Proberen

Proberen is a Dutch verb meaning to try, attempt, or test. It is used to describe making an effort to do something, or to test something by acting or experimenting. The verb is common in everyday speech and can be followed by a direct object or by the infinitive construction with te.

In use, prober often appears with te plus an infinitive: Ik probeer het probleem op te lossen (I am trying to solve the problem). The pattern is ik probeer, jij probeert, hij/zij probeert, wij proberen, jullie proberen, zij proberen. The simple past is formed as probeerde/probeerden, and the past participle is geprobeerd. In the perfect tense (present perfect), the auxiliary hebben is used: Ik heb het geprobeerd. The imperative forms are probeer (singular) and probeer maar, or jullie proberen for the plural.

Proberen also forms compound verbs, such as uitproberen, meaning to try out or test something. Uitproberen is often separable in sentences: Het apparaat uitproberen / Ik probeer het uit. The past participle is uitgeprobeerd. Such compounds expand the ways in which one can express testing or trial.

Usage notes: proberen is distinct from proeven, which primarily means to taste (to sample food or drink). While related etymologically, proeven refers to tasting, whereas proberen centers on attempting or testing a task or hypothesis.

Examples: Ik probeer elke dag te leren. We willen het nieuwe programma uitproberen. Ik heb het al geprobeerd, maar het lukt niet.