Toeneemt

Toeneemt is a Dutch verb form meaning that something increases, rises, or grows. The base verb is toenemen, a compound of the prefix toe- and nemen (to take). In everyday use, the standard present tense of the verb is written as two words: neemt toe. The combined form toeneemt may appear in some texts, but is not the normative spelling in standard grammar.

Grammatical notes: Toenemen is a weak, separable verb. Infinitive: toenemen. Present tense (third person singular): hij/zij neemt toe; present tense for other subjects: ik neem toe, jij neemt toe, wij nemen toe, jullie nemen toe, zij nemen toe. The present participle used as an adjective is toenemend, as in een toenemend aantal. Past tense is nam toe (simple past) or namen toe (past plural). The past participle is toegenomen. These forms enable expressions about quantities, intensities, or frequencies changing over time.

Usage and meaning: Toenemen is used to describe growth in numbers, measurements, or intensity. It appears in contexts such as economics (prijzen nemen toe), science (traagheid neemt toe), weather (temperatuur neemt toe), and social topics (bewustzijn neemt toe). It often conveys a gradual or ongoing process rather than a sudden jump.

Examples: Het aantal inschrijvingen neemt toe. De temperatuur neemt toe naarmate de dag vordert. De kosten nemen toe door inflatie. Naarmate de tijd verstrijkt, neemt de belangstelling toe.

Etymology: The prefix toe- signals addition or movement toward greater quantity, combined with nemen (to take) to express increasing possession or magnitude.