Dutch present simple (onvoltooid tegenwoordige tijd)
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Lesson outline
Hide- 1.Definition and usage of the present simple
- 2.Regular conjugation of Dutch verbs in the present simple
- 2.1.Question sentence for the singular you-form:
- 2.2.Conjugation with stems that ends in –t or –d
- 3.Dutch irregular verbs in the present simple
- 4.Exercises
- 4.1.Exercise to practice Dutch present tense (regular verbs)
- 4.2.Exercise to practice Dutch present tense (irregular verbs)
- 4.3.Exercise to practice Dutch present tense (regular and irregular) 1
- 4.4.Exercise to practice Dutch present tense (regular and irregular) 2
Definition and usage of the present simple
The present tense is mainly used to describe something that is happening now. The table shows you the situations in which the present tense is used in Dutch.
| Situation | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| You want to describe something that is happening now. |
|
|
| You want to describe a fact. |
|
|
You want to describe an action that takes place, never takes place or is repeated constantly. |
|
|
| You want to describe an event that is happening in the future. |
|
|
| You want to speculate about what could happen. (conditionals) |
|
|
Remember: you can recognize the use of the present when the sentence contains words as:
- vandaag (today)
- nu (now)
- straks (later on)
- later (later)
- tijdens (during)
or other words that indicate a time in the present.
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1) Regular conjugation of Dutch verbs in the present simple
To form a present sentence, you need to find the stem of the verb to be able to conjugate it. Dutch verbs always end in '-en'. The stem is found when you leave out the '-en' part.
In the table below an example of the conjugation with the verb 'werken' (to work) is given.
| Subject | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Ik (I) | stem | werk |
| Jij, u (you) | stem + t | werkt |
| Hij, zij, het (he, she, it) | stem + t | werkt |
| Wij (we) | stem + en | werken |
| Jullie (you) | stem + en | werken |
| Zij (they) | stem + en | werken |
Question sentence for the singular you-form:
The given rules apply to all sentences, but there is one exception: if you write a question with the second person singular, for example 'werk jij?', the '–t' disappears. This exception does not count for 'u' (formal you), for example 'werkt u?', the '-t' stays.
There are some extra rules to keep in mind when finding the stem:
1. Long vowel verbs have long vowel stems. The verb lopen (to walk) is the verb, the I-form will be 'ik loop' instead of 'ik lop'.
2. The stem never ends with two identical consonants, therefore, the last one will just disappear. The verb pakken (to grab), the I-form will be 'ik pak' instead of 'ik pakk'.
3. The stem cannot end in v or z. The verb leven (to live), the I-form will be 'ik leef' instead of 'ik lev'. This is an example of the long vowel stem and a stem ending on a v.
4. Infinitives that end in '-iën' have a stem that ends in '-ie'. The verb ruziën (to argue), the I-form will be 'ik ruzie' instead of 'ik ruzi'.
Once the stem has been found for these exceptions, the conjugation will follow as the table above shows.
Conjugation with stems that ends in –t or –d
If a stem ends in a '-t', the ending '–t' for the second and third person singular does not have to be added. The table shows you the construction with the verb 'onderschatten' (to underestimate).
| Subject | Infinitive: onderschatten |
|---|---|
| Ik | onderschat |
| Jij, u | onderschat |
| Hij, zij, het | onderschat |
| Wij | onderschatten |
| Jullie | onderschatten |
| Zij | onderschatten |
If a stem ends in a '–d', you do have to add the extra '-t', even though you already hear the sound of a '–t'. In the table below an example of the verb 'worden' (to become) is given.
| Subject | Infinitive: worden |
|---|---|
| Ik | word |
| Jij, u | wordt |
| Hij, zij, het | wordt |
| Wij | worden |
| Jullie | worden |
| Zij | worden |
2) Dutch irregular verbs in the present simple
The Dutch language has 6 completely irregular verbs.
| Subject | hebben (to have) | kunnen (to be able to) | mogen (to be allowed to) | willen (to want) | zijn (to be) | zullen (to will) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ik | heb | kan | mag | wil | ben | zal |
| Jij, u | hebt | kunt | mag | wilt | bent | zult |
| Hij, zij, het | heeft | kan | mag | wil | is | zal |
| Wij | hebben | kunnen | mogen | willen | zijn | zullen |
| Jullie | hebben | kunnen | mogen | willen | zijn | zullen |
| Zij | hebben | kunnen | mogen | willen | zijn | zullen |
Train your skills by doing the exercises below!
Exercises
- Exercise to practice Dutch present tense (regular verbs)
- Exercise to practice Dutch present tense (irregular verbs)
- Exercise to practice Dutch present tense (regular and irregular) 1
- Exercise to practice Dutch present tense (regular and irregular) 2
Exercise to practice Dutch present tense (regular verbs)
Exercise to practice Dutch present tense (irregular verbs)
Exercise to practice Dutch present tense (regular and irregular) 1
Exercise to practice Dutch present tense (regular and irregular) 2
Exercises
- Exercise to practice Dutch present tense (regular verbs)
- Exercise to practice Dutch present tense (irregular verbs)
- Exercise to practice Dutch present tense (regular and irregular) 1
- Exercise to practice Dutch present tense (regular and irregular) 2
Exercise to practice Dutch present tense (regular verbs)
Exercise to practice Dutch present tense (irregular verbs)
Exercise to practice Dutch present tense (regular and irregular) 1
Exercise to practice Dutch present tense (regular and irregular) 2
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My name is Lieneke Jansen and I am 56 years old.
I am from a small country in Europe called the Netherlands
I am a TEFL certified English language coach with experience in teaching both children and adults.
Although I am a non-native speaker, I have learned English since high school, and practicing it on a daily basis from then on.
I have over 30 years of working experience in several international companies on a high professional work and think level.
I am specialised in business conversation and practicing speaking skills on every possible level
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Do you want to improve your Dutch for work and daily life in the Netherlands? I help young expats enhance their Dutch skills, so you can speak and write with more confidence. Not because you have to, but because you want to! My lessons are practical and focused on what you truly need, whether you’re a beginner or already at a higher level.
What you can expect:
Lessons for beginners to advanced learners (B2 to C1), with a methodical and structured approach
Exercises that fit your work and life in the Netherlands
Focus on building confidence and keeping your self-respect, as you find your place as a new resident
Long-term collaboration, aimed at lasting progress and making the most of your new country
In my lessons, you’ll not only learn the language but also how to communicate your unique value and fully use the opportunities in your new home. This way, you’ll get to know the Netherlands better and make your own special contribution!
Ready to improve your Dutch? Contact me and let’s explore the possibilities!
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Learn to communicate in Dutch from the first lesson! Enjoyable classes with teaching materials tailored to your needs. First 15 min. class for free. My name is Karin and I'm from Holland, but I live on the Canary Islands. I love teaching DUTCH and have done so for more than 20 years. I have a Diploma in English Philology. I also have two methodology degrees: the CELTA (Certificate of English Language Teaching to Adults of the University of Cambridge) and the FCTBE (Foundation Certificate for Teachers of Business English of the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry).
I have taught at a Business School and ten companies. In the last two years I've mainly been giving private lessons and I've developed a variety of online self-study DUTCH courses. My schedule is flexible and I adapt myself to the needs and interests of my students so that they reach their objectives in the shortest possible time.
Enjoyable classes, with teaching materials tailored to your needs.
How do the classes work? A class lasts 45 minutes. I'll send you the materials we are going to use in class beforehand so you can print them. After the class I'll send you audios of the notes we made, vocabulary etc. My speciality is communication, from beginner level to advanced. So, you will speak some Dutch in the first class already! Why wait any longer? Let's get started! :-)
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Thank you Tomás :-) You have a very good level already. We just have to focus on lots of speaking practice. Hope to see you again soon!