Dutch conjugation
Conjugation of verbs in the Dutch language
This article explains the conjugation of verbs in Dutch by their classification, which is based on conjugational class and derivation. These classifications describe different aspects of verb structure and usage.
Classification of verbs
By conjugational class
Dutch verbs can be grouped by their conjugational class, as follows:
Weak verbs: past tense and past participle formed with a dental suffix
Weak verbs with past in -de
Weak verbs with past in -te
Strong verbs: past tense formed by changing the vowel of the stem, past participle in -en
Class 1: pattern ij-ee-ee
Class 2: pattern ie-oo-oo or ui-oo-oo
Class 3: pattern i-o-o or e-o-o
Class 4: pattern ee-a/aa-oo
Class 5: pattern ee-a/aa-ee or i-a/aa-ee
Class 6: pattern aa-oe-aa
Class 7: pattern X-ie-X (specifically, oo-ie-oo, a-ie-a, a-i-a, ou-iel-ou, aa-ie-aa or oe-ie-oe)
Other strong verbs, which do not follow any of the above patterns
Mixed verbs
Weak past tense (-de or -te), but strong past participle (-en)
Strong past tense (vowel change), but weak past participle (-d or -t)
Irregular verbs: verbs that do not clearly conjugate as any of the above
Preterite-present verbs: verbs that originally had present tense forms identical to the past of a strong verb
Weak verbs with past in -cht
Other irregular verbs
By derivation
Another way to group verbs is by the type of derivation. The following can be distinguished:
Basic: underived, compounded, or derived without prefixation
Prefixed: with an unstressed prefix
Separable: with a stressed adverbial (or rarely object-like) prefix
Most of this article shows the conjugation of basic verbs. The differences in prefixed and separable verbs are described here, and can be applied to any verb regardless of conjugation.
Prefixed verbs
Prefixed verbs are verbs whose stem begins with an unstressed prefix. The prefix is usually one of be-, ge-, her-, ont-, ver-, but others are also possible, often derived from adverbs or prepositions. Prefixed verbs are conjugated like basic verbs, except in the past participle. In the past participle, the inflectional prefix ge- is replaced by the verb's own prefix, and it is not added on. The past participle of her‧openen ("to reopen") is her‧opend (not *ge‧her‧opend), and for be‧talen ("to pay") it is be‧taald (not *ge‧be‧taald).
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