead of Past Participles

'Willen' = 'to Want, Desire'		Vowel Lengthening

The V/F and S/Z shift and 't kofschip

	'Geworden' is Dropped	Splitting Verbs

Strong Verbs

Almost all irregular verbs are 'strong,' meaning they have a different vowel in the past tense than in the present tense, and sometimes also a change in the past participle. Some strong verbs also have a consonant change or a consonant added in the past tense and past participle. Three examples:

lopen		to walk
ik loop		I'm walking
wij lopen		we're walking
ik liep		I walked
wij liepen		we walked
ik ben gelopen		I have walked
ik heb gelopen		I have walked ‑>>
2		more lopen

zoeken		to search, to seek
ik zoek		I'm searching
wij zoeken		we're searching
ik zocht		I searched, I sought
wij zochten		we searched, we sought
ik heb gezocht		I have searched, I have sought
2		more zoeken

spreken		to speak
ik spreek		I speak
wij spreken		we speak
ik sprak		I spoke
wij spraken		we spoke
ik heb gesproken		I have spoken
		more spreken

more about strong verbs
- The Changes of Strong Verbs

Zijn = to Be

'Zijn'

('to be') is rather irregular. Notice how similar to English some of the forms are.

zijn	to be
ik ben	I am
jij bent	you are	(singular, informal you)
hij is	he is
wij zijn	we are
jullie zijn	you are	(plural, informal you)
zij zijn	they are
U bent	you are	(polite you)

(zijn)		to be
ik was		I was
jij was		you were
hij was		he was
wij waren		we were
jullie waren		y'all were
zij waren		they were
U was		you were

Ik ben geweest	I have been
Ik was geweest 2	I had been

The imperative (commands, suggestions) is 'ben' 2 but Dutchmen also often say 'wees' 2
Ben voorzichtig! 2 'Be careful!' Wees voorzichtig! 2 'Be careful!' - more 'Wees'

English has 'to have' as the auxiliary verb for the perfect tense; Dutch goes with 'zijn' as the auxiliary verb for the perfect tense of a small number of common verbs - more
(General) 'Zijn' sample sentences

'Hebben' = to Have

Hebben

is 'to have' - and it's also the auxiliary verb for the perfect tenses of a majority of Dutch verbs. For a very common verb, 'hebben' is rather regular. Most notable irregularity is the third person singular of the simple present time:
hij heeft

2 he has

hebben	to have
ik heb	I have
jij hebt	you have	(singular, informal you)
hij heeft	he has
wij hebben	we have
jullie hebben	you have	(plural, informal you)
zij hebben	they have
U heeft	you have	(polite you)

'U hebt'

is also said.
Do note that B at the end of a word is pronounced as P, but as B in the middle of a word.
B is also pronounced as P before T.

ik heb	I have
je hebt 2	you have
wij hebben 2	we have

(hebben)		to have
ik had		I had
jij had		you had
hij had		he had
wij hadden		we had
jullie hadden		y'all had
zij hadden		they had
U had		you had

Do note that D at the end of a word is pronounced as T, but as D in the middle of a word.

Ik heb gehad	I have had
Ik had gehad 2	I had had
wij hadden 2 3 4	we had

(General) 'Hebben' sample sentences

'Kunnen' = 'Can,' be able to, 'Mogen' = 'May,' be allowed to, and 'Zullen' = 'Will, Shall'

It's most unusual that the simple-present third person singular of 'kunnen'

('can,' being able to) - 'mogen'

2 and 'zullen

('shall, will') have no T- ending, but English doesn't say 'he cans,' 'he mays' or 'he wills' either
hij kan

2 3 he can, he's able to
hij mag

2 3 he may, he's allowed to
hij zal

2 3 he will

Also unusual is the variety of vowels in the simple present tense.

kunnen		'can,' to be able to
ik kan		'I can'
jij kunt		'you (singular, informal you) can'
hij kan		'he can'
wij kunnen		'we can'
jullie kunnen		'you (plural, informal you) can'
zij kunnen		'they can'
U kunt		'you (polite you) can'

'Jij kan'

2 and 'U kan' are also correct.

mogen		'may,' to be allowed to
ik mag		'I may'
jij mag		'you may' (singular, informal you)
hij mag		'he may'
wij mogen		'we may'
jullie mogen		'you may' (plural, informal you)
zij mogen		'they may'
U mag		'you may' (polite you)

(zullen )		shall/will
ik zal		I will/shall
jij zult		you will (singular, informal you)
hij zal		he will
wij zullen		we will/shall
jullie zullen		you will (plural, informal you)
zij zullen		they will
U zult		you will (polite you)

Jij zal

2 3 4 ('you will') and U zal are also said
- 'Zullen' sample sentences

The simple past tense of 'kunnen,' and 'zullen' have consonants added in the plural; 'mogen' has a consonant added throughout

(kunnen)		'can,' 'to be able to'
ik kon		I could, was able to
jij kon		you could, were able to
hij kon		he could, was able to
wij konden		we could, were able to
jullie konden		y'all could, were able to
zij konden		they could, were able to
U kon		you could, were able to

- 'Kunnen' sample sentences

(mogen)		'may,' 'to be allowed to'
ik mocht		I was allowed to
jij mocht		you were allowed to
hij mocht		he was allowed to
wij mochten		we were allowed to
jullie mochten		y'all were allowed to
zij mochten		they were allowed to
U mocht		you were allowed to

- 'Mogen' sample sentences

ik zou		I would
jij zou		you would
hij zou		he would
wij zouden		we would
jullie zouden		y'all would
zij zouden		they would
U zou		you would

The 'past tense' of the auxiliary verb for the future tense usually indicates a hypothetical situation, something that didn't happen, a polite request or statement, a question of uncertain outcome, or a question that can't be answered or to which no answer is expected - examples

There is no past participle for future-tense 'zullen' and the ge- past participles of 'kunnen' and 'willen' are very unusual. These verbs are usually combined with other verbs, and then both come as infinitives.
Ik had zullen wachten 2 3 4 5 I was going to wait, the plan was that I would wait (but it didn't happen) Ik heb kunnen voorkomen ... 2 3 I was able to prevent ... (voorKOmen ‑>>) Ik heb even de eeuwigheid mogen aanschouwen 2 3 [I have been allowed for a moment to view eternity] - I was allowed a brief glimpse of eternity More in the next chapter

Infinitives Instead of Past Participles

Like kunnen, mogen and zullen mentioned above, the verbs in the group below also appear as infinitives in the perfect tense when combined with other verbs. Combined only with nouns they appear as past participles.

Ik heb de vogels gehoord 2 3 I've heard the birds Ik heb de vogels horen fluiten 2 3 I've heard the birds [whistle] sing

kunnen 'can, being able to'
mogen 2 'may, be allowed to'
zullen 'will, shall' (future tense)
willen 2 'to want to, desire'
moeten 2 'must, have to'
laten 'to let, allow'
gaan 'to go, going to'
doen 2 3 'to do, make'
blijven 2 'to remain, stay, continue'
komen 'to come'
hoeven 'need to, be necessary'
zien 'to see'
horen 2 'to hear'
voelen 2 'to feel'
The next four verbs are often used in a kind of Dutch Continuous:
'zitten' (to sit, to be seated),
'liggen' 2 (to lie, be lying down),
'staan' (to stand, to be standing) or
'lopen' 2 (to walk)

More: Verb Combinations in The Perfect Tenses

leren ('to learn' and 'to teach') can be used as an infinitive or as a past participle:
Ik heb leren zwijgen 2 3
Ik heb geleerd te zwijgen 2 3 I've learned to keep silent, keep my mouth shut

'Willen' = 'to want, wish, desire, would like to')

'Willen'

2 'to want, wish, desire, would like to' is an almost completely regular weak verb - not what you'd expect of such a common verb. The only irregularity is that the third person singular doesn't get a -T ending:
hij wil

2 3 he wants (etc.)

willen		to want (etc.)
ik wil		I want
wij willen		we want
ik wilde		I wanted
wij wilden		we wanted
ik heb gewild		I have wanted

willen		to want
ik wil		I want
jij wilt		you (singular, informal) want
hij wil		he wants
wij willen		we want
jullie willen		you (plural, informal) want
zij willen		they
U wilt		you (polite) want

- 'Willen' sample sentences

Vowel Lengthening

For almost all strong verbs with an A in the simple past tense (except 'hebben,' 'denken' and 'brengen') that A is 'short'

in the singular and 'long'

in the plural, for instance 'komen'

'to come:'

(komen)		(to come)
ik kwam		I came
jij kwam		you came
hij kwam		he came
wij kwamen		we came
jullie kwamen		y'all came
zij kwamen		they came
U kwam		you came

'Komen' is also very unusual with that same lengthening in the simple present tense, albeit with O. I can't think of another verb that does that.

(komen)		(to come)
ik kom		I come
jij komt		you come (singular, informal you)
hij komt		he comes
wij komen		we come
jullie komen		you come (plural, informal you)
zij komen		they come
U komt		you come (polite you)

The spelling always correctly shows the 'long' and 'short' vowels
- 'Komen' sample sentences

The V/F and S/Z shift and 't kofschip

Dutch words 'cannot' end in V or Z. In Dutch, V and Z need to be followed by a vowel. As the last letter of a word or when followed by a consonant, V changes to to F and Z changes to S.
- more about the V/F and S/Z shift
See the simple present tense of 'schrijven'

2 3 'to write' and 'Lezen'

2 3 'to read'

schrijven		to write
ik schrijf		I write
jij schrijft		you write (singular, informal you)
hij schrijft		he writes
wij schrijven		we write
jullie schrijven		you write (plural, informal you)
zij schrijven		they write
U schrijft		you write (polite you)
		more 'schrijven'

lezen		to read
ik lees		I read, I am reading
jij leest		you read (singular, informal you)
hij leest		he reads
wij lezen		we read
jullie lezen		you read (plural, informal you)
zij lezen		they read
U leest		you read (polite you)
		more 'lezen'

The " 't kofschip" rule says that weak verbs with a stem ending in T, K, F, S, CH and P have -T, -TE and -TEN endings in the simple past and the past participle, while weak verbs with stems ending in other letters have -D, -DE and -DEN endings in the simple past and the past participle.

Regular "'t kofschip:"

wassen		to wash; to do laundry
ik was		I'm washing
wij wassen		we're washing
ik waste		I washed
wij wasten		we washed
ik heb gewassen		I have washed ‑>>

blaffen 2 to bark
honden blaffen dogs bark ‑>>

blaffen		to bark
hij blaft		it barks (a dog)
hij blafte		it barked
hij heeft geblaft		it has barked
2

Advanced Stuff
But note that the " 't kofschip" rule looks at 'raw' stem of the infinitive, before the application of the V/F and Z/S shift rule:

geloven		to believe
ik geloof		I believe
wij geloven		we believe
ik geloofde		I believed
wij geloofden		we believed
ik heb geloofd		I have believed
2

verhuizen		to move house, relocate
ik verhuis		I'm moving
wij verhuizen		we're moving
ik verhuisde		I moved
wij verhuisden		we moved
2

Ik ben verhuisd

2 I have moved (I live in another house, place, country now) Ik heb verhuisd

2 I have helped someone move (profesionally or as a friend)

'Geworden' is Often Dropped

'Worden

2 can mean 'to become,' that is 'begin to be, develop into.'

't Wordt laat 2 It's getting late 't Is laat geworden 2 It's gotten late Wat is er van hem geworden? 'Whatever became of him?' - more sample sentences of 'worden' as 'to become'

But most of the time 'worden' is the auxiliary verb for the passive voice.

'active:'
Ik verf het huis I'm painting the house 'passive:'
Het huis wordt geverfd The house is being painted Het huis wordt door mij geverfd The house is painted by me English 'by' of the passive voice is door ‑>> in Dutch

In the pasive voice meaning of 'worden,' the past participle 'geworden' is dropped in the perfect tense.
In English, 'to be' is the auxiliary verb for the passive voice, while some Dutch verbs have 'zijn' (otherwise 'to be') as the auxiliary verb for the perfect tense - list. Especially for native speakers of English, this can be very confusing.

Hij wordt door een wesp gestoken! 'He is being stung by a wasp!' - right this moment Hij is door een wesp gestoken ~~geworden~~ 'He has been stung by a wasp' - some time ago

geboren worden 2 to be born
Hij werd geboren in Rotterdam 2 3 He was born in Rotterdam Ik ben in Nederland geboren ~~geworden~~ I [have been] was born in Holland - more about dropping 'geworden'

Splitting Verbs

Dutch has many compound verbs. Some do boldly split up in the simple present and simple past tense, for instance:

optillen		to lift (up)
ik til op		I lift
wij tillen op		we lift
ik tilde op		I lifted
wij tilden op		we lifted
ik heb opgetild		I have lifted
		- more 'optillen'

Some Dutch verbs don't split up because they have the 'inseparable prefixes' BE-, ER-, GE-, HER-, ONT- or VER-. Their past participles also don't get the GE- prefix (interfix?) For instance:

beginnen		to start, begin
ik begin		I'm starting
wij beginnen		we're starting
ik begon		I started
wij begonnen		we started
ik ben begonnen		I have begun
2 3		- more 'beginnen'

Other compound verbs split up when the stress in the word is on the preposition, and don't split up when the stress is on the basic verb part, for instance:
overhalen (OVERhalen) 2 to persuade
overtuigen (overTUIgen) 2 to convince

overhalen		to persuade
ik haal over		I'm persuading
ik haalde over		I persuaded
ik heb overgehaald		I have persaded

overtuigen		to convince
ik overtuig		I convince
ik overtuigde		I convinced
ik heb overtuigd		I have convinced

- more about Compound Verbs

(Advanced Stuff)
'Dat' ('that') is a word of many meanings. Here I'm talking about saying that, thinking that, hoping that etc.
In sub-sentences starting with dat or the 'condition words' ('conjunctions'?) from the list below verbs do not split up.

als ('if, when') ‑>>
omdat ('because') ‑>>
wanneer ('when' - indicating condition) ‑>>
toen 2 ('when' - indicating time) ‑>>
waar ('where') ‑>>
hoe ('how') ‑>>
wie 2 ('who') ‑>>
wat ('what') ‑>>
alsof ('as if') ‑>>
tenzij 2 ('unless') ‑>>
terwijl 2 ('while') ‑>>

De zon ging onder 2 3 The sun went down Ze gingen weg toen de zon onderging 2 They [went away] left when the sun went down Ik ga weg 2 I'm going away, I'm leaving Doe je het licht uit als je weggaat? Will you please turn off the light when you leave?

Also, when the sentence starts with a 'conditional sub-sentence,' then the verb is placed before the subject in the second part of the line:
Ik zag de sterren I saw the stars. Toen het licht uitging zag ik de sterren 2 When the light went out I saw the stars

Ik tilde z'n fiets op 2 3 I lifted up his bike Hij kan erg hard fietsen 2 He can ride a bicycle very fast, he [can be] is very fast on a bike. Ik begrijp er niks van 2 3 [I understand nothing of it] - I don't understand any of it, it's a complete mystery to me Toen ik z'n fiets optilde begreep ik hoe hij zo hard kon rijden 2 3 4 When I lifted up his bike I understood how he could ride that fast

- more about compound verbs re-attaching

More about Verbs in General:
Smartphone Verbs Pages
- 41 Common Verbs - full conjugation and sample sentences
Verbs in The Lessons - Beginning of Series
Verbs Overview
59 Verbs fully conjugated
Overview of My Grammar Pages