gedaan

Gedaan is the past participle of the Dutch verb doen, meaning “done” or “completed.” It is used to indicate that an action has been finished and appears in perfect tenses with hebben, as well as in the passive voice with zijn (for example, het werk is gedaan).

Etymology and form: Gedaan derives from the verb doen. It is cognate with the English do and the German tun, reflecting common Germanic roots. As a participle, its form is invariable in compound tenses (ik heb gedaan), but when used as an adjective before a noun, the attributive form is typically gedane (as in de gedane arbeid, het gedane werk, een gedane poging).

Grammatical use: In perfect constructions, gebruik of hebben is standard (Ik heb het gedaan). In the passive voice, zijn is used (Het werk is gedaan). When functioning as an adjective before a noun, gedane is common: de gedane arbeid, een gedane poging. In predicative position after a linking verb, the phrase is usually zijn + gedaan (Het werk is gedaan).

Usage notes: Gedaan emphasizes the completion or result of an action. It can be substituted by synonyms such as voltooid (verbal form) or afgerond in formal contexts, though gedaan remains the everyday expression. Its related noun form is voltooid deelwoord, the technical term for the past participle.

See also: Doen, voltooid deelwoord, Dutch grammar. Gedaan is a common, neutral term for indicating that something has been performed or completed.