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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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Perfect tense
Introduction
The perfect tense is used to describe events or situations from the past. So is the past tense (imperfect), 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 (imperfect) is used merely descriptive. See Perfect or imperfect? for a detailed discussion of the difference between these two tenses. This lesson is about grammatical aspects: the formation of the past participle, the choice of auxiliary, and the structure of sentences with a perfect tense.
The perfect tense consists of a finite form of an auxiliary verb and a past participle. There are two auxiliary verbs that can be used to form the perfect tense: hebben and zijn. For the present tense conjugation of hebben and zijn, see Present tense; for their past tense and (past participles) see List of dtrong and irregular verbs.
Formation of the past participle
For most verbs, the formation of the past participle follows a regular pattern, but there are a number of irregular verbs that you will need to study. However, most past participles have in common that they begin with the prefix ge-. The only exception to this is verbs with a so-called unstressed prefix (see below).
past participle Dutch | past participle English |
geweest | been |
gewoond | lived |
gegaan | gone |
gehad | had |
gegeven | given |
As far as the ending of the past participle is concerned, its formation is closely tied up with that of the past 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 participle. This pattern is explained in the lesson Weak verbs and Strong verbs. Irregular verbs do not have any recognisable pattern in the formation of their past participle, so their forms must be learnt by heart. See Irregular verbs and also check the list with the most common strong and irregular verbs
Formation of the past participle of verbs with separable and inseparable prefixes
1. Verbs with separable prefixes
There is a fairly large group of verbs with separable, stressed prefixes. In the past participle of a so-called separable verb this prefix comes before the prefix of the past participle, ge-:
infinitive | past participle | |
uitnodigen | uitgenodigd | to invite |
aanbranden | aangebrand | to burn (food) |
Here are some examples of this type of verb in context:
- Sara heeft Kenny uitgenodigd. Sara has invited Kenny.
- Is er al iets aangebrand? Has anything (been) burnt yet?
2. Verbs with unstressed prefixes
There are also verbs with unstressed prefixes. These prefixes do not separate and they are limited in number. Past participles of verbs in this category do not receive the prefix -ge. The most common unstressed prefixes are:
infinitive | past participle | ||
be- | bezichtigen | bezichtigd | to view |
ge- | gebeuren | gebeurd | to happen |
her- | herhalen | herhaald | to repeat |
ont- | ontmoeten | ontmoet | to meet |
ver- | vertellen | verteld | to tell |
Here are some examples of this type of verb in context:
- Vanaf de boot hebben we de havens bezichtigd. From the boat we viewed the ports.
- Hannah heeft Alan op de universiteit ontmoet. Hannah has met Alan at the university.
Choices of auxiliary verbs hebben and zijn
Two different auxiliaries are used to form the perfect tense: hebben and zijn.
I have eaten at Karin and Simone’s a few times already.
We have been to the museum Plantin-Moretus.
Most verbs take the auxiliary hebben.
There is a limited number of verbs that will always take the auxiliary zijn, such as komen, gaan, beginnen, stoppen, opstaan, vertrekken, worden, blijven and zijn (as a copular verb; see the above example).
However, verbs of motion can take either hebben or zijn. This depends on whether the destination of the movement is present or not. If the destination is present, zijn is used. If the destination is absent, hebben must be used. This is illustrated in the example below:
We walked to the central square.
We walked through town for a few hours.
Place of past participle in the clause
In main clauses in the perfect tense, the past participle occurs in the penultimate or final position (see Sentence structure). The finite verb in a main clause (= the auxiliary verb in the perfect tense) always occurs in second position (in declaratives) or in first position (yes/no questions).
I have never travelled to Paris yet.
We visited a museum in Antwerp.
Have you hung up your coats yet?
Have you had a nice time on your holiday?
In a subordinate clause in the perfect tense, both the past participle and the finite verb (i.e. auxiliary) occur in the penultimate or final place together. In the sentences below, the subordinate clause is underlined.
We have decided to go to Antwerp because we have never been there.
After I met you, I went home straight away.
However, there is no preferred order of auxiliary and past participle:
We have decided to go to Antwerp because we have never been there.
After I met you, I went home straight away.
Both options are equally acceptable.