Dutch past perfect (voltooid verleden tijd)
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Hide- 1.Definition and usage of the Dutch past perfect
- 2.Conjugation of the Dutch past perfect
- 2.1.The past participle of Dutch weak verbs
- 2.2.The past participle of Dutch strong verbs
- 3.Exercises
- 3.1.Exercise to practice Dutch past perfect 1
- 3.2.Exercise to practice Dutch past perfect 2
- 3.3.Practice the Dutch past perfect
- 3.4.Dutch past perfect exercise
Definition and usage of the Dutch past perfect
The past perfect is used to describe a situation that happened in the past and ended in the past.
It is used to clarify that a certain event happened before another event.
The following table shows examples of the usage of the past perfect:
| Situation | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| You want to describe an event or action in the past that has ended in the past. The event or action has happened before another event in the past. |
|
|
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Conjugation of the Dutch past perfect
The verb 'hebben' is always used with the past participle to create a present perfect sentence.
In some cases the verb 'zijn' (to be) is used:
- 'Zijn' is used together with these verbs in the past participle tense:
- 'zijn' (to be)
- 'worden' (to become)
- 'blijven' (to remain)
- 'blijken' (to appear)
- 'lijken' (to seem)
- 'heten' (to be named)
- 'schijnen' (to appear)
- 'dunken' (to seem)
- 'voorkomen' (to prevent)
- To form the past participle of verbs that express movement, development of change. For example:
- 'beginnen' (to start)
- 'gaan' (to go)
- 'groeien' (to grow)
1) The past participle of Dutch weak verbs
The following rule is used to form the past participle:
ge- (prefix) + stem + t/d (ending)
Prefix: if the verb starts with a prefix '(ge-', 'be-', 'er-', 'her-', 'ver-' and 'ont-), the 'ge-' does not have to be added.
Ending: To determine whether the past participle has a '-t' or '-d' ending, the stem of the verb is looked at. If the consonant of the ending of the stem can be found in the word 't exKofschip, the past participle gets a '-t'. The other verbs end in '-d'
Keep in mind: if the stem already ends in '-t' or '-d', the extra '-t' or '-d' of the part participle does not have to be added.
| Subject | Form | Antwoorden (to answer) | Wachten (to wait) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ik (I) | had + past participle | had geantwoord | had gewacht |
| Jij, u (you) | had + past participle | had geantwoord | had gewacht |
| Hij, zij, het (he, she, it) | had + past participle | had geantwoord | had gewacht |
| Wij (we) | hadden + past participle | hadden geantwoord | hadden gewacht |
| Jullie (you) | hadden + past participle | hadden geantwoord | hadden gewacht |
| Zij (they) | hadden + past participle | hadden geantwoord | hadden gewacht |
2) The past participle of Dutch strong verbs
The following rule is used to form the past participle:
Ge- (prefix) + stem + -en (ending)
Here again applies: if the verbs start with one of the prefixes:'ge-', 'be-', 'er-', 'her-', 'ver-' and 'ont-' the suffix 'ge-' does not have to be added.
Have a look at the table below to see the examples of the past participle of strong verbs.
| Subject | Form | Beginnen (to start) | Sterven (to die) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ik | was + past participle | was begonnen | was gestorven |
| Jij, u | was + past participle | was begonnen | was gestorven |
| Hij, zij, het | was + past participle | was begonnen | was gestorven |
| Wij | waren + past participle | waren begonnen | waren gestorven |
| Jullie | waren + past participle | waren begonnen | waren gestorven |
| Zij | waren + past participle | waren begonnen | waren gestorven |
As you can see in the table:
- Strong verbs that have an 'i' in the infinitive, get an 'o' in the past form
- Strong verbs that have an 'e' in the infinitive, get an 'o' in the past form.
Train your skills by doing the exercises below!
Exercises
- Exercise to practice Dutch past perfect 1
- Exercise to practice Dutch past perfect 2
- Practice the Dutch past perfect
- Dutch past perfect exercise
Exercise to practice Dutch past perfect 1
Exercise to practice Dutch past perfect 2
Practice the Dutch past perfect
Dutch past perfect exercise
Exercises
- Exercise to practice Dutch past perfect 1
- Exercise to practice Dutch past perfect 2
- Practice the Dutch past perfect
- Dutch past perfect exercise