Dutch · Unit 5
Lessons 19 to 21
Parts of Speech II
Een brief; Trek van zelfverloochening; De leeuw en de muis
Lesson 19: The irregular verbs: three groups (and 1 more)
Verbs that break the pattern
A regular verb makes its past tense and past participle by one fixed pattern. An irregular verb does not. Its forms must be learned one by one.
This lesson puts the irregular verbs in three groups. The first is kunnen, zullen, mogen, weten, moeten and willen. The second is zeggen, leggen, werken, brengen, denken, dunken, zoeken, kopen and hebben. The third is doen, gaan, slaan, zien and zijn.
A few strong verbs also add or change a consonant. Houden gives hield. Verliezen gives verloor and verloren. Vriezen gives vroor and gevroren.
Six verbs with a short singular
These six verbs do not follow the regular pattern. Learn each one as a whole set of forms.
In the present, look at the singular. Ik and hij share one short form: ik kan, hij kan. Wij, jullie and zij take the infinitive: wij kunnen, wij zullen.
In the past, each verb has its own form. Ik kan becomes ik kon. Ik zal becomes ik zou. Ik wil becomes ik wilde.
Only weten has an imperative: weet. Zullen has no past participle. The others have one: gekund, gemogen, geweten, gemoeten, gewild.
An old subjunctive survives only in fixed phrases, such as het zij zo.
Kunnen, mogen, weten, moeten, zullen, willen: conjugation
Present indicative.
Mogen
Weten
Moeten
Zullen
Willen
- 1
I cannot do it.
IkIkanto be able (can)hetit; thenietnotdoen.to do - 2
He is buying a new bicycle.
Hijhekooptto buyeenanieuwenewfiets.bicycle - 3
It has frozen all night.
Hetit; theheeftto have, to have haddethehelewholenachtnightgevroren.frozen (vriezen) - 4
I cannot come.
IkIkanto be able (can)nietnotkomen.to come - 5
They did not want to stay.
Zijshe; theywildento want, to wishnietnotblijven.to remain, stay - 6
So be it.
Hetit; thezijto be (irregular)zo.so, as
The irregular verbs: three groups
The irregular verbs are: a) kunnen (to be able), zullen (the auxiliary for the future), mogen (to be allowed), weten (to know), moeten (to be obliged), willen (to want); b) zeggen (to say), leggen (to lay), werken (to work), brengen (to bring), denken (to think), dunken (to seem, to appear), zoeken (to seek), kopen (to buy), hebben (to have); c) doen (to do), gaan (to go), slaan (to beat, to strike), zien (to see), zijn (to be).
Besides these verbs a few strong verbs show irregularities by inserting or changing a consonant: houden, imperfect hield; verliezen, imperfect verloor, past participle verloren; vriezen, imperfect vroor, past participle gevroren.Kunnen, mogen, weten, moeten, zullen, willen: conjugation
Present indicative.
Kunnen
ik kan
jij kunt
u kunt
hij kan
wij kunnen
jullie kunnen
zij kunnen
Mogen
ik mag
jij mag
u mag
hij mag
wij mogen
jullie mogen
zij mogen
Weten
ik weet
jij weet
u weet
hij weet
wij weten
jullie weten
zij weten
Moeten
ik moet
jij moet
u moet
hij moet
wij moeten
jullie moeten
zij moeten
Zullen
ik zal
jij zult
u zult
hij zal
wij zullen
jullie zullen
zij zullen
Willen
ik wil
jij wilt
u wilt
hij wil
wij willen
jullie willen
zij willen
Past indicative.
Kunnen
ik kon
jij kon
u kon
hij kon
wij konden
jullie konden
zij konden
Mogen
ik mocht
jij mocht
u mocht
hij mocht
wij mochten
jullie mochten
zij mochten
Weten
ik wist
jij wist
u wist
hij wist
wij wisten
jullie wisten
zij wisten
Moeten
ik moest
jij moest
u moest
hij moest
wij moesten
jullie moesten
zij moesten
Zullen
ik zou
jij zou
u zou
hij zou
wij zouden
jullie zouden
zij zouden
Willen
ik wilde
jij wilde
u wilde
hij wilde
wij wilden
jullie wilden
zij wilden
Imperative: only weten has one, weet. The other five give no command, since one cannot order ability, permission, knowledge of an obligation, futurity or wanting.
Present participle: kunnende, mogende, wetende, moetende, zullende, willende, all rare and literary.
Past participle: gekund, gemogen, geweten, gemoeten, gewild; zullen has none.
Vermogen (to be capable of) conjugates like kunnen, except that its past participle is vermocht.
Written Dutch before the war, and Multatuli's prose, show a distinct present subjunctive for these six verbs (kunne, moge, wete, moete, wille) in clauses of wish or concession; the mood survives today only in fixed expressions like het zij zo (so be it) and lang leve de koning (long live the king).Why these six verbs have no personal ending
The verbs kunnen, mogen, weten, moeten and zullen have lost their original present-tense singular; the singular of the present indicative descends from the singular of the old preterite (past) tense. The present indicative of willen descends from the old present subjunctive. Because of this history, the third person singular of these six verbs equals the first person singular and never takes a final -t: ik kan, hij kan (not hij kant); ik zal, hij zal.Durven
Durven is a regular weak verb: ik durf, ik durfde, ik heb gedurfd. Nineteenth- and early-twentieth-century Dutch, including this book's own note, still allowed the old strong preterite dorst beside durfde; dorst is now archaic, and durfde is the only form in ordinary use.Leggen and zeggen
Leggen is a regular weak verb: ik leg, ik legde, ik heb gelegd. Zeggen has an irregular past: ik zeg, ik zei, ik heb gezegd; zei descends from the old form zeide. The book's own alternative forms, leide for leggen and zegde for zeggen, are not standard in the Netherlands today; zegde is still current in Belgian Dutch, and leide has dropped out of use entirely.Werken
Werken is a regular weak verb: ik werk, ik werkte, ik heb gewerkt. The old strong forms wrocht and gewrocht, which the book still allowed for artistic creation, are archaic; het gewrocht survives only as a literary, often ironic, word for a creation.Brengen, denken, dunken
Brengen, denken and dunken change their vowel in the past tense and past participle. The impersonal verb dunken has no past participle.
Brengen
ik breng
ik bracht
ik heb gebracht
Denken
ik denk
ik dacht
ik heb gedacht
Dunken: het dunkt mij (present), het docht mij (past).Zoeken and kopen
Zoeken and kopen have a short o in the past tense and the past participle.
Zoeken
ik zoek
ik zocht
ik heb gezocht
Kopen
ik koop
ik kocht
ik heb gekochtDoen, gaan, slaan, staan, zien, zijn: the monosyllabic verbs
Doen, gaan, slaan, staan, zien and zijn are the only monosyllabic verbs.
Doen
ik doe
jij doet
u doet
hij doet
wij doen
jullie doen
zij doen; ik deed
jij deed
u deed
hij deed
wij deden
jullie deden
zij deden; ik heb gedaan
Gaan
ik ga
jij gaat
u gaat
hij gaat
wij gaan
jullie gaan
zij gaan; ik ging
jij ging
u ging
hij ging
wij gingen
jullie gingen
zij gingen; ik ben gegaan
Slaan
ik sla
jij slaat
u slaat
hij slaat
wij slaan
jullie slaan
zij slaan; ik sloeg
jij sloeg
u sloeg
hij sloeg
wij sloegen
jullie sloegen
zij sloegen; ik heb geslagen
Staan
ik sta
jij staat
u staat
hij staat
wij staan
jullie staan
zij staan; ik stond
jij stond
u stond
hij stond
wij stonden
jullie stonden
zij stonden; ik heb gestaan
Zien
ik zie
jij ziet
u ziet
hij ziet
wij zien
jullie zien
zij zien; ik zag
jij zag
u zag
hij zag
wij zagen
jullie zagen
zij zagen; ik heb gezien
Zijn: given in full in an earlier lesson.Kunnen, mogen: how to use them
Kunnen answers to the English can: hij kan niet komen he cannot come. Zou kunnen means could or might: wij zouden het niet beter kunnen schrijven we could not write it better. When kunnen expresses eventuality it answers to the English may: hij kan wel ziek zijn he may be ill, dit werk had beter kunnen zijn this work might have been better. Had(t) kunnen means might: je had beleefder tegen hem kunnen zijn you might have been more polite towards him.
Mogen means may: je mag met ons uitgaan you may go out with us; mag niet, referring to a prohibition, answers to must not: je mag nu niet spelen you must not play now. Mocht, denoting a supposition, means should: mocht hij nog komen should he still come. Mogen is also used in the sense of houden van, to like: ik mag zulke boeken niet I do not like such books.Moeten: how to use it
Moeten means must, to be obliged, to have to: ik moet een brief schrijven I must write a letter, ik moest een brief schrijven (obligation) I had to write a letter. Had moeten, denoting a duty that was not carried out, means ought to have: ik had gisteren een brief moeten schrijven I ought to have written a letter yesterday. Moeten, denoting someone else's will, means to be to: wie moet dit doen who is to do this?
Moeten can also report hearsay: hij moet erg ziek zijn he is said to be very ill.Zullen: the future auxiliary
Zullen is the auxiliary verb for the future. Je zult dat doen (with special stress) means you shall do that.Willen: its several meanings
Willen a) means will: hij wil niet gaan he will not go; b) means to want, to like, to wish: ik weet niet wat hij wil I do not know what he wants, doe wat je wilt do as you like, hij wil mij zien he wishes to see me; c) means to claim, to pretend: hij wil er alles van weten he pretends to know everything about it; men wil dat hij zijn vrouw heeft verlaten people say he has deserted his wife; d) means to be about to: ik wilde net vertrekken, toen jij binnenkwam I was just about to start, when you entered. Zou willen means would: ik zou willen schrijven, maar ik kan nu niet I would write but I cannot do it now.
When English will expresses a habit or custom, it is rendered with plegen: mijn vader placht vaak over de oorlog met Belgie te spreken my father would often talk about the war against Belgium. Sometimes will is not translated at all: onkruid vergaat niet weeds will grow in spite of the gardener's care; ik verzoek u mij vriendelijk te willen verontschuldigen I beg you kindly to excuse me.Doen as an auxiliary verb
Doen is very seldom used as an auxiliary verb; it must be left untranslated in almost all the cases where English uses it as such:
What does he do?
Doen is very seldom used as an auxiliary verb; it must be left untranslated in almost all the cases where English uses it as such:
What does he do? Wat doet hij?
How do you do? Hoe vaart u? Hoe gaat het?
I do not know it. Ik weet het niet.
Do make haste! Toe, haast u wat!
Does he know it? Yes, he does. Weet hij het? Ja, jawel.
Such means did he use to obtain his end. Zulke middelen wendde hij aan om zijn doel te bereiken.
Note the use of doen in: ik deed beter dadelijk te gaan I had rather go at once, mij dunkt, jij deed beter thuis te blijven I think you had better stay at home.Hebben or zijn
Hebben is used:
With all transitive verbs: ik heb een brief geschreven. A few are also used with zijn, when they carry a different meaning: ik heb mijn boek vergeten I have forgotten my book, ik ben vergeten wat ik zeggen wilde I forget what I was going to say; wij hebben uw voorbeeld gevolgd we have followed your example, de politie is de dief gevolgd the police has pursued the thief; ik heb besloten mee te gaan I have resolved to go with you, ik ben vast besloten het niet te doen I am firmly resolved not to do it.
With all reflexive and impersonal verbs: hij heeft zich geschaamd; het heeft de hele zomer geregend. Except with gebeuren and geschieden: het is gebeurd, het is geschied.
With intransitive verbs that express an action or a condition: ik heb geslapen; deze school heeft al 25 jaar bestaan this school has existed these 25 years. Except with zijn and blijven (to remain): ik ben geweest I have been, hij is gebleven waar hij was he has remained where he was.
Zijn is used with the verbs mentioned above:
a) with intransitive verbs that express a change of condition: het kind is gevallen the child has fallen, de kinderen zijn gegroeid the children have grown;
b) with intransitive verbs when the destination is expressed: ik heb lang gereisd I have travelled a long time; ik ben naar Amsterdam gereisd I have travelled to Amsterdam; wij hebben veel gewandeld we have walked much; wij zijn van Londen naar Richmond gewandeld we have walked from London to Richmond.
Also with worden and ontstaan (to arise): hij is soldaat geworden he has become a soldier; hoe is die twist ontstaan how did that quarrel arise?
Some verbs take hebben or zijn depending on their meaning: de bediende heeft mijn bevelen opgevolgd the servant has obeyed my orders; Willem II is Frederik I opgevolgd William II has succeeded Frederick I; hij volbracht alles wat hij begonnen had he finished all he had begun; hij was al begonnen eer wij het wisten he had already begun before we knew it; met zulke mensen is niets te beginnen such people are not to be managed. Beginnen always takes zijn when followed by an infinitive: zij zijn al begonnen te spelen they have already begun playing.Verbs followed by a bare infinitive
The verbs willen, zullen, moeten, mogen, kunnen, durven and gaan are followed by an infinitive without te: hij wil, zal, moet, mag wandelen; hij kan, durft spreken; hij gaat de dokter halen he goes for the doctor. Compare: hij durft het niet te zeggen, hij waagt het niet te zeggen.Verbs of this lesson, with their principal parts
bezoeken to visit ik bezoek, ik bezocht, ik heb bezocht
genieten to enjoy ik geniet, ik genoot, ik heb genoten
mogen may, to be allowed ik mag, ik mocht, ik heb gemogen
durven to dare ik durf, ik durfde, ik heb gedurfdLesson 19: Why these six verbs have no personal ending (and 2 more)
No t after hij
Most verbs add a t for hij. These six verbs do not. Hij takes the same form as ik.
Ik kan, hij kan. Ik zal, hij zal. Ik wil, hij wil. Hij kant is wrong.
The cause is history. For five of them the present singular comes from an old past tense. For willen it comes from an old subjunctive.
Durven is regular
Durven follows the regular pattern. The forms are ik durf, ik durfde, ik heb gedurfd.
An old strong past form, dorst, once stood beside durfde. It is now archaic. Use durfde.
One regular verb, one irregular
Leggen is regular. The forms are ik leg, ik legde, ik heb gelegd.
Zeggen has an irregular past: ik zeg, ik zei, ik heb gezegd. The past form zei comes from the older zeide.
The forms leide and zegde are not standard in the Netherlands today. Zegde is still current in Belgian Dutch. Leide is no longer used.
- 7
I can, he can.
IkIkan,to be able (can)hijhekan.to be able (can) - 8
I shall, he shall.
IkIzal,shall, willhijhezal.shall, will - 9
I want, he wants.
IkIwil,to want, to wishhijhewil.to want, to wish - 10
I did not dare to ask it.
IkIdurfdeto darehetit; thenietnottetovragen.to ask - 11
Do you dare to do that?
Durfto darejijyoudatthat; that (conjunction)tetodoen?to do
Lesson 19: Werken (and 2 more)
Werken is regular
Werken follows the regular pattern. The forms are ik werk, ik werkte, ik heb gewerkt.
The old strong forms wrocht and gewrocht are archaic. Het gewrocht survives only as a literary word for a creation, and often an ironic one.
A changed vowel in the past
Brengen, denken and dunken change their vowel in the past tense and the past participle.
Brengen gives ik bracht and ik heb gebracht. Denken gives ik dacht and ik heb gedacht.
Dunken is impersonal and has no past participle. The present is het dunkt mij. The past is het docht mij.
Brengen, denken, dunken
Brengen, denken and dunken change their vowel in the past tense and past participle. The impersonal verb dunken has no past participle.
Denken
A short o in the past
Zoeken and kopen both take a short o in the past tense and the past participle.
Zoeken gives ik zocht and ik heb gezocht. Kopen gives ik kocht and ik heb gekocht.
Zoeken and kopen
Zoeken and kopen have a short o in the past tense and the past participle.
Kopen
- 14
She has worked all day.
Zijshe; theyheeftto have, to have haddethehelewholedagdaygewerkt.worked - 15
This painting is a true work of art.
Ditthisschilderijpaintingisto be (irregular)eenawaarwhere; truegewrocht.work of art - 16
I am bringing a present along.
IkIbrengto pass, to spend (time)eenacadeaupresentmee.along, with - 17
It seems to me that this is right.
Mijme thinksdunktme thinksdatthat; that (conjunction)ditthisjuistexactlyis.to be (irregular) - 18
I was looking for my keys.
IkIzochtsoughtmijnmysleutels.keys - 19
We bought a house.
Wijwekochtenboughteenahuis.house
Lesson 19: Doen, gaan, slaan, staan, zien, zijn: the monosyllabic verbs (and 2 more)
Six verbs of one syllable
A monosyllabic verb is a verb whose infinitive has one syllable. Doen, gaan, slaan, staan, zien and zijn are the only six.
Each has its own past tense. Doen gives ik deed. Gaan gives ik ging. Slaan gives ik sloeg. Staan gives ik stond. Zien gives ik zag.
In the table, look at the past participle at the end of each verb. Gaan takes ben: ik ben gegaan. Doen, slaan, staan and zien take heb.
Doen, gaan, slaan, staan, zien, zijn: the monosyllabic verbs
Doen, gaan, slaan, staan, zien and zijn are the only monosyllabic verbs.
jullie deden
Gaan
jullie gingen
Slaan
Can, may and must not
Kunnen means can. Hij kan niet komen. Zou kunnen means could or might.
Kunnen can also say that something is possible. Hij kan wel ziek zijn means he may be ill.
Mogen means may. Je mag met ons uitgaan. Mag niet means must not: je mag nu niet spelen.
Mocht means should, for a supposition: mocht hij nog komen.
Mogen can also mean to like. Ik mag zulke boeken niet means I do not like such books.
Must, ought and is said to
Moeten means must or to have to. Ik moet een brief schrijven.
Had moeten means ought to have. It names a duty that was not carried out.
Moeten can also report what people say. Hij moet erg ziek zijn means he is said to be very ill.
- 20
We did our best.
Wijwededento doonsusbest.well - 21
She has gone to school.
Zijshe; theyisto be (irregular)naarto, towardsschoolschoolgegaan.to go - 22
He may be ill.
Hijhekanto be able (can)welbutziekillzijn.to be (irregular) - 23
I do not like such books.
IkImagmayzulkesuchboekenbooksniet.not - 24
I must write a letter.
IkImoetto have to, musteenabriefletterschrijven.to write - 25
He is said to be very ill.
Hijhemoetto have to, mustergvery; badziekillzijn.to be (irregular)
Lesson 19: Zullen: the future auxiliary (and 2 more)
Zullen makes the future
Zullen is the auxiliary verb for the future.
Ik zal het morgen doen means I will do it tomorrow. Zij zullen op tijd komen means they will arrive on time.
With special stress, je zult dat doen means you shall do that.
Four meanings of willen
Willen has four meanings: will, want, claim, and be about to.
Hij wil niet gaan means he will not go. Ik weet niet wat hij wil means I do not know what he wants.
Hij wil er alles van weten means he pretends to know everything about it. Ik wilde net vertrekken means I was just about to start.
Would, and a habit in the past
Zou willen means would: ik zou willen schrijven.
When English would names a habit, Dutch uses plegen. Mijn vader placht vaak te wandelen.
Sometimes English will has no Dutch word at all: onkruid vergaat niet.
English do has no Dutch partner
English uses do as an auxiliary verb in questions and in negation. Dutch almost never does. Leave the English do out.
What does he do? Wat doet hij? Here only the second do is a real verb, and Dutch keeps only that one.
I do not know it. Ik weet het niet. The Dutch verb stands alone.
Doen with beter means had better: jij deed beter thuis te blijven.
- 26
I will do it tomorrow.
IkIzalshall, willhetit; themorgenmorningdoen.to do - 27
They will arrive on time.
Zijshe; theyzullenshall, willopon, upontijdtimekomen.to come - 28
He will not go.
Hijhewilto want, to wishnietnotgaan.to go - 29
My father would often go for a walk.
Mijnmyvaderthe fatherplachtto be accustomed, to be in the habit ofvaakoftentetowandelen.to walk, stroll - 30
What does he do?
Watwhatdoetto dohij?he - 31
I do not know it.
IkIweetto knowhetit; theniet.not
Lesson 19: Hebben or zijn (and 1 more)
Hebben, the usual helper
The present perfect needs an auxiliary verb before the past participle. The auxiliary is hebben or zijn.
A transitive verb is a verb that takes a direct object. Transitive verbs take hebben: ik heb een brief geschreven.
Reflexive and impersonal verbs also take hebben, and so do verbs of action or condition: ik heb geslapen.
Some verbs take zijn instead: ik ben geweest, hij is gebleven, het is gebeurd.
When zijn is the helper
Zijn goes with verbs that name a change of condition. Het kind is gevallen. De kinderen zijn gegroeid.
Zijn also goes with a verb of motion when the goal is named. Ik heb lang gereisd, but ik ben naar Amsterdam gereisd.
Worden and ontstaan take zijn: hij is soldaat geworden.
A few verbs take hebben or zijn by their meaning. Ik heb mijn boek vergeten, but ik ben vergeten wat ik zeggen wilde.
An infinitive with no te
Seven verbs take an infinitive without te: willen, zullen, moeten, mogen, kunnen, durven and gaan.
Hij kan goed zwemmen. Zij gaat de dokter halen. Hij wil wandelen.
Compare hij durft het niet te zeggen and hij waagt het niet te zeggen. Here durven takes te, and so does waagt.
Verbs of this lesson, with their principal parts
- 32
I have written a letter.
IkIhebto have, to have hadeenabrieflettergeschreven.to write - 33
We have travelled to Amsterdam.
Wijwezijnto be (irregular)naarto, towardsAmsterdamAmsterdamgereisd.traveled - 34
The children have grown.
Dethekinderenchildrenzijnto be (irregular)gegroeid.to grow - 35
He can swim well.
Hijhekanto be able (can)goedgood, wellzwemmen.to swim - 36
She is going to fetch the doctor.
Zijshe; theygaatto godethedokterphysician, doctorhalen.fetch
Een brief
- 37
A Letter
Eenabriefletter - 38
Hoorn, June 5, 1911.
Hoorn,horns55junijuni1911.1911 - 39
Dear friend,
Waardevaluevriend,friend
- 40
Since we have our holiday within seven weeks, it is becoming time to discuss our travel plans in more detail.
Daaras, since, becausewijwebinnenwithinzevensevenwekenweeksvakantieholiday, vacationhebben,to have, to have hadwordtto become, to gethetit; thetijdtimeonzeourreisplannentravel plansnaderfurther, in more detailtetobespreken.discussed - 41
Do you feel like visiting Heidelberg and the Neckar valley with me this year?
Hebhavejeyou; yourzinsenseomaround; at (time); in order toditthisjaarthe yearmetwithmijmeHeidelbergHeidelbergenandhetit; theNeckardalNeckardaleensonce, one daytetobezoeken?to visit - 42
I can assure you it is one of the most beautiful spots in all of Germany, and one must be very spoiled indeed, if one does not enjoy oneself there to the full.
IkIkanto be able (can)jeyou; yourverzekeren,to assurehetit; theisto be (irregular)eenavanof, fromdethemooistefinestplekjesspotvanof, fromheelwholeDuitsland,Duitslandenandmenone, peoplemoetto have to, mustalalreadyergvery; badverwendspoiledzijn,to be (irregular)wilto want, to wishmenone, peopledaaras, since, becausenietnotvolopplenty, to the fullgenieten.to enjoy
- vakantie
- holiday, vacation
- Neckardal
- the Neckar valley
- Duitsland
- Germany
- Daar
- as, since, because
- nader
- further, in more detail
- volop
- plenty, to the full
- tijd
- it is getting time (het wordt tijd)
- hebben
- to feel like, to want to (lust hebben)
- verzekeren
- to assure
- met
- to trouble, to bother (someone) about (lastigvallen met)
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Last year I was there too, but one can safely travel there a second or third time, it always remains new.
Verledenpastjaarthe yearbento be (irregular)ikIerthereookalso, likewisegeweest,to be (irregular)maarbutmenone, peoplekanto be able (can)ertheregerustsafely, without worryeenatweedethe Secondofor; whetherderdethirdmaaltime (an occasion)heento travel therereizen,to travel therehetit; theblijftto remain, stayaltijdalwaysnieuw.new - 44
Should you perhaps have another plan, be so good as to let me know soon.
Mochtmight, was allowedjeyou; yoursomssometimeseenaanderanother (person)planplan, planshebben,to have, to have hadweesbe (imperative)danthenzoso, asgoedgood, wellhetit; themijmespoedigsoonmeealong, withtetodelen.to communicate, to pass on - 45
If not, then I will inform our friend Paul of our arrival.
Zoso, asniet,notdanthenzalshall, willikIonzeourvriendfriendPaulPaulvanof, fromonzeourkomstarrivalverwittigen.to inform, to notify
- komst
- arrival
- gerust
- safely, without worry
- reizen
- to travel there (heen reizen)
- verwittigen
- to inform, to notify
- 46
I would like to meet him again sometime, I am fond of him; besides, he knows the beauties of Heidelberg and its surroundings.
IkIzoushould, wouldhemhimnogstill, yet; anotherwelbuteensonce, one daywillento want, to wishontmoeten,to meetikImagmayhemhimgraag;gladly, with pleasuredaarenbovenbesides, moreoverkentknowshijhedetheschoonhedenbeautiesvanof, fromHeidelbergHeidelbergenandomstreken.environs, surroundings - 47
Ask whether Mr. R. has a guidebook to South Germany for us!
Vraagto askofor; whethermeneersir, MrR.ereenareisgidsguidebookvanof, fromZuid-DuitslandSouth Germanyvoorforonsusheeft!to have, to have had - 48
I do not dare to trouble him about it and cannot borrow one here.
IkIdurfto darehemhimertherenietnotlastigtroublesomemeealong, withvallenfallenandkanto be able (can)ertherehierheregeenno, not alenen.to borrow
- omstreken
- environs, surroundings
- reisgids
- guidebook
- Zuid-Duitsland
- South Germany
- daarenboven
- besides, moreover
- lenen
- to borrow
- 49
Do you know how long in advance one must order the circular tickets?
Weetknowjeyou; yourhoehow longlanghow longvanbeforehand, in advancetevorenbeforehand, in advancemenone, peopledetherondreisbiljettencircular ticketsmoetto have to, mustbestellen?order - 50
Answer soon.
Antwoordanswerspoedig.soon - 51
With regards, your friend, N. N.
Groetend,regards (letter closing)jeyou; yourvriend,friendN.No.N.No.
- lang
- how long (hoe lang)
- tevoren
- beforehand, in advance (van tevoren)
- Groetend
- regards (letter closing)
Lesson 19: conversation
- 52
I am writing to my friend that it is becoming time to discuss our travel plans in more detail, because . . .
IkIschrijfwriteaanon, at, tomijnmyvriend,frienddatthat; that (conjunction)hetit; thetijdtimewordtto become, to getonzeourreisplannentravel plansnaderfurther, in more detailtetobespreken,discussedomdatbecause... - 53
I ask him whether he feels like . . .
IkIvraagto askhemhimofor; whetherhijhelusta mindheeftto have, to have had... - 54
I can assure my friend that Heidelberg . . .
IkIkanto be able (can)mijnmyvriendfriendverzekeren,to assuredatthat; that (conjunction)HeidelbergHeidelberg... - 55
Last year I had already been there, but one . . .
Verledenpastjaarthe yearbento be (irregular)ikIertherereedsalreadygeweest,to be (irregular)maarbutmenone, people... - 56
I am writing to my friend that it is becoming time to discuss our travel plans in more detail, because we have our holiday within seven weeks.
IkIschrijfwriteaanon, at, tomijnmyvriend,frienddatthat; that (conjunction)hetit; thetijdtimewordtto become, to getonzeourreisplannentravel plansnaderfurther, in more detailtetobespreken,discussedomdatbecausewijwebinnenwithinzevensevenwekenweeksvakantieholiday, vacationhebben.to have, to have had - 57
I ask him whether he feels like visiting Heidelberg and the Neckar valley with me this year.
IkIvraagto askhemhimofor; whetherhijhelusta mindheeftto have, to have hadditthisjaarthe yearmetwithmijmeHeidelbergHeidelbergenandhetit; theNeckardalNeckardaltetobezoeken.to visit - 58
I can assure my friend that Heidelberg is one of the most beautiful spots in all of Germany.
IkIkanto be able (can)mijnmyvriendfriendverzekeren,to assuredatthat; that (conjunction)HeidelbergHeidelbergeenavanof, fromdethemooistefinestplekjesspotvanof, fromheelwholeDuitslandDuitslandis.to be (irregular) - 59
Last year I had already been there, but one can safely travel there a second or third time, it always remains new.
Verledenpastjaarthe yearbento be (irregular)ikIertherereedsalreadygeweest,to be (irregular)maarbutmenone, peoplekanto be able (can)ertheregerustsafely, without worryeenatweedethe Secondofor; whetherderdethirdmaaltime (an occasion)heento travel therereizen,to travel therehetit; theblijftto remain, stayaltijdalwaysnieuw.new
- 60
I ask my friend to write to me soon, if . . .
IkIverzoekto beg, to requestmijnmyvriendfriendmijmespoedigsoontetoschrijven,to writeindienif... - 61
Should he have no other plan, then . . .
Mochtmight, was allowedhijhegeenno, not aanderanother (person)planplan, planshebben,to have, to have haddanthen... - 62
I would like to meet him again sometime, because . . ., besides . . .
IkIzoushould, wouldhemhimnogstill, yet; anotherwelbuteensonce, one daywillento want, to wishontmoeten,to meetwantfor, because...,daarenbovenbesides, moreover... - 63
I ask my friend to ask Mr. R. whether he perhaps . . ., because . . .
IkIverzoekto beg, to requestmijnmyvriendfriendaanon, at, tomeneersir, MrR.ertetovragento askofor; whetherhijhesomssometimes...,wantfor, because... - 64
I ask my friend to write to me soon, if he perhaps has another plan.
IkIverzoekto beg, to requestmijnmyvriendfriendmijmespoedigsoontetoschrijven,to writeindienifhijhesomssometimeseenaanderanother (person)planplan, plansheeft.to have, to have had - 65
Should he have no other plan, then I will inform our friend Paul of our arrival.
Mochtmight, was allowedhijhegeenno, not aanderanother (person)planplan, planshebben,to have, to have haddanthenzalshall, willikIonzeourvriendfriendPaulPaulvanof, fromonzeourkomstarrivalverwittigen.to inform, to notify - 66
I would like to meet him again sometime, because I am fond of him, besides he knows the beauties of Heidelberg and its surroundings.
IkIzoushould, wouldhemhimnogstill, yet; anotherwelbuteensonce, one daywillento want, to wishontmoeten,to meetwantfor, becauseikImagmayhemhimgraag,gladly, with pleasuredaarenbovenbesides, moreoverkentknowshijhedetheschoonhedenbeautiesvanof, fromHeidelbergHeidelbergenandomstreken.environs, surroundings - 67
I ask my friend to ask Mr. R. whether he perhaps has a guidebook to South Germany for us, because I do not dare to trouble him about it and cannot borrow one here.
IkIverzoekto beg, to requestmijnmyvriendfriendaanon, at, tomeneersir, MrR.ertetovragento askofor; whetherhijhesomssometimeseenareisgidsguidebookvanof, fromZuid-DuitslandSouth Germanyvoorforonsusheeft,to have, to have hadwantfor, becauseikIdurfto darehemhimertherenietnotlastigtroublesomemeealong, withtetovallenfallenandkanto be able (can)ertherehierheregeenno, not alenen.to borrow
- 68
Finally I ask whether my friend knows . . . and ask him soon to . . .
Teninslotteending(atatelast)Lastvraagto askikIofor; whethermijnmyvriendfriendweetto know...enandverzoekrequesthemhimspoedigsoon... - 69
Finally I ask whether my friend knows how long in advance one must order the circular tickets, and ask him to answer soon.
TeninslotteendingvraagquestionikIofor; whethermijnmyvriendfriendweetto knowhoehow longlanghow longvanbeforehand, in advancetevorenbeforehand, in advancemenone, peopledetherondreisbiljettencircular ticketsmoetto have to, mustbestellen,orderenandverzoekrequesthemhimspoedigsoontetoantwoorden.to answer
Lesson 19: exercise 37
Lesson 19: exercise 38
- 80
You could not have noticed the mistake.
Uyou (polite)zoushould, woulddethefoutfaultnietnothebbento have, to have hadkunnento be able (can)opmerken.notice - 81
You might not have noticed the mistake.
Uyou (polite)zoushould, woulddethefoutfaultnietnothebbento have, to have hadkunnento be able (can)ofor; whethermogenmayopmerken.notice - 82
You cannot have noticed the mistake.
Uyou (polite)kuntto be able (can)dethefoutfaultnietnothebbento have, to have hadopgemerkt.noticed - 83
You may not have noticed the mistake.
Uyou (polite)kuntto be able (can)ofor; whetheruyou (polite)moogtmaydethefoutfaultnietnothebbento have, to have hadopgemerkt.noticed - 84
You might have noticed the mistake.
Uyou (polite)hadto have, to have haddethefoutfaultkunnento be able (can)opmerken.notice - 85
I should have noticed the mistake.
IkIzoushould, woulddethefoutfaultopgemerktnoticedhebben.to have, to have had - 86
You ought to have noticed the mistake.
Uyou (polite)hadto have, to have haddethefoutfaultmoetento have to, mustopmerken.notice
- 87
He might not understand us.
Hijhezoushould, wouldonsusnietnotkunnento be able (can)ofor; whethermogenmayverstaan.understood - 88
He could not understand us.
Hijhekonto be able (can)onsusnietnotverstaan.understood - 89
He may not have seen it.
Hijhekanto be able (can)hetit; themisschienperhapsnietnotgeziento seehebben.to have, to have had - 90
He cannot have seen it.
Hijhekanto be able (can)hetit; thenietnotgeziento seehebben.to have, to have had - 91
He may be mistaken.
Hijhekanto be able (can)zichoneself, himself, themselvesvergissen.be mistaken - 92
If you would have a thing done well, do it yourself.
Alsifuyou (polite)ietssomethinggoedgood, wellgedaanto dowiltto want, to wishhebben,to have, to have haddoeto dohetit; thedanthenzelf.self - 93
It will be time when the clock strikes twelve.
Hetit; thezalshall, willtijdtimezijnto be (irregular)alsifdetheklokclocktwaalftwelveslaat.beats
- 94
It shall be done when the clock strikes twelve.
Hetit; thezalshall, willgedaanto dozijnto be (irregular)wanneerwhendetheklokclocktwaalftwelveslaat.beats - 95
He who should do this, would be one of the greatest benefactors of mankind.
Wiewhoditthiszoushould, woulddoen,to dozoushould, wouldeenavanof, fromdethegrootstegreatestweldoenersbenefactorsvanof, fromdethemensheidmankindzijn.to be (irregular) - 96
I should be glad if you would translate this for me.
Uyou (polite)zoushould, wouldmijmeeenagenoegenpleasuredoen,to doalsifuyou (polite)ditthisvoorformijmezoushould, wouldwillento want, to wishvertalen.translate - 97
I should be glad if you should succeed.
Hetit; thezoushould, wouldmijmeverheugen,rejoicealsifuyou (polite)zoushould, wouldslagen.succeed - 98
My brother says he will be punished.
Mijnmybroerbrotherzegtto saydatthat; that (conjunction)hijhegestraftpunishedzalshall, willworden.to become, to get - 99
My brother says he shall be punished.
Mijnmybroerbrotherzegtto saydatthat; that (conjunction)hijhezekersurely, certainlygestraftpunishedzalshall, willworden.to become, to get - 100
He should have brought me a book, but he has forgotten it.
Hijhezoushould, wouldmijmeeenaboekbookhebbento have, to have hadmeegebracht,brought alongmaarbuthijheheeftto have, to have hadhetit; thevergeten.to forget
- 101
It happened, that the king passed through the Netherlands.
Hetit; thegebeurdehappeneddatthat; that (conjunction)dethekoningking, kingsdoorthroughNederlandNederlandreisde.travels - 102
We have walked from Whitby to Malton.
Wijwezijnto be (irregular)vanof, fromWhitbyWhitbynaarto, towardsMaltonMaltongewandeld.to walk, stroll - 103
How long have you walked.
Hoehow longlanghow longhebtto have, to have haduyou (polite)gewandeld?to walk, stroll - 104
What has become of him?
Watwhatisto be (irregular)ertherevanof, fromhemhimgeworden?to become, to get - 105
I have made up my mind not to leave this country.
IkIbento be (irregular)beslotenresolvedditthislandlandnietnottetoverlaten.left - 106
These children have always followed the example of their parents.
Dezethe latter (the most recently mentioned)kinderenchildrenhebbento have, to have hadaltijdalwayshetit; thevoorbeeldexamplevanof, fromhunthem; theiroudersparentsgevolgd.followed - 107
I forget his name.
IkIbento be (irregular)zijnhis; to benaamnamevergeten.to forget
- 108
I had rather start (vertrekken) at once.
IkIdeedto dobeterbetterdadelijkimmediatelytetovertrekken.depart - 109
I think you had better stay in your own country.
Mijme thinksdunkt,me thinksuyou (polite)deedto dobeterbetterininuwyour (polite)eigenownlandlandtetoblijven.to remain, stay - 110
How do you do, Sir?
Hoehowvaartmomentumu,you (polite)meneer?sir, Mr - 111
Very well, [I] thank you.
Dankthanksu,you (polite)heelvery wellgoed.very well - 112
As (daar), I am ill; I beg you kindly to excuse me.
Daaras, since, becauseikIongesteldillben,to be (irregular)verzoekto beg, to requestikIuyou (polite)vriendelijkfriendly, kindmijmetetoverschonen.spared
Lesson 19: exercise 39
- 113
waren
waren (a judge, an officer and a clergyman HAD ARRIVED)
- 114
waren
waren (scarcely HAD they alighted)
- 115
had
had (it HAD always held as a rule with him)
- 116
was
was (the guest who HAD arrived first)
- 117
waren
waren (those who HAD arrived later)
- 118
waren
waren (there WERE, however, three of them)
- 119
moest
moest (the innkeeper HAD TO decide)
- 120
is
is (“who are you,” he asked, turning to the officer, “and where HAVE you been until now?”)
- 121
heb
heb (“I HAVE lain in garrison as a captain in B. for 15 years,” the officer answered)
- 122
heb
heb (“and I HAVE had a seat in the court of justice in E. as a judge for 20 years,” said the judge)
- 123
heb
heb (“and I HAVE already stood as a minister in H. for 25 years,” said the clergyman)
- 124
is
is (“well then, the dispute IS settled at once,” cried the innkeeper)
- 125
hebt
hebt (you, captain, HAVE lain 15 years)
- 126
hebt
hebt (you, judge, HAVE sat 20 years)
- 127
heeft
heeft (the minister, however, HAS stood 25 years, so the bed falls to him)
Lesson 19: exercise 40
- 128
wilt
wilt (you WILL want to know)
- 129
kan
kan (I CAN inform you)
- 130
wordt
wordt (my health IS getting better)
- 131
mag
mag (I MAY already walk in the garden)
- 132
mag
mag (and MAY then stay outside a couple of hours)
- 133
mag
mag (I MAY not yet go out, morning and evening)
- 134
zou
zou (I WOULD not speed up my recovery with that anyway)
Lesson 20: Geven: paradigm of a strong verb (and 1 more)
Geven in the present
Geven means to give. It is a strong verb: it changes its vowel in the past, as in gaf.
In the present the ending follows the person. Ik geef. Jij geeft. Hij geeft. Wij geven. Jullie geven. Zij geven.
A question puts the verb first. Geef ik? Geeft hij? Geven wij? The verb drops its t before jij: geef jij?
Geven in the past and after
The past has two forms. Ik gaf and hij gaf use gaf. Wij gaven, jullie gaven and zij gaven use gaven.
The past participle is gegeven. It builds the compound tenses: ik heb gegeven, ik had gegeven, ik zal gegeven hebben.
The future uses zal and the infinitive: ik zal geven. The conditional uses zou: ik zou geven.
The imperative is geef. One form serves one person or many.
The subjunctive dat ik geve has died out of ordinary speech. It survives in set phrases such as leve de koning.
As a question
The four forms of a strong verb
To conjugate a verb is to build all its forms. A strong verb needs four forms to start from.
These are the infinitive, the past singular, the past plural and the past participle. For geven they are geven, gaf, gaven, gegeven.
Every other tense is built as for a weak verb. Only the past subjunctive is different.
The past subjunctive
The past subjunctive comes from the past plural. Wij gaven gives dat ik gave and dat hij gave.
Wij schreven gives dat ik schreve and dat hij schreve.
For zij, the past subjunctive is the same as the ordinary past: zij gaven.
- 140
I give you a book.
IkIgeefto givejeyou; youreenaboek.book - 141
Are you giving him the money?
Geefto givejeyou; yourhemhimhetit; thegeld?money - 142
We gave her a present.
Wijwegavento givehaarhereenacadeau.present - 143
He has given the book.
Hijheheeftto have, to have hadhetit; theboekbookgegeven.to give - 144
we gave, hence that I might give.
wijwegaven,to givedussodatthat; that (conjunction)ikIgave.gift - 145
we wrote, hence that I might write.
wijweschreven,to writedussodatthat; that (conjunction)ikIschreve.might write
| ik | geef | I give |
|---|---|---|
| jij | geeft | you give (familiar) |
| u | geeft | you give (polite) |
| hij | geeft | he gives |
| wij | geven | we give |
| jullie | geven | you give (familiar plural) |
| zij | geven | they give |
Geven: paradigm of a strong verb
Paradigm of a strong verb
ik geef I give
jij geeft you give (familiar)
u geeft you give (polite)
hij geeft he gives
wij geven we give
jullie geven you give (familiar plural)
zij geven they give
As a question
geef ik? do I give?
geef jij? do you give?
geeft u? do you give?
geeft hij? does he give?
geven wij? do we give?
geven jullie? do you give?
geven zij? do they give?
Past.
Ik gaf, I gave; hij gaf, he gave; wij gaven, we gave; jullie gaven, you gave; zij gaven, they gave.
Present Perfect.
Ik heb gegeven enz. I have given &c.
Pluperfect.
Ik had gegeven enz. I had given &c.
Future.
Ik zal geven enz. I shall give &c.
Future Perfect.
Ik zal gegeven hebben enz. I shall have given &c.
Present Conditional.
Ik zou geven enz. I should give &c.
Past Conditional.
Ik zou gegeven hebben enz. I should have given &c.
Imperative.
Geef! give! One form serves both singular and plural; the old plural geeft is a literary form only.
The subjunctive (dat ik geve, dat ik gave) is grammatically still formed exactly as here, but it has died out of ordinary speech and survives only in a handful of set and literary phrases, such as leve de koning, long live the king, and het ga je goed, may it go well with you.How a strong verb is conjugated; the past subjunctive
To conjugate a strong verb we need, besides the infinitive: the singular of the past indicative, the plural of the past indicative, and the past participle. Every other tense is built the same way as for a weak verb, except the past subjunctive, which is formed from the plural of the past indicative: wij gaven, we gave, gives dat ik gave, dat hij gave; wij schreven, we wrote, gives dat ik schreve, dat hij schreve. The third person plural of the past subjunctive is the same as that of the indicative.The seven classes of strong verbs
According to their vowel change, all strong verbs fall into seven classes:
I: berg, borg, borgen, geborgen; bind, bond, bonden, gebonden.
According to their vowel change, all strong verbs fall into seven classes:
I: berg, borg, borgen, geborgen; bind, bond, bonden, gebonden.
II: neem, nam, namen, genomen.
III: lees, las, lazen, gelezen.
IV: drijf, dreef, dreven, gedreven.
V: bied, bood, boden, geboden; sluit, sloot, sloten, gesloten.
VI: vaar, voer, voeren, gevaren.
VII: a) hang, hing, hingen, gehangen; b) val, viel, vielen, gevallen; c) slaap, sliep, sliepen, geslapen; d) loop, liep, liepen, gelopen; e) roep, riep, riepen, geroepen.Strong verbs, class I
The verbs of the 1st class have e or i in the present tense followed by two or more consonants; the singular and plural of the past tense and the past participle have short o.
To this class belong: bederven to spoil, beginnen to begin, bergen to hide, bersten to burst (also weak in the past tense; the past participle is gebarsten or geborsten), binden to bind, blinken to shine, delven to dig, dringen to press, drinken to drink, dwingen to force, gelden to be worth, glimmen to glimmer, glimpen to shine faintly, helpen to help, kerven to carve, klimmen to climb, klinken to sound, krimpen to shrink, melken to milk, ontginnen to work (a mine), schelden to call names, slinken to shrink, smelten to melt, spinnen to spin, springen to spring, sterven to die, stinken to stink, vechten to fight, vlechten to twist, verslinden to devour, verzwinden to disappear, vinden to find, werpen to throw, werven to recruit, worden to become, winden to wind, winnen to win, wringen to wring, zwelgen to swallow, zwellen to swell, zwemmen to swim, zwerven to roam, zingen to sing, zinken to sink.
The verbs treffen to hit and schrikken to startle (intransitive) belong here rather than to the 3rd class. Of the obsolete verbs belgen and gerinnen only the participles verbolgen (angry) and geronnen (clotted) are left.
The verbs bederven, helpen, sterven, werpen, werven and zwerven have ie instead of o in the past: bedierf, bedierven, and so on.Strong verbs, class II
The verbs of the 2nd class have ee in the present tense followed by a liquid consonant or by k. The singular of the past tense has a, the plural has a, the past participle has o.
To this class belong: bevelen to order, breken to break, nemen to take, spreken to speak, steken to sting, stelen to steal, wreken to avenge. Of the verbs beren and helen only the participles are left: geboren born, verholen concealed.
The verbs komen: kom, kwam, kwamen, gekomen, to come; zweren: zweer, zwoer, zwoeren, gezworen, to swear; and scheren: scheer, schoor, schoren, geschoren, to shave, deviate from the vowel change of this class. Wreken has a weak past tense: wreekte.Strong verbs, class III
The verbs of the 3rd class have a long e in the present tense and in the past participle, followed by hard consonants (except k); the singular of the past tense has a short a, the plural a long a.
To this class belong: eten (past participle gegeten) to eat, genezen to cure, geven to give, lezen to read, meten to measure, treden to step, vergeten to forget, vreten to devour.
The following verbs are irregular: bewegen to move, and wegen: weeg, woog, wogen, gewogen, to weigh; plegen, to be accustomed, pleeg, placht, plachten, with no past participle; plegen meaning to commit, and verplegen, to nurse, are weak. Bidden to pray, liggen to lie and zitten to sit have i in the present tense instead of e: bid, lig, zit; in the other tenses they follow the general rule. The monosyllabic verb zien also belongs to this class.Strong verbs, class IV
The verbs of the 4th class have ij in the present tense, ee in the singular of the past tense, and e in the plural of the past tense and in the past participle.
To this class belong: belijden to confess, bezwijken to yield, bijten to bite, blijken to appear, blijven to remain, drijven to float, glijden to glide, grijpen to catch, hijsen to hoist, kijken to look, kijven to wrangle, knijpen to pinch, krijten to weep, kwijten to acquit, lijden to suffer, mijden to avoid, nijgen to curtsy, nijpen to pinch, overlijden to die, pijpen to whistle, prijzen to praise, rijden to ride or to drive, rijgen to lace, rijten to tear, rijven to rake, rijzen to rise, schijnen to seem or to shine, schrijden to stride, schrijven to write, slijpen to grind, slijten to wear out, smijten to fling, snijden to cut, splijten to split, stijgen to mount, strijden to fight, strijken to stroke, verdwijnen to disappear, wijken to retreat, wijten to impute, wrijven to rub, zijgen to filter or to sink down, zwijgen to be silent.
(Aan)tijgen to accuse, bezwijmen to swoon, grijnen to fret, krijgen to get, krijsen to shriek are weak or strong. Stijven in a figurative sense (iemand in het kwaad stijven, to encourage someone in wrongdoing) and pijpen in aanpijpen, to light a pipe, are weak.Strong verbs, class V
The verbs of the 5th class have ie or ui in the present tense, oo in the singular of the past tense, and o in the plural of the past tense and in the past participle.
To this class belong: a) bieden to offer, bedriegen to cheat, gieten to pour, genieten to enjoy, liegen to lie, schieten to shoot, verdrieten to sadden, vlieden to flee, vliegen to fly, vlieten to flow, zieden to seethe, and two verbs which change z into r in the past and the past participle: verliezen to lose, and vriezen to freeze; b) buigen to bend, druipen to drip, duiken to dive, kluiven to pick, kruipen to creep, luiken to shut, ontluiken to open, ruiken to smell, schuiven to push, sluipen to sneak, sluiten to shut, snuiten to blow (one's nose) or to snuff (a candle), snuiven to take snuff, spruiten to sprout, spuiten to spout, stuiven to fly, to be dusty, zuigen to suck, zuipen to drink (immoderately).
Kruien to wheel and schuilen to hide may be conjugated weak or strong.
Brouwen to brew has become weak, but besides gebrouwd the old past participle gebrouwen still exists; the verb tijgen, to draw or to go, is lost, but the past tense toog, togen and the past participle getogen survive, chiefly in geboren en getogen, born and bred.Strong verbs, class VI
The verbs of the 6th class have a long a in the present tense and in the past participle, and u (oe) in the singular and plural of the past tense.
To this class belong: a) dragen to carry, graven to dig, varen to navigate; b) lachen to laugh, laden to load, and malen to grind, which have a weak past tense: laadde, lachte, maalde; c) zweren to swear, which has a long o in the past participle: gezworen; d) the irregular verbs slaan and staan; e) the past forms joeg, vroeg and woei, or jaagde, vraagde, waaide, of the weak verbs jagen to hunt, vragen to ask, waaien to blow.Strong verbs, class VII
The verbs of the 7th class have the same vowel in the present tense and in the past participle; in the past tense they have i or ie.
To this class belong: a) hangen to hang, vangen to catch, and the past forms of the irregular verb gaan; b) vallen to fall, wassen to grow, wassen to wash, and the past tense forms hief, hieven, schiep, schiepen of the verbs heffen to lift and scheppen to create: past participles geheven, geschapen; scheppen is weak in all other meanings, for example hij schepte water, he scooped water; c) blazen to blow, laten to let, raden to advise or to guess (past tense ried and raadde), slapen to sleep; d) houden to hold (past tense hield), houwen to hew (past tense hieuw), lopen to run and stoten to push; e) roepen to call.
The verbs bakken to bake, bannen to banish, braden to roast, heten to be called, scheiden to separate, spannen to stretch, vouwen to fold, zouten to salt have a weak past tense, with only the strong past participle left: bakte, gebakken; bande, gebannen; braadde, gebraden; heette, geheten; scheidde, gescheiden; spande, gespannen; vouwde, gevouwen; zoutte, gezouten.Verbs of this lesson, with their principal parts
toestaan to allow, to permit ik sta toe, ik stond toe, ik heb toegestaanLesson 20: The seven classes of strong verbs (and 1 more)
Seven vowel patterns
A class is a group of strong verbs that change their vowel in the same way. Dutch has seven classes.
Each entry gives four forms in this order: present, past singular, past plural, past participle. Read bind, bond, bonden, gebonden.
The vowel changes from bind to bond. It stays the same in bonden. The participle gebonden has the same vowel as the past.
Class VII has five groups. In each, the present and the participle share a vowel, as in loop, liep, liepen, gelopen.
Class I: o in the past
Class I verbs have e or i in the present, followed by two or more consonants. The past and the participle have a short o.
Binden to bind gives bind, bond, bonden, gebonden. Beginnen to begin and vinden to find follow the same pattern.
Hij begon te zingen. Wij vonden het huis.
Reading the list and its exceptions
The list gives each class I verb with its meaning, as in zingen to sing.
Bederven, helpen, sterven, werpen, werven and zwerven have ie in the past instead of o. Bederven gives bedierf and bedierven. Zij hielp haar moeder.
Bersten to burst can also take a weak past tense. Its participle is gebarsten or geborsten.
- 146
I put it away.
IkIbergmountainhetit; theweg.away; road - 147
He tied the rope fast.
Hijhebondtiedhetit; thetouwropevast.solid, firm - 148
They have slept a long time.
Zijshe; theyhebbento have, to have hadlanglonggeslapen.slept - 149
He began to sing.
Hijhebegonbegantetozingen.to sing - 150
We found the house.
Wijwevondento findhetit; thehuis.house - 151
She helped her mother.
Zijshe; theyhielpto helphaarhermoeder.the mother
Lesson 20: Strong verbs, class II (and 1 more)
Class II: a, a, o
Class II verbs have ee in the present, followed by k or by a liquid consonant. Here that is l or m, as in stelen and nemen.
The past singular has a. The past plural has a. The participle has o. Neem, nam, namen, genomen shows the pattern.
Hij nam het boek. Spreken to speak and breken to break follow it too.
Three verbs that differ
Komen differs from the class. Its four forms are kom, kwam, kwamen, gekomen. Wij kwamen te laat.
Zweren to swear has zweer, zwoer, zwoeren, gezworen. Scheren to shave has scheer, schoor, schoren, geschoren.
Wreken to avenge has a weak past tense: wreekte. Of beren and helen only the participles geboren and verholen are left.
Class III: a short, a long
Class III verbs have a long e in the present and in the participle, followed by hard consonants other than k.
The past singular has a short a. The past plural has a long a. Lees, las, lazen, gelezen shows the pattern.
Hij las de brief. Wij vergaten de naam. Geven to give and eten to eat belong here too.
Verbs that differ
Bidden to pray, liggen to lie and zitten to sit have i in the present: bid, lig, zit. The other forms follow the class.
Zij bad om hulp.
Wegen to weigh is irregular: weeg, woog, wogen, gewogen. Plegen to be accustomed has placht and plachten and no past participle.
Plegen meaning to commit is weak. So is verplegen to nurse. The verb zien also belongs to this class.
- 152
He took the book.
Hijhenamto takehetit; theboek.book - 153
She was born in Gouda.
Zijshe; theyisto be (irregular)ininGoudaGoudageboren.born - 154
We came too late.
Wijwekwamento cometetolaat.let; late - 155
He read the letter.
Hijhelasread (past)dethebrief.letter - 156
She prayed for help.
Zijshe; theybadbeggedomaround; at (time); in order tohulp.help - 157
We forgot the name.
Wijwevergatento forgetdethenaam.name
Lesson 20: Strong verbs, class IV (and 1 more)
Class IV: ij, ee, e
Class IV verbs have ij in the present. The past singular has ee. The past plural and the participle have e.
Drijf, dreef, dreven, gedreven shows the pattern. Hij schreef een brief. Wij zwegen de hele avond.
Blijven to remain, kijken to look and schrijven to write belong to this class.
Verbs that are weak or strong
Krijgen to get and krijsen to shriek are weak or strong. So are grijnen to fret and bezwijmen to swoon.
Stijven is weak when it means to encourage someone in wrongdoing. Pijpen in aanpijpen to light a pipe is weak.
Class V: oo, o
Class V verbs have ie or ui in the present. The past singular has oo. The past plural and the participle have o.
Bied, bood, boden, geboden shows the ie group. Sluit, sloot, sloten, gesloten shows the ui group.
Zij verloor haar sleutel. Hij kroop onder de tafel.
Two verbs that change z to r
Verliezen to lose and vriezen to freeze change z into r in the past and the participle.
Het heeft vannacht gevroren.
Kruien and schuilen may be weak or strong. Brouwen has become weak, but the old participle gebrouwen still exists.
- 158
He wrote a letter.
Hijheschreefto writeeenabrief.letter - 159
She bit into the apple.
Zijshe; theybeetbitinindetheappel.apple - 160
We were silent all evening.
Wijwezwegenwere silentdethehelewholeavond.evening - 161
She lost her key.
Zijshe; theyverloorlosthaarhersleutel.key - 162
It froze last night.
Hetit; theheeftto have, to have hadvannachtlast nightgevroren.frozen (vriezen) - 163
He crept under the table.
Hijhekroopcreptonderunder; amongdethetafel.table
Lesson 20: Strong verbs, class VI (and 1 more)
Class VI: a, oe
Class VI verbs have a long a in the present and in the participle. The past singular and plural have u, written oe.
Vaar, voer, voeren, gevaren shows the pattern. Zij droeg een tas. Dragen to carry belongs here.
Slaan and staan are irregular.
Weak forms in this class
Lachen, laden and malen have a weak past tense: lachte, laadde, maalde.
Jagen, vragen and waaien are weak verbs, but their past can take the forms joeg, vroeg and woei. The weak forms are jaagde, vraagde and waaide.
Hij vroeg naar de weg. De wind woei hard. Zweren has a long o in the participle: gezworen.
Class VII: i or ie in the past
Class VII verbs keep the same vowel in the present and in the participle. The past has i or ie.
Hang, hing, hingen, gehangen has i. Val, viel, vielen, gevallen and slaap, sliep, sliepen, geslapen have ie.
De jas hing aan de kapstok. Wij liepen naar huis.
Strong participle, weak past
Some verbs have a weak past tense and a strong participle. Bakken gives bakte and gebakken. Heten gives heette and geheten.
Scheppen is strong in the meaning to create. In all other meanings it is weak: hij schepte water.
Raden to advise or to guess has the past ried and raadde. Houden has the past hield.
- 164
She carried a bag.
Zijshe; theydroegworeeenatas.bag - 165
He asked for directions.
Hijhevroegto asknaarto, towardsdetheweg.away; road - 166
The wind blew hard.
Dethewindwindwoeiblewhard.hard - 167
The coat hung on the coat rack.
Dethejascoat (dated in this sense; rok now means 'skirt')hingto hangaanon, at, todethekapstok.coat rack - 168
We walked home.
Wijweliepenwalkednaarto, towardshuis.house - 169
He held the rope fast.
Hijhehieldto keephetit; thetouwropevast.solid, firm
Trek van zelfverloochening
- 170
A trait of self-denial
Trektrait, featurevanof, fromzelfverloocheningself-denial - 171
Szekuli, an Austrian captain, was sentenced to confinement in the fortress of Szegedin.
Szekuli,SzekulieenaOostenrijkseAustriankapitein,captainwerdto become, to gettotuntil, toopsluitingconfinementinindethevestingfortressSzegedinSzegedinveroordeeld.to condemn - 172
The servant of this unfortunate man resolved to turn to the emperor, to beg him to be allowed to follow his master to the fortress.
Dethebediendethe servant, the servantsvanof, fromdezethe latter (the most recently mentioned)ongelukkigeunhappynamto takehetit; thebesluitdecreezichoneself, himself, themselvestotuntil, todethekeizeremperortetowenden,turnomaround; at (time); in order tohemhimtetoverzoekento begzijnhis mastermeesterhis masterinindethevestingfortresstetomogenmayvolgen.follow
- Trek
- trait, feature
- zelfverloochening
- self-denial
- opsluiting
- confinement
- vesting
- fortress
- keizer
- emperor
- besluit
- to resolve (een besluit nemen)
- verzoeken
- to beg
- 173
“What do you want to do with your master?” the emperor asked him, “you know, after all, that he has been condemned as a criminal.”
“Watwhatwilwantjeyou; yourbijwithjeyou; yourmeesterteacher (in everyday speech, meester/schoolmeester is often used for a primary-school teacher; a teacher at a public secondary school (H.B.S.) or a gymnasium is called leraar, a university professor is called professor or hoogleraar)doen?”dovroegaskeddethekeizeremperorhem,him“jeyou; yourweetknowimmersafter alldatthat; that (conjunction)hijhealsifmisdadigercriminalveroordeeldcondemnedis.”is - 174
“I know it,” answered the faithful servant, “but I have served him in his good fortune, and now I offer to follow him in his misfortune as well.
“IkIweetknowhet,”it; theantwoorddeanswereddethetrouwefaithfuldienaar,servant“maarbutikIhebhavehemhimininzijnhis; to begelukfortunegediend,servedenandnunow, at presentbiedofferikImijmeaanon, at, tohemhimookalso, likewiseininzijnhis; to beongelukmisfortuneteto (before a verb); at, in (before a place); toovolgen.follow - 175
He will need my services in his old age, and when I can do nothing else to ease his fate, then I will at least console him and encourage him to bear his punishment patiently.”
Hijhezalshall, willmijnmydienstenservicesopon, uponzijnhis; to beoudeolddagdaynodigto want, to needhebbento want, to needenandwanneerifikInietsnothingandersotherwisedoendokancanomaround; at (time); in order tozijnhis; to belotfateteto (before a verb); at, in (before a place); tooverzachten,to mitigatedanthenzalshall, willikIhemhimtenat leastminsteat leasttroostento consoleenandhemhimaanmoedigento encourageomaround; at (time); in order tozijnhis; to bestrafpunishmentgeduldigpatientlyteto (before a verb); at, in (before a place); tooverdragen.”to bear - 176
The emperor, moved by such a rare attachment and fidelity, allowed him to accompany his master and even granted him a small pension.
Dethekeizer,emperordoorthroughzulksucheenazeldzamerareverknochtheidattachmentenandtrouwfidelitygeroerd,to touchveroorloofdeto allowhemhimzijnhis mastermeesterhis mastertetovergezellento accompanyenandstondstoodhemhimzelfseveneenakleinsmallpensioenpensiontoe.to
- misdadiger
- criminal
- dienaar
- servant
- lot
- fate
- straf
- punishment
- verknochtheid
- attachment
- trouw
- fidelity
- pensioen
- pension
- geluk
- fortune
- ongeluk
- misfortune
- trouw
- faithful
- wanneer
- if
- dan
- only (niets anders ... dan)
- minste
- at least (ten minste)
- zelfs
- even
- hebben
- to want, to need (nodig hebben)
- verzachten
- to mitigate
- troosten
- to console
- aanmoedigen
- to encourage
- verdragen
- to bear
- vergezellen
- to accompany
Lesson 20: conversation
- 177
What was Szekuli sentenced to?
Waartoeto whichwerdto become, to getSzekuliSzekuliveroordeeld?to condemn - 178
What decision did the captain's servant make?
Welkwhich, whatbesluitdecreenamto takedethebediendethe servant, the servantsvanof, fromdethekapitein?captain - 179
What did the emperor ask him?
Watwhatvroegto askhemhimdethekeizer?emperor - 180
What was the faithful servant's answer?
Hoehowluiddesoundedhetit; theantwoordanswervanof, fromdethetrouwefaithfuldienaar?servant - 181
Szekuli was sentenced to confinement in the fortress of Szegedin.
SzekuliSzekuliwerdto become, to gettotuntil, toopsluitingconfinementinindethevestingfortressSzegedinSzegedinveroordeeld.to condemn - 182
The servant resolved to turn to the emperor, to beg him to be allowed to follow his master to the fortress.
Dethebediendethe servant, the servantsnamto takehetit; thebesluitdecreezichoneself, himself, themselvestotuntil, todethekeizeremperortetowenden,turnomaround; at (time); in order tohemhimtetoverzoekento begzijnhis mastermeesterhis masterinindethevestingfortresstetomogenmayvolgen.follow - 183
The emperor asked him: “What do you want to do with your master?”
Dethekeizeremperorvroegaskedhem:him“Watwhatwilwantjeyou; yourbijwithjeyou; yourmeesterteacher (in everyday speech, meester/schoolmeester is often used for a primary-school teacher; a teacher at a public secondary school (H.B.S.) or a gymnasium is called leraar, a university professor is called professor or hoogleraar)doen?”do - 184
He answered that he had served his master in his good fortune and now wanted to follow him in his misfortune as well.
Hijheantwoorddeto answerdatthat; that (conjunction)hijhezijnhis mastermeesterhis masterininzijnhis; to begelukfortunehadto have, to have hadgediendto serveenandhemhimnunow, at presentookalso, likewiseininzijnhis; to beongelukmisfortunewildeto want, to wishvolgen.follow
- 185
What did the old man think he could still do at least?
Watwhatdachtthoughtdetheoudeoldmanman; husbandtenat leastminsteat leastnogstill, yet; anothertetokunnento be able (can)doen?to do - 186
Why did the emperor allow him to accompany his master?
Waaromwhyveroorloofdealloweddethekeizeremperorhemhimzijnhis mastermeesterhis mastertetovergezellen?to accompany - 187
What did the emperor do besides that?
Watwhatdeedto dodethekeizeremperordaarenboven?besides, moreover - 188
He thought he could at least console his master and encourage him to bear his punishment patiently.
Hijhedachtthoughtzijnhis mastermeesterhis mastertenat leastminsteat leasttetokunnento be able (can)troostento consoleenandhemhimaanon, at, totetomoedigenencouragezijnhis; to bestrafpunishmentgeduldigpatientlytetoverdragen.to bear - 189
The emperor allowed it because he was moved by such rare attachment and fidelity.
Dethekeizeremperorveroorloofdeallowedhetit; thehem,himomdatbecausehijhedoorthroughzulkesuchzeldzamerareverknochtheidattachmentenandtrouwfidelitygeroerdto touchwas.to be (irregular) - 190
He even granted him a small pension.
Hijhestondstoodhemhimzelfseveneenakleinsmallpensioenpensiontoe.to
Lesson 20: exercise 41
Lesson 20: exercise 42
- 205
waren
(zijn)
- 206
werd
(worden)
- 207
kwamen
(komen)
- 208
gingen
(gaan)
- 209
kwam
(komen)
- 210
waren
(zijn)
- 211
moest
(moeten)
- 212
was
(zijn)
- 213
was
(zijn)
- 214
wilde
(willen)
- 215
gekeken
(kijken)
- 216
was
(zijn)
- 217
vond
(vinden)
- 218
liep
(loopen)
Lesson 20: exercise 43
- 233
had
(hebben)
- 234
ontving
(ontvangen)
- 235
was
(zijn)
- 236
beging
(begaan)
- 237
zette
(zetten)
- 238
nam
(nemen)
- 239
ging
(gaan)
Lesson 20: exercise 44
Lesson 21: The alphabetical list of the strong and irregular verbs
One entry of the verb list
This list puts all the strong and irregular verbs in one alphabetical order. Each entry gives the forms needed to conjugate the verb.
An entry has four forms: the infinitive, the past singular, the past plural and the past participle. Gaan gives ging, gingen, gegaan. Bieden gives bood, boden, geboden.
The number after the infinitive is the verb's class.
A star marks a verb or a form that can also be weak. Its weak forms stand in brackets.
A verb built on a simpler verb is conjugated like that verb and is not listed again. Verkiezen follows kiezen. Overlijden follows lijden.
- 263
I have gone
ikIbento be (irregular)gegaanto go - 264
I have eaten
ikIhebto have, to have hadgegetento eat - 265
he has fallen
hijheisto be (irregular)gevallento fall
The alphabetical list of the strong and irregular verbs
This table collects the strong and irregular verbs in one alphabetical list. Each row gives the infinitive, the singular and plural of the simple past, and the past participle. A verb or form marked with an asterisk can also be conjugated weak, and its weak forms are given in brackets. A compound verb, such as verkiezen or overlijden, is conjugated like the simple verb it is built on (kiezen, lijden) and is not repeated under its own letter. The number after the infinitive names the verb's ablaut class.Verbs of this lesson, with their principal parts
bakken to bake (bakte), (bakten), gebakken
bannen to banish (bande), (banden), gebannen
bederven to spoil bedierf, bedierven, bedorven
bedriegen to cheat bedroog, bedrogen, bedrogen
beginnen to begin begon, begonnen, begonnen
belijden to confess beleed, beleden, beleden
bergen to hide borg, borgen, geborgen
bersten to burst borst*, borsten*, geborsten, barsten
bevelen to order beval, bevalen, bevolen
bewegen to move bewoog, bewogen, bewogen
bezwijken to succumb bezweek, bezweken, bezweken
bezwijmen* to faint bezweem, bezwemen, bezwemen
bidden to pray, to beg bad, baden, gebeden
bieden to offer bood, boden, geboden
bijten to bite beet, beten, gebeten
binden to bind bond, bonden, gebonden
blazen to blow blies, bliezen, geblazen
blijken to appear bleek, bleken, gebleken
blijven to remain bleef, bleven, gebleven
blinken to shine, to glitter blonk, blonken, geblonken
braden to roast (braadde), (braadden), gebraden
breken to break brak, braken, gebroken
brouwen to brew (brouwde), (brouwden), gebrouwen*
buigen to bend boog, bogen, gebogen
delven to dig dolf, dolven, gedolven
dingen to bargain dong, dongen, gedongen
doen to do deed, deden, gedaan
dragen to carry droeg, droegen, gedragen
drijven to float dreef, dreven, gedreven
dringen to urge drong, drongen, gedrongen
drinken to drink dronk, dronken, gedronken
druipen to drip droop, dropen, gedropen
duiken to dive dook, doken, gedoken
dwingen to force dwong, dwongen, gedwongen
eten to eat at, aten, gegeten
fluiten to whistle floot, floten, gefloten
gaan to go ging, gingen, gegaan
gelden to be worth gold, golden, gegolden
(ge)lijken to resemble (ge)leek, (ge)leken, geleken
genezen to cure, to recover genas, genazen, genezen
genieten to enjoy genoot, genoten, genoten
geven to give gaf, gaven, gegeven
gieten to pour goot, goten, gegoten
glijden to glide gleed, gleden, gegleden
glimmen to glow faintly glom, glommen, geglommen
graven to dig groef, groeven, gegraven
grijnen* to weep green, grenen, gegrenen
grijpen to catch greep, grepen, gegrepen
hangen to hang hing, hingen, gehangen
heten to be called (heette), (heetten), geheten
heffen to lift hief, hieven, geheven
helpen to help hielp, hielpen, geholpen
hijsen to hoist hees, hesen, gehesen
houden to hold hield, hielden, gehouden
houwen to hew hieuw, hieuwen, gehouwen
jagen* to hunt joeg (6), joegen (6), (gejaagd)
kerven to carve korf, korven, gekorven
kiezen to choose koos, kozen, gekozen
kijken to look keek, keken, gekeken
kijven to wrangle keef, keven, gekeven
klimmen to climb klom, klommen, geklommen
klinken to sound klonk, klonken, geklonken
kluiven to gnaw kloof, kloven, gekloven
knijpen to pinch kneep, knepen, geknepen
komen to come kwam, kwamen, gekomen
krijgen to get kreeg, kregen, gekregen
krijsen* to shriek (krijste), (krijsten), gekrijst
krijten to weep kreet, kreten, gekreten
krimpen to shrink kromp, krompen, gekrompen
kruien* to wheel krooi, krooien, gekrooid
kruipen to creep kroop, kropen, gekropen
kwijten to acquit kweet, kweten, gekweten
lachen to laugh (lachte), (lachten), gelachen
laden to load (laadde), (laadden), geladen
laten to let liet, lieten, gelaten
lezen to read las, lazen, gelezen
liegen to lie (tell an untruth) loog, logen, gelogen
liggen to lie (be situated) lag, lagen, gelegen
lijden to suffer leed, leden, geleden
lopen to walk liep, liepen, gelopen
malen to grind (maalde), (maalden), gemalen
melken to milk molk, molken, gemolken
meten to measure mat, maten, gemeten
mijden to avoid meed, meden, gemeden
nemen to take nam, namen, genomen
nijgen to courtesy neeg, negen, genegen
nijpen to pinch neep, nepen, genepen
ontbijten to breakfast ontbeet, ontbeten, ontbeten
ontginnen to work a mine ontgon, ontgonnen, ontgonnen
ontluiken to open ontlook, ontloken, ontloken
overlijden to die overleed, overleden, overleden
pijpen to whistle peep, pepen, gepepen
plegen to be accustomed placht, plachten, (gepleegd)
pluizen to pick (oakum) ploos, plozen, geplozen
prijzen to praise prees, prezen, geprezen
raden to advise, to guess ried*, rieden*, geraden
rijden to ride, to drive reed, reden, gereden
rijgen to lace reeg, regen, geregen
rijten to tear reet, reten, gereten
rijven to rake reef, reven, gereven
rijzen to rise rees, rezen, gerezen
roepen to call riep, riepen, geroepen
ruiken to smell rook, roken, geroken
scheiden to separate (scheidde), (scheidden), gescheiden
schelden to call names schold, scholden, gescholden
schenden to violate schond, schonden, geschonden
schenken to pour, to present schonk, schonken, geschonken
scheppen to create schiep, schiepen, geschapen
scheren to shave schoor, schoren, geschoren
schieten to shoot schoot, schoten, geschoten
schijnen to shine scheen, schenen, geschenen
schrijden to stride schreed, schreden, geschreden
schrijven to write schreef, schreven, geschreven
schrikken* to startle schrok, schrokken, geschrokken
schuilen* to hide school, scholen, gescholen
schuiven to push schoof, schoven, geschoven
slaan to beat sloeg, sloegen, geslagen
slapen to sleep sliep, sliepen, geslapen
slijpen to grind sleep, slepen, geslepen
slijten to wear out, to retail sleet, sleten, gesleten
slinken to shrink slonk, slonken, geslonken
sluiken to smuggle slook, sloken, gesloken
sluipen to slink sloop, slopen, geslopen
sluiten to shut sloot, sloten, gesloten
smelten to melt smolt, smolten, gesmolten
smijten to cast smeet, smeten, gesmeten
snijden to cut sneed, sneden, gesneden
snuiten to blow, to snuff snoot, snoten, gesnoten
snuiven to take snuff snoof, snoven, gesnoven
spannen to stretch (spande), (spanden), gespannen
spijten to regret speet, -, gespeten
spinnen to spin spon, sponnen, gesponnen
splijten to split spleet, spleten, gespleten
spreken to speak sprak, spraken, gesproken
springen to spring sprong, sprongen, gesprongen
spruiten to sprout sproot, sproten, gesproten
spugen to spit spoog, spogen, gespogen
spuiten to spout spoot, spoten, gespoten
staan to stand stond, stonden, gestaan
steken to sting, to put stak, staken, gestoken
stelen to steal stal, stalen, gestolen
sterven to die stierf, stierven, gestorven
stijgen to mount steeg, stegen, gestegen
stijven to starch steef, steven, gesteven
stinken to stink stank, stonken, gestonken
stoten to push stiet, stieten, gestoten
strijden to fight streed, streden, gestreden
strijken to stroke streek, streken, gestreken
stuiven to be dusty stoof, stoven, gestoven
(tieën) to draw, to go toog, togen, getogen
tijgen to accuse teeg, tegen, getegen
treden to tread trad, traden, getreden
treffen to hit trof, troffen, getroffen
trekken to draw trok, trokken, getrokken
vallen to fall viel, vielen, gevallen
vangen to catch ving, vingen, gevangen
varen to navigate voer, voeren, gevaren
vechten to fight vocht, vochten, gevochten
verdrieten to vex verdroot, verdroten, verdroten
verdwijnen to disappear verdween, verdwenen, verdwenen
vergeten to forget vergat, vergaten, vergeten
verkiezen to prefer verkoos, verkozen, verkozen
verliezen to lose verloor, verloren, verloren
verslinden to devour verslond, verslonden, verslonden
verzwinden to disappear verzwond, verzwonden, verzwonden
vinden to find vond, vonden, gevonden
vlechten to twist vlocht, vlochten, gevlochten
vlieden to flee vlood, vloden, gevloden
vliegen to fly vloog, vlogen, gevlogen
vlieten to flow vloot, vloten, gevloten
vouwen to fold (vouwde), (vouwden), gevouwen
vragen to ask vroeg* (6), vroegen* (6), (gevraagd)
vreten to devour vrat, vraten, gevreten
vriezen to freeze vroor, -, gevroren
waaien to blow woei* (6), woeien* (6), (gewaaid)
wassen to wash (waste), (wasten), gewassen
wassen to grow wies, wiesen, gewassen
wegen to weigh woog, wogen, gewogen
werpen to throw wierp, wierpen, geworpen
werven to recruit wierf, wierven, geworven
weten to know wist, wisten, geweten
wezen cf. zijn, to be was, waren, (geweest)
wijken to retreat week, weken, geweken
wijten to impute weet, weten, geweten
wijzen to show wees, wezen, gewezen
winden to wind wond, wonden, gewonden
winnen to win won, wonnen, gewonnen
worden to become werd, werden, geworden
wreken to revenge (wreekte), (wreekten), gewroken
wrijven to rub wreef, wreven, gewreven
wringen to wring wrong, wrongen, gewrongen
zenden to send zond, zonden, gezonden
zieden to seethe zood, zoden, gezoden
zien to see zag, zagen, gezien
zijgen to filter, to sink down zeeg, zegen, gezegen
zijn to be was, waren, geweest
zingen to sing zong, zongen, gezongen
zinken to sink zonk, zonken, gezonken
zinnen to meditate zon, zonnen, gezonnen
zitten to sit zat, zaten, gezeten
zouten to salt (zoutte), (zoutten), gezouten
zuigen to suck zoog, zogen, gezogen
zuipen to drink zoop, zopen, gezopen
zwelgen to swallow zwolg, zwolgen, gezwolgen
zwellen to swell zwol, zwollen, gezwollen
zwemmen to swim zwom, zwommen, gezwommen
zweren to swear zwoer, zwoeren, gezworen
zweren to fester zwoor, zworen, gezworen
zwerven to roam zwierf, zwierven, gezworven
zwijgen to be silent zweeg, zwegen, gezwegenDe leeuw en de muis
- 266
The lion and the mouse
Detheleeuwlionenanddethemuismouse - 267
Once the lion lay, tired from the hunt, in the cool shade of a plane tree; a deep sleep had closed his eyelids.
Eensonce, one daylagto lie (be situated)detheleeuw,lionvermoeidtiredvanof, fromdethejacht,huntinginindethekoelecoolerschaduwshadowvanof, fromeenaplataan;plane treeeenadiepedeepslaapsleephadto have, to have hadzijnhis; to beoogledeneyelidsgesloten.to shut - 268
Then a few mice appeared and played boldly around the lion.
Daaras, since, becausekwamento comeenigeonly (het enige: the only thing)muizenmicetetovoorschijnviewenandspeeldento playdriestdaringomaround; at (time); in order todetheleeuwlionheen.away
- leeuw
- lion
- jacht
- hunting
- schaduw
- shadow
- plataan
- plane tree
- slaap
- sleep
- vermoeid
- tired
- driest
- daring
- voorschijn
- to appear (te voorschijn komen)
- 269
Soon they grew bolder and bolder, and without respect for the king of the animals they clambered onto his back and carried on their unruly game there too.
Weldrasoonwerdento become, to getzijshe; theystouterbolderenandstouterbolderenandzonderwithoutachtingrespect, regardvoorfordethekoningking, kingsderof thedierencreaturesklauterdenclamberedzijshe; theyopon, uponzijnhis; to berugbackenandzettento put, to sethetit; theuitgelatenfrolicksomespelstakeookalso, likewisehierherevoort.on - 270
Then the king of the animals suddenly woke up.
Daaras, since, becauseontwaaktewoke upplotselingsuddenlydethekoningking, kingsderof thedieren.creatures - 271
Startled, the mice fled in all directions; but one lingered a little and was caught by the lion.
Schuwshyvluchttenfleedethemuizenmicenaarto, towardsalleallzijden;silkenmaarbutéénonetalmdelingeredwatwhatenandwerdto become, to getdoorthroughdetheleeuwliongevangen.to catch
- achting
- respect, regard
- rug
- back
- uitgelaten
- frolicksome
- Schuw
- shy
- Weldra
- soon
- 272
Trembling, she begged for her life and reminded him that she was such a weak creature and unworthy of the vengeance of such a mighty lord.
Bevendtremblingbadto pray, to begzijshe; theyomaround; at (time); in order tohaarherlevenlifeenandherinnerdeto rememberhemhimeraanof itdatthat; that (conjunction)zijshe; theyeenazoso, aszwakfeebleschepselcreaturewasto be (irregular)enanddethewraakrevengevanof, fromeenazoso, asmachtigmightyheergentleman, lordonwaardig.unworthy - 273
The lion showed himself generous and let the mouse go, who escaped at once.
Detheleeuwliontoondeshowedzichoneself, himself, themselvesedelmoediggenerousenandlietto letdethemuismouselopen,to walkdiewho (relative)meteenat onceontvluchtte.to escape - 274
Shortly afterward the lion walked through a dark forest to catch prey; but suddenly he found himself caught in a hunter's net.
Korta short time afterwardsdaaropa short time afterwardsliepwalkeddetheleeuwliondoorthrougheenaduisterdarkwoudwood, forestomaround; at (time); in order tobuitbootytetovangen;to catchmaarbutopeensall at oncezagto seehijhezichoneself, himself, themselvesininhetit; thenetnetvanof, fromeenajagerhuntergevangen.to catch
- leven
- life
- schepsel
- creature
- wraak
- revenge
- woud
- wood, forest
- buit
- booty
- net
- net
- jager
- hunter
- Bevend
- trembling
- zwak
- feeble
- machtig
- mighty
- onwaardig
- unworthy
- edelmoedig
- generous
- duister
- dark
- daarop
- a short time afterwards (kort daarop)
- zich
- to show oneself (zich tonen)
- 275
He began to roar terribly, so that no animal dared to leave its den.
Hijhebegonto beginverschrikkelijkterribletetobrullen,to roarzodatso thatgeenno, not adieranimalhetit; thewaagdewere to venturezijnhis; to beholdentetoverlaten.left - 276
Then the mouse came; she gnawed through the knots of the net, and merrily the lion went on through the forest.
Daaras, since, becausekwamto comedethemuis;mousezijshe; theyknaagdegnaweddetheknopenknotsvanof, fromhetit; thenetnetdoorthroughenandvrolijkmerry, gaygingto godetheleeuwlionverderfurtherdoorthroughhetit; thewoud.wood, forest - 277
He owed his life to his own magnanimity.
Hijhehadto have, to have hadzijnhis; to belevenlifeaanon, at, tozijnhis; to begrootmoedigheidmagnanimitytetodanken.owe
- hol
- den
- grootmoedigheid
- magnanimity
- aan
- to owe to (te danken hebben aan)
- verschrikkelijk
- terrible
- vrolijk
- merry, gay
- brullen
- to roar
Lesson 21: conversation
- 278
Where did the tired lion lie?
Waarwhere; truelagto lie (be situated)dethevermoeideworn outleeuw?lion - 279
Which animals suddenly appeared, and what did they do?
Welkewhich, whatdierencreatureskwamento comeopon, uponeensonce, one daytetovoorschijnviewenandwatwhatdedento dozij?she; they - 280
What did they do when they grew bolder and bolder?
Watwhatdedento dozij,she; theytoenas, whenzijshe; theyalalreadystouterbolderenandstouterbolderwerden?to become, to get - 281
What happened when the king of the animals woke up?
Watwhatgebeurdehappeneder,theretoenas, whendethekoningking, kingsderof thedierencreaturesontwaakte?woke up - 282
The lion lay, tired from the hunt, in the cool shade of a plane tree.
Detheleeuwlionlag,to lie (be situated)vermoeidtiredvanof, fromdethejacht,huntinginindethekoelecoolerschaduwshadowvanof, fromeenaplataan.plane tree - 283
A few mice appeared, and they played boldly around the lion.
Ertherekwamento comeenigeonly (het enige: the only thing)muizenmicetetovoorschijnviewenandzijshe; theyspeeldento playdriestdaringomaround; at (time); in order todetheleeuwlionheen.away - 284
They clambered onto his back and carried on their unruly game there too.
Zijshe; theyklauterdenclamberedopon, uponzijnhis; to berugbackenandzettento put, to sethunthem; theiruitgelatenfrolicksomespelstakeookalso, likewisedaaras, since, becausevoort.on - 285
The mice fled in all directions, but one was caught by the lion.
Dethemuizenmicevluchttenfleenaarto, towardsalleallkanten,sidesmaarbutéénonewerdto become, to getdoorthroughdetheleeuwliongevangen.to catch
- 286
What did the captured mouse beg for?
Waarvoorfor whichbadto pray, to begdethegevangento catchmuis?mouse - 287
What did she remind the lion of?
Waaraanfrom whichherinnerdeto rememberzijshe; theydetheleeuw?lion - 288
Did he grant her request?
Voldeedgranteddezethe latter (the most recently mentioned)aanon, at, tohaarherverzoek?request - 289
What happened to the lion shortly afterward?
Watwhatoverkwamhappened todetheleeuwlionkorta short time afterwardsdaarop?a short time afterwards - 290
She begged for her life.
Zijshe; theybadto pray, to begomaround; at (time); in order tohaarherleven.life - 291
She reminded him that she was such a weak creature and unworthy of the vengeance of such a mighty lord.
Zijshe; theyherinnerdeto rememberhemhimeraanof itdatthat; that (conjunction)zijshe; theyzo'nsuch azwakfeebleschepselcreaturewasto be (irregular)enanddethewraakrevengevanof, fromzo'nsuch amachtigepowerfulheergentleman, lordonwaardig.unworthy - 292
Yes, the lion let the mouse go.
Ja,yesdetheleeuwlionlietto letdethemuismouselopen.to walk - 293
He got caught in a hunter's net.
Hijheraakteto get into, to begin togevangento catchininhetit; thenetnetvanof, fromeenajager.hunter
- 294
Why did no animal dare to leave its den?
Waaromwhydurfdeto daregeenno, not adieranimalzijnto be (irregular)holdenverlaten?left - 295
Did the lion stay in the net?
Bleefstayeddetheleeuwlionininhetit; thenet?net - 296
What did he owe his life to?
Waaraanfrom whichhadto have, to have hadhijhezijnhis; to belevenlifetetodanken?owe - 297
Because the lion roared terribly.
Omdatbecausedetheleeuwlionverschrikkelijkterriblebrulde.to roar - 298
No, the mouse gnawed through the knots of the net and the lion went on.
Nee,nodethemuismouseknaagdegnaweddetheknopenknotsvanof, fromhetit; thenetnetdoorthroughenanddetheleeuwliongingto goverder.further - 299
He owed his life to his own magnanimity.
Hijhehadto have, to have hadzijnhis; to belevenlifeaanon, at, tozijnhis; to begrootmoedigheidmagnanimitytetodanken.owe
Lesson 21: exercise 45
- 300
ging
(gaan)
- 301
zei
(zeggen)
- 302
ligt
(liggen)
- 303
steek
(steken)
- 304
antwoordde
(antwoorden)
- 305
bukt
(bukken)
- 306
antwoordde
(antwoorden)
Lesson 21: exercise 46
- 323
The following conversation, as Lord Byron himself tells us, took place between him and a very vain Italian physician, while they were travelling on the Rhine.
Hetit; thevolgendenext, followinggesprekconversationvondfoundplaats,placezoalsasLordLordByronByrononsuszelfselfvertelt,telltussenbetweenhemhimenandeenabuitengewoonuncommonlyijdelevainItaliaanseItalianarts,physician, doctorterwijlwhilezijshe; theylangsalongdetheRijnRijnreisden.were travelling - 324
“What can you do, I should like to know, which I cannot?” said the physician.
“IkIzoushould, wouldwelbuteensonce, one daywillenwantwetenknowwatwhatuyou (polite)kuntcandoendodatthat; that (conjunction)ikInietnotkan?”canzeisaiddethearts.physician, doctor - 325
“Since you press me,” answered the poet, “I will just tell you.
“Daaras, since, becauseuyou (polite)mijmedwingt”,compelsantwoorddeanswereddethedichter,poet“zalshall, willikIhetit; theuyou (polite)eensonce, one dayvertellen.tell - 326
There are three things: I have swum across the Hellespont; I have blown out a candle at twenty yards with a pistol-shot; and I have written a poem, of which 14000 copies were sold in one day.”
Hetit; thezijnhis; to bedriethreedingen:thingsikIhebhavedetheHellespontHellespontovergezwommen,swum acrossikIhebhaveopon, upontwintigtwentyelyardsafstanddistanceeenakaarscandlemetwitheenapistoolschotpistol-shotuitgeschoten,shot outenandikIhebhaveeenagedichtpoemgeschrevenwrittenwaarvanof whichopon, uponéénonedagday14.00014000exemplarencopieswerdenbecame, were (passive)verkocht.”sold
Lesson 21: exercise 47
- 327
A man one day took a walk in the town, and saw a poor dog who had hurt his leg and was lame.
Opon, uponeenazekerecertaindagdaygingto goeenamanman; husbandinindethestadcity, townwandelento walk, strollenandzagto seeeenaarmepoorhondthe dog, dogsdiewho (relative)zijnhis; to bepootleghadto have, to have hadbezeerdhurtenandlamlamewas.to be (irregular) - 328
The man took the dog home with him in his arms, and tied up his leg, and kept him in his house for two days.
Dethemanman; husbandnamto takedethehondthe dog, dogsininzijnhis; to bearmenpoormeealong, withnaarto, towardshuis,houseverbondlinkszijnhis; to bepootlegenandhieldheldhemhimtweetwodagendaysbijwithzichoneself, himself, themselvesininhuis.house - 329
He then sent the dog out of his house to find his old home; for as it was not his own dog, he had no right to keep him; but each day the dog came back for this kind man to dress his leg; and this he did till it was quite well.
Daaropupon itzondto sendhijhedethehondthe dog, dogszijnhis; to behuishouseuitout of, fromomaround; at (time); in order tozijnhis; to beeigenownhuishouseopon, upontetozoeken;seekwantfor, becausedaaras, since, becausehetit; thezijnhis; to beeigenownhondthe dog, dogsnietnotwas,to be (irregular)hadto have, to have hadhijhegeenno, not arechtjusticehemhimtetohouden;to keepmaarbutiedereeach, everydagdaykwamto comedethehondthe dog, dogsnaarto, towardsdethegoedethe good, what is goodmanman; husbandterugbackomaround; at (time); in order tozijnhis; to bepootlegtetolatento letverbinden;linksenanddatthat; that (conjunction)bleefto remain, stayhijhedoen,to dototuntil, tozijnhis; to bepootleggeheelwholehersteldrestoredwas.to be (irregular) - 330
In a few weeks the dog came back once more and with him came another dog who was lame.
Naafterweinigea fewwekenweekskwamto comedethehondthe dog, dogsweeragainterug,backmaarbutnunow, at presentmetwitheenaandereotherlammelamehond.the dog, dogs - 331
The dog who had been lame, and was now cured, first gave the man a look, as much as to say: “You made my leg well, now, pray, do the same for this poor dog who is come with me.”
Dethehond,the dog, dogsdiewho (relative)lamlamegeweestbeenenandnunow, at presentbeterbetterwas,waskeeklookeddethemanman; husbandeerstfirst (of all)aanon, at, toalsofas thoughhijhewildewantedzeggen:say“Jijyouhebthavemijnmypootlegininordeordergebracht,broughtdoedonunow, at presentalsjeblieftpleasehetzelfdethe samevoorfordezethe latter (the most recently mentioned)armepoorhond,the dog, dogsdiewho (relative)ikIhierherebijwithmijmeheb.”have
The particulars
- The course
- Valette, Dutch Conversation-Grammar (1913) and its Key (1893); Defense Language Institute, Dutch Refresher Course, Books I to III (1961). Public domain. The teaching pages, the readings' English, the answers to the conversations and the narration are ours.
- Reading aloud
- Digital narration, directed by 1732 Studios.
- The book
- Max Havelaar, the work this course leads to, free to read here.
- Data
- JSON · Markdown · A guide for agents