overhaalde

Overhaalde is the simple past tense form of the Dutch verb overhalen, meaning to persuade or induce someone to do something. The word is used in narrative or reported speech to describe a completed act of convincing.

Conjugation and usage: The present tense is overhaalt. In the simple past, forms are ik overhaalde, jij/u overhaalde, hij/zij/het overhaalde; wij/jullie/zij overhaalden. The past participle is overgehaald, used with have/has in compound tenses (bijvoorbeeld: Ik heb hem overgehaald). The form overhaalde can be found in both formal and informal texts, depending on the subject.

Etymology and sense: Overhalen is composed of over- (a prefix with various intensifying or directional uses) and halen (to pull or fetch). Figuratively, to overhalen means to pull someone to your side or to persuade them. In practice, overhalen often conveys some degree of persuasion or pressure, and can carry a neutral, positive, or negative nuance depending on context. A closer neutral synonym is overtuigen, though overhalen may imply a stronger impetus or external persuasion.

Usage notes: Overhalen is commonly followed by the infinitive of the action, as in overhalen tot iets, meaning to persuade to do something. Distinct from the past participle overgehaald, the simple past overhaalde is used to describe past actions in factual narration. The verb can be contrasted with overtellers of opinions, where overtuigen is more neutral.

See also: overhalen, overtuigen, persuasion in Dutch. Examples: Hij overhaalde zijn partner om mee te gaan. De verkoper overhaalde de klant tot aankoop.