VerbsDutch

VerbsDutch refers to the verb system of the Dutch language, focusing on how verbs convey tense, aspect, mood, person, and number. Dutch verbs are typically described as regular (weak), irregular (strong), or mixed. The language uses modal verbs and auxiliary constructions, and many verbs take prefixes that can change the meaning or placement of the verb in a sentence.

In the present tense, regular verbs follow predictable endings: ik werk, jij werkt, hij werkt, wij werken, jullie werken, zij werken (to work). Past tenses for regular verbs are formed with a stem plus te or te(n), depending on the syllable structure, yielding forms like werkte, werkten. Irregular verbs show stem changes and must be learned individually, with common examples such as zijn (to be), hebben (to have), kunnen (can), and willen (to want).

Perfect tenses are formed with an auxiliary verb—hebben or zijn—plus a past participle. Examples: ik heb gewerkt (I have worked), hij is gegaan (he has gone). Most verbs use hebben; verbs indicating movement or change of state often use zijn. The past participle generally ends in -d or -t for regular weak verbs (gewerkt), and may be irregular for strong verbs (gelopen, gegeten).

Dutch also features separable prefixes, such as op-, uit-, aan-, which can split from the stem in main clauses (ik sta vroeg op) but stay together with the auxiliary in compound tenses (ik ben opgestaan). Modals like kunnen, moeten, mogen require the main verb to appear in the infinitive, as in ik kan zwemmen, jij moet gaan.

The standard word order in a main clause is verb-second (V2), with the finite verb in second position; in subordinate clauses, the verb moves to the end. Mastery of Dutch verbs involves practice with conjugation patterns, participle formation, prefixes, and auxiliary use.