Verstreek

Verstreek is the simple past tense of the Dutch verb verstrijken, meaning to elapse or to pass (in reference to time). It is used to indicate that a period of time has completed or that a deadline has passed. The related past participle is verstreken, which is used with the auxiliary zijn to form the present perfect: het jaar is verstreken.

Conjugation in the simple past is: ik verstreek, jij verstreek, hij/zij verstreek, wij verstreken, jullie verstreken, zij verstreken. The past participle is verstreken, as in Het jaar is verstreken. These forms are primarily used in written Dutch or formal narration, though they can appear in everyday language as well.

Usage and nuance: verloopt gebruiken the word verstreek to describe the completion of a time period, such as years, terms, or deadlines. It is not used to convey physical movement or location. Common contexts include reporting on the passage of time, describing how a period has ended, or noting that a scheduled time has expired. In contrast with verstrijken in the present tense, verstreek places the action in the past.

See also: verstrijken, which covers the general concept of time passing; verlopen, another common synonym for time that has elapsed; tijd, meaning time. Verstreek is chiefly encountered in formal, historical, or narrative Dutch, rather than in casual speech.