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Verbs according to function 4
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Main verbs 10 minLecture1.1
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Auxiliary verbs 45 minLecture1.2
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Copular verbs 20 minLecture1.3
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Verb exercises: verbs according to function 10 minLecture1.4
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Verbs according to meaning 7
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Transitive and intransitive verbs 10 minLecture2.1
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Reflexive verbs 30 minLecture2.2
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Modal verbs 45 minLecture2.3
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Modal verbs: zou 30 minLecture2.4
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Modal verbs: hoeven te 30 minLecture2.5
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Position verbs 30 minLecture2.6
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Verb exercises: verbs according to meaning 45 minLecture2.7
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Verbs according to form 3
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Separable verbs 30 minLecture3.1
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Phrasal verbs 15 minLecture3.2
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Verb exercises: verbs according to form 30 minLecture3.3
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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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Weak verbs 30 minLecture4.1
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Strong verbs 20 minLecture4.2
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Irregular verbs 30 minLecture4.3
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Conjugation of new verbs 20 minLecture4.4
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List of strong and irregular verbs 40 minLecture4.5
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Verb exercises: verbs according to conjugation 30 minLecture4.6
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Tenses 9
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Infinitives and finite verbs 15 minLecture5.1
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Present tense 01 hourLecture5.2
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Past tense (imperfect) 30 minLecture5.3
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Perfect tense 01 hourLecture5.4
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Perfect or imperfect? 30 minLecture5.5
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Pluperfect 10 minLecture5.6
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Durative aspect 45 minLecture5.7
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Future aspect 50 minLecture5.8
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Verb exercises: tensesLecture5.9
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Revision exercises: verbs 1
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Revision exercisesLecture6.1
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Past tense (imperfect)
Introduction
The name for this tense varies from grammar to grammar. Here we use past tense, but you may find that other grammars of Dutch call it imperfect.
The past tense is used to describe events or situations from the past. So is the perfect tense, but there is a difference. The perfect tense is used for events and situations that are still relevant for the present, whereas the past tense is used merely descriptive. See Perfect or imperfect? for a detailed discussion of the difference between these two tenses. This lesson is about the formation of the past tense.
Formation of the past tense
The formation of the past tense is closely tied up with that of the past participle (see perfect tense). As with all tenses, a division can be made between regular and irregular verbs. Regular verbs can be split into two categories: weak verbs and strong verbs. Both these categories of regular verbs follow certain patterns when forming the past tense. This pattern is explained in the lessons Weak verbs and Strong verbs. Irregular verbs do not have any recognisable pattern in the formation of their past tense, so their forms must be learnt by heart. See Irregular verbs and also check the list with the most common strong and irregular verbs.