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Verbs according to function 4
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Lecture1.1
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Lecture1.2
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Lecture1.3
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Lecture1.4
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Verbs according to meaning 7
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Lecture2.1
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Lecture2.2
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Lecture2.3
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Lecture2.4
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Lecture2.5
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Lecture2.6
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Lecture2.7
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Verbs according to form 3
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Lecture3.1
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Lecture3.2
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Lecture3.3
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Verbs according to conjugation 6
For purposes of conjugation Dutch verbs can be divided into regular and irregular verbs. Regular verbs follow a certain pattern in the way they are conjugated, whereas irregular verbs do not follow a pattern at all. The group of regular verbs is the largest, and this group can be divided further into weak verbs and strong verbs. The conjugation of a new verb (e.g. a verb borrowed from English) normally follows the rules of weak verbs.
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Lecture4.1
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Lecture4.2
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Lecture4.3
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Lecture4.4
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Lecture4.5
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Lecture4.6
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Tenses 9
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Lecture5.1
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Lecture5.2
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Lecture5.3
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Lecture5.4
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Lecture5.5
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Lecture5.6
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Lecture5.7
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Lecture5.8
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Lecture5.9
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Revision exercises: verbs 1
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Lecture6.1
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Modal verbs: zou
Introduction
Zou (singular) and zouden (plural) form the past tense of the (irregular) modal verb zullen. In its past tense form this verb can be used in two different ways: in polite requests and in conditional sentences.
In addition, zou/zouden can also be used in counterfactual sentences.
This is the conjugation of zullen in the present and past tense:
present tense | past tense | |
ik | zal | zou |
jij | zal /zult | zou |
u | zal /zult | zou /zoudt |
hij/zij | zal | zou |
wij | zullen | zouden |
jullie | zullen | zouden |
u | zal /zult | zou /zoudt |
zij | zullen | zouden |
The choice between zou or zoudt (for u) is arbitrary and depends on personal or even contextual choice, although zoudt is considered to be extremely formal.
Polite requests with zou(den)
Polite requests in Dutch, can take several forms. For instance, it is possible to make an imperative into a polite request, using maar. Another common way of making a polite request is to use zou/zouden with the modal verbs kunnen (‘could’) of willen (‘would’). This makes them much more polite than requests with just kunnen or willen.
Can you look after Luuk next week?
Do you (plural) want to ring the doctor?
Could you look after Luuk next week?
Would you (plural) ring the doctor?
Note that zou/zouden is the finite form of the verb. As a result, all other verbs (in these cases infinitives of the modal verb kunnen or willen and the other verb) occur in the last or penultimate position. In these cases, it is preferable to place the modal verb before the other verb: …kunnen bellen rather than …bellen kunnen. See sentence structure for more information about the preferred order of infinitives.
Modal particles, especially even but also misschien, can be used in combination with polite requests with zou/zouden, making the request even more careful.
Would you please close the window?
Could you (formal) please close the door?
Conditional with zou(den)
Most of the time the subordinating conjunction als (or indien for more formal language) is involved in this type of sentence:
If I were you, I would buy a bicycle.
I would buy a bicycle if I were you.
If they had studied more, they would have passed the exam.
Note that in the subordinate clause with als, the verb needs to be in the past tense or pluperfect tense.
Sometimes, the condition expressed by als can be omitted and its presence can be imagined.
Would she go to Antwerp (if she had money)?
My parents would visit me (if they had time).
It is actually possible to have a conditional sentence without zou/zouden:
If I were you, I would buy a bicycle.