Uitmaakten

Uitmaakten is a form that is sometimes cited in discussions of Dutch grammar as the past-tense form of the verb uitmaken when used with a plural subject. In standard modern Dutch the past tense with a plural subject is written as two words: maakten uit. The single-word form uitmaakten is not common in contemporary usage and is usually considered nonstandard, archaic, or encountered only as a typographical variant in some historical texts or dictionaries.

The verb uitmaken has several meanings, including to determine or decide, to distinguish or identify, and to turn something off in a physical sense. The past tense with a plural subject therefore covers senses such as determining outcomes, selecting among options, or distinguishing between possibilities. Typical usage in everyday language follows the two-word pattern: zij maakten uit, zij maakten uit wat de gevolgen zouden zijn, of de jury maakte uit wie door mocht gaan. When referring to processes of decision or selection, uitmaken can be used with objects or clauses to specify what was decided or differentiated.

Examples:

- Na lang debat maakten zij uit wie er door mocht gaan.

- De commissie maakte uit wat de gevolgen voor de deelnemers zouden zijn.

- Wij maakten uit welke optie het meest voordelig was.

See also:

- Uitmaken

- Verbs with prefix uit- in Dutch

- Dutch past tense conjugation