Dutch present perfect (voltooid tegenwoordige tijd)

Definition and usage of the present perfect 

The Dutch present perfect is used to express an action or event that happened in the past and already ended. This is actually very similar to the simple past and often mixed up by the Dutch themselves.  

The present perfect does not have rules for when to use it, but only tips for guidance when to use this tense.  

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Conjugation of the Dutch present perfect 

The verb 'hebben' (to have) is always used with the past participle to create a present perfect sentence. 

In some cases the verb 'zijn' (to be) is used: 

- To form the past participle of the link verbs:  

• '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)  

- and 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 Dutch past participle of weak verbs 

The next rule is used to form the past participle of weak verbs: 

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: You have to look at the stem of the verb to determine whether the past participle ends on a '-d' or '-t'. If the last consonant of the stem is in the word 't exKofschip, the past participle ends in '-t'. The other verbs end in '-d'.  

 If the stem already ends in '-t' or '-d', the extra '-t' or '-d' does not have to be added. 

The table below shows examples of forming the present perfect with the verb 'hebben' (to have) and a verb ending in '-d' and ending in '-t'.

2) The Dutch past participle of strong verbs 

The next formula is used to form the past participle of strong verbs: 

ge- (prefix) + stem + -en (ending)

 Remember: if the verbs begin with the prefixes: 'ge-', 'be-', 'er-', 'her-', 'ver-' and 'ont-' the 'ge-' does not have to be added.   

The table below shows examples of forming the present perfect with the verb 'zijn' (to be) and the past participle. 

 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 'o' in the past form.  

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