Dutch Conversation-Grammar 1732 Studios

Dutch · Unit 5

Lessons 19 to 21

Parts of Speech II

Een brief; Trek van zelfverloochening; De leeuw en de muis

331 lines

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. 1

    I cannot do it.

    IkI
    kanto be able (can)
    hetit; the
    nietnot
    doen.to do
  2. 2

    He is buying a new bicycle.

  3. 3

    It has frozen all night.

  4. 4

    I cannot come.

  5. 5

    They did not want to stay.

  6. 6

    So be it.

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 gekocht
Doen, 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 gedurfd

Lesson 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.

  1. 7

    I can, he can.

  2. 8

    I shall, he shall.

  3. 9

    I want, he wants.

  4. 10

    I did not dare to ask it.

  5. 11

    Do you dare to do that?

  1. 12

    He laid the book on the table.

  2. 13

    She said that he was ill.

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

  1. 14

    She has worked all day.

  2. 15

    This painting is a true work of art.

  3. 16

    I am bringing a present along.

  4. 17

    It seems to me that this is right.

  5. 18

    I was looking for my keys.

  6. 19

    We bought a 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.

  1. 20

    We did our best.

  2. 21

    She has gone to school.

  3. 22

    He may be ill.

  4. 23

    I do not like such books.

  5. 24

    I must write a letter.

  6. 25

    He is said to be very ill.

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.

  1. 26

    I will do it tomorrow.

  2. 27

    They will arrive on time.

  3. 28

    He will not go.

  4. 29

    My father would often go for a walk.

  5. 30

    What does he do?

  6. 31

    I do not know it.

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

  1. 32

    I have written a letter.

  2. 33

    We have travelled to Amsterdam.

  3. 34

    The children have grown.

  4. 35

    He can swim well.

  5. 36

    She is going to fetch the doctor.

Een brief

  1. 37

    A Letter

  2. 38

    Hoorn, June 5, 1911.

  3. 39

    Dear friend,

  1. 40

    Since we have our holiday within seven weeks, it is becoming time to discuss our travel plans in more detail.

  2. 41

    Do you feel like visiting Heidelberg and the Neckar valley with me this year?

  3. 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.

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)
  1. 43

    Last year I was there too, but one can safely travel there a second or third time, it always remains new.

  2. 44

    Should you perhaps have another plan, be so good as to let me know soon.

  3. 45

    If not, then I will inform our friend Paul of our arrival.

komst
arrival
gerust
safely, without worry
reizen
to travel there (heen reizen)
verwittigen
to inform, to notify
  1. 46

    I would like to meet him again sometime, I am fond of him; besides, he knows the beauties of Heidelberg and its surroundings.

  2. 47

    Ask whether Mr. R. has a guidebook to South Germany for us!

  3. 48

    I do not dare to trouble him about it and cannot borrow one here.

omstreken
environs, surroundings
reisgids
guidebook
Zuid-Duitsland
South Germany
daarenboven
besides, moreover
lenen
to borrow
  1. 49

    Do you know how long in advance one must order the circular tickets?

  2. 50

    Answer soon.

  3. 51

    With regards, your friend, N. N.

lang
how long (hoe lang)
tevoren
beforehand, in advance (van tevoren)
Groetend
regards (letter closing)

Lesson 19: conversation

  1. 52

    I am writing to my friend that it is becoming time to discuss our travel plans in more detail, because . . .

  2. 53

    I ask him whether he feels like . . .

  3. 54

    I can assure my friend that Heidelberg . . .

  4. 55

    Last year I had already been there, but one . . .

  5. 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.

  6. 57

    I ask him whether he feels like visiting Heidelberg and the Neckar valley with me this year.

  7. 58

    I can assure my friend that Heidelberg is one of the most beautiful spots in all of Germany.

  8. 59

    Last year I had already been there, but one can safely travel there a second or third time, it always remains new.

  1. 60

    I ask my friend to write to me soon, if . . .

  2. 61

    Should he have no other plan, then . . .

  3. 62

    I would like to meet him again sometime, because . . ., besides . . .

  4. 63

    I ask my friend to ask Mr. R. whether he perhaps . . ., because . . .

  5. 64

    I ask my friend to write to me soon, if he perhaps has another plan.

  6. 65

    Should he have no other plan, then I will inform our friend Paul of our arrival.

  7. 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.

  8. 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.

  1. 68

    Finally I ask whether my friend knows . . . and ask him soon to . . .

  2. 69

    Finally I ask whether my friend knows how long in advance one must order the circular tickets, and ask him to answer soon.

Lesson 19: exercise 37

  1. 70

    ik breng

    I bring

  2. 71

    ik doe

    I do

  3. 72

    ik durf

    I dare

  4. 73

    ik houd

    I hold

  5. 74

    ik kan

    I am able

  6. 75

    ik moet

    I have to

  7. 76

    ik sla

    I strike

  1. 77

    ik wil

    I want

  2. 78

    ik zeg

    I say

  3. 79

    ik zoek

    I seek

Lesson 19: exercise 38

  1. 80

    You could not have noticed the mistake.

  2. 81

    You might not have noticed the mistake.

  3. 82

    You cannot have noticed the mistake.

  4. 83

    You may not have noticed the mistake.

  5. 84

    You might have noticed the mistake.

  6. 85

    I should have noticed the mistake.

  7. 86

    You ought to have noticed the mistake.

  1. 87

    He might not understand us.

  2. 88

    He could not understand us.

  3. 89

    He may not have seen it.

  4. 90

    He cannot have seen it.

  5. 91

    He may be mistaken.

  6. 92

    If you would have a thing done well, do it yourself.

  7. 93

    It will be time when the clock strikes twelve.

  1. 94

    It shall be done when the clock strikes twelve.

  2. 95

    He who should do this, would be one of the greatest benefactors of mankind.

  3. 96

    I should be glad if you would translate this for me.

  4. 97

    I should be glad if you should succeed.

  5. 98

    My brother says he will be punished.

  6. 99

    My brother says he shall be punished.

  7. 100

    He should have brought me a book, but he has forgotten it.

  1. 101

    It happened, that the king passed through the Netherlands.

  2. 102

    We have walked from Whitby to Malton.

  3. 103

    How long have you walked.

  4. 104

    What has become of him?

  5. 105

    I have made up my mind not to leave this country.

  6. 106

    These children have always followed the example of their parents.

  7. 107

    I forget his name.

  1. 108

    I had rather start (vertrekken) at once.

  2. 109

    I think you had better stay in your own country.

  3. 110

    How do you do, Sir?

  4. 111

    Very well, [I] thank you.

  5. 112

    As (daar), I am ill; I beg you kindly to excuse me.

Lesson 19: exercise 39

  1. 113

    waren

    waren (a judge, an officer and a clergyman HAD ARRIVED)

  2. 114

    waren

    waren (scarcely HAD they alighted)

  3. 115

    had

    had (it HAD always held as a rule with him)

  4. 116

    was

    was (the guest who HAD arrived first)

  5. 117

    waren

    waren (those who HAD arrived later)

  6. 118

    waren

    waren (there WERE, however, three of them)

  7. 119

    moest

    moest (the innkeeper HAD TO decide)

  1. 120

    is

    is (“who are you,” he asked, turning to the officer, “and where HAVE you been until now?”)

  2. 121

    heb

    heb (“I HAVE lain in garrison as a captain in B. for 15 years,” the officer answered)

  3. 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)

  4. 123

    heb

    heb (“and I HAVE already stood as a minister in H. for 25 years,” said the clergyman)

  5. 124

    is

    is (“well then, the dispute IS settled at once,” cried the innkeeper)

  6. 125

    hebt

    hebt (you, captain, HAVE lain 15 years)

  7. 126

    hebt

    hebt (you, judge, HAVE sat 20 years)

  8. 127

    heeft

    heeft (the minister, however, HAS stood 25 years, so the bed falls to him)

Lesson 19: exercise 40

  1. 128

    wilt

    wilt (you WILL want to know)

  2. 129

    kan

    kan (I CAN inform you)

  3. 130

    wordt

    wordt (my health IS getting better)

  4. 131

    mag

    mag (I MAY already walk in the garden)

  5. 132

    mag

    mag (and MAY then stay outside a couple of hours)

  6. 133

    mag

    mag (I MAY not yet go out, morning and evening)

  7. 134

    zou

    zou (I WOULD not speed up my recovery with that anyway)

  1. 135

    ben

    ben (as soon as I AM completely better)

  2. 136

    zal

    zal (I WILL write to you)

  3. 137

    zal

    zal (SHALL I bring my friend D. along?)

  4. 138

    zou

    zou (he WOULD so love to see your garden sometime)

  5. 139

    zal

    zal (and WILL also invite you sometime)

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.

  1. 140

    I give you a book.

  2. 141

    Are you giving him the money?

  3. 142

    We gave her a present.

  4. 143

    He has given the book.

  5. 144

    we gave, hence that I might give.

  6. 145

    we wrote, hence that I might write.

geven · paradigm of a strong verb
ikgeefI give
jijgeeftyou give (familiar)
ugeeftyou give (polite)
hijgeefthe gives
wijgevenwe give
julliegevenyou give (familiar plural)
zijgeventhey 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 toegestaan

Lesson 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.

  1. 146

    I put it away.

  2. 147

    He tied the rope fast.

  3. 148

    They have slept a long time.

  4. 149

    He began to sing.

  5. 150

    We found the house.

  6. 151

    She helped her 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.

  1. 152

    He took the book.

  2. 153

    She was born in Gouda.

  3. 154

    We came too late.

  4. 155

    He read the letter.

  5. 156

    She prayed for help.

  6. 157

    We forgot the 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.

  1. 158

    He wrote a letter.

  2. 159

    She bit into the apple.

  3. 160

    We were silent all evening.

  4. 161

    She lost her key.

  5. 162

    It froze last night.

  6. 163

    He crept under the 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.

  1. 164

    She carried a bag.

  2. 165

    He asked for directions.

  3. 166

    The wind blew hard.

  4. 167

    The coat hung on the coat rack.

  5. 168

    We walked home.

  6. 169

    He held the rope fast.

Trek van zelfverloochening

  1. 170

    A trait of self-denial

  2. 171

    Szekuli, an Austrian captain, was sentenced to confinement in the fortress of Szegedin.

  3. 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.

Trek
trait, feature
zelfverloochening
self-denial
opsluiting
confinement
vesting
fortress
keizer
emperor
besluit
to resolve (een besluit nemen)
verzoeken
to beg
  1. 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.”

  2. 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.

  3. 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.”

  4. 176

    The emperor, moved by such a rare attachment and fidelity, allowed him to accompany his master and even granted him a small pension.

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

  1. 177

    What was Szekuli sentenced to?

  2. 178

    What decision did the captain's servant make?

  3. 179

    What did the emperor ask him?

  4. 180

    What was the faithful servant's answer?

  5. 181

    Szekuli was sentenced to confinement in the fortress of Szegedin.

  6. 182

    The servant resolved to turn to the emperor, to beg him to be allowed to follow his master to the fortress.

  7. 183

    The emperor asked him: “What do you want to do with your master?”

  8. 184

    He answered that he had served his master in his good fortune and now wanted to follow him in his misfortune as well.

  1. 185

    What did the old man think he could still do at least?

  2. 186

    Why did the emperor allow him to accompany his master?

  3. 187

    What did the emperor do besides that?

  4. 188

    He thought he could at least console his master and encourage him to bear his punishment patiently.

  5. 189

    The emperor allowed it because he was moved by such rare attachment and fidelity.

  6. 190

    He even granted him a small pension.

Lesson 20: exercise 41

  1. 191

    ik delf

    I dig

  2. 192

    wij dolven

    we dig

  3. 193

    ik bind

    I bind

  4. 194

    wij namen

    we take

  5. 195

    ik lees

    I read

  6. 196

    wij lazen

    we read

  7. 197

    ik bied

    I offer

  1. 198

    wij sloten

    we shut

  2. 199

    ik vaar

    I navigate

  3. 200

    wij voeren

    we navigate

  4. 201

    ik val

    I fall

  5. 202

    wij sliepen

    we sleep

  6. 203

    ik loop

    I run

  7. 204

    wij liepen

    we run

Lesson 20: exercise 42

  1. 205

    waren

    (zijn)

  2. 206

    werd

    (worden)

  3. 207

    kwamen

    (komen)

  4. 208

    gingen

    (gaan)

  5. 209

    kwam

    (komen)

  6. 210

    waren

    (zijn)

  7. 211

    moest

    (moeten)

  1. 212

    was

    (zijn)

  2. 213

    was

    (zijn)

  3. 214

    wilde

    (willen)

  4. 215

    gekeken

    (kijken)

  5. 216

    was

    (zijn)

  6. 217

    vond

    (vinden)

  7. 218

    liep

    (loopen)

  1. 219

    begon

    (beginnen)

  2. 220

    sprongen

    (springen)

  3. 221

    liepen

    (loopen)

  4. 222

    blaften

    (blaffen)

  5. 223

    gelokt

    (lokken)

  6. 224

    snelde

    (snellen)

  7. 225

    zocht

    (zoeken)

  1. 226

    ging

    (gaan)

  2. 227

    liet

    (laten)

  3. 228

    wilden

    (willen)

  4. 229

    legde

    (leggen)

  5. 230

    waren

    (zijn)

  6. 231

    merkten

    (merken)

  7. 232

    hadden

    (hebben)

Lesson 20: exercise 43

  1. 233

    had

    (hebben)

  2. 234

    ontving

    (ontvangen)

  3. 235

    was

    (zijn)

  4. 236

    beging

    (begaan)

  5. 237

    zette

    (zetten)

  6. 238

    nam

    (nemen)

  7. 239

    ging

    (gaan)

  1. 240

    sliep

    (slapen)

  2. 241

    beproefde

    (beproeven)

  3. 242

    verdedigde

    (verdedigen)

  4. 243

    uitgeslapen

    (uitslapen)

  5. 244

    ontwaakte

    (ontwaken)

  6. 245

    bemerkte

    (bemerken)

  7. 246

    lag

    (liggen)

  1. 247

    schrok

    (schrikken)

  2. 248

    bemerkte

    (bemerken)

  3. 249

    benam

    (benemen)

Lesson 20: exercise 44

  1. 250

    was

    (zijn)

  2. 251

    zag

    (zien)

  3. 252

    gekomen

    (komen)

  4. 253

    voorgesteld

    (voorstellen)

  5. 254

    bleef

    (blijven)

  6. 255

    trok

    (trekken)

  7. 256

    rondleidde

    (rondleiden)

  1. 257

    toeschreef

    (toeschrijven)

  2. 258

    wilde

    (willen)

  3. 259

    vroeg

    (vragen)

  4. 260

    kon

    (kunnen)

  5. 261

    antwoordde

    (antwoorden)

  6. 262

    verricht

    (verrichten)

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.

  1. 263

    I have gone

  2. 264

    I have eaten

  3. 265

    he has fallen

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, gezwegen

De leeuw en de muis

  1. 266

    The lion and the mouse

  2. 267

    Once the lion lay, tired from the hunt, in the cool shade of a plane tree; a deep sleep had closed his eyelids.

  3. 268

    Then a few mice appeared and played boldly around the lion.

leeuw
lion
jacht
hunting
schaduw
shadow
plataan
plane tree
slaap
sleep
vermoeid
tired
driest
daring
voorschijn
to appear (te voorschijn komen)
  1. 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.

  2. 270

    Then the king of the animals suddenly woke up.

  3. 271

    Startled, the mice fled in all directions; but one lingered a little and was caught by the lion.

achting
respect, regard
rug
back
uitgelaten
frolicksome
Schuw
shy
Weldra
soon
  1. 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.

  2. 273

    The lion showed himself generous and let the mouse go, who escaped at once.

  3. 274

    Shortly afterward the lion walked through a dark forest to catch prey; but suddenly he found himself caught in a hunter's net.

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)
  1. 275

    He began to roar terribly, so that no animal dared to leave its den.

  2. 276

    Then the mouse came; she gnawed through the knots of the net, and merrily the lion went on through the forest.

  3. 277

    He owed his life to his own magnanimity.

hol
den
grootmoedigheid
magnanimity
aan
to owe to (te danken hebben aan)
verschrikkelijk
terrible
vrolijk
merry, gay
brullen
to roar

Lesson 21: conversation

  1. 278

    Where did the tired lion lie?

  2. 279

    Which animals suddenly appeared, and what did they do?

  3. 280

    What did they do when they grew bolder and bolder?

  4. 281

    What happened when the king of the animals woke up?

  5. 282

    The lion lay, tired from the hunt, in the cool shade of a plane tree.

  6. 283

    A few mice appeared, and they played boldly around the lion.

  7. 284

    They clambered onto his back and carried on their unruly game there too.

  8. 285

    The mice fled in all directions, but one was caught by the lion.

  1. 286

    What did the captured mouse beg for?

  2. 287

    What did she remind the lion of?

  3. 288

    Did he grant her request?

  4. 289

    What happened to the lion shortly afterward?

  5. 290

    She begged for her life.

  6. 291

    She reminded him that she was such a weak creature and unworthy of the vengeance of such a mighty lord.

  7. 292

    Yes, the lion let the mouse go.

  8. 293

    He got caught in a hunter's net.

  1. 294

    Why did no animal dare to leave its den?

  2. 295

    Did the lion stay in the net?

  3. 296

    What did he owe his life to?

  4. 297

    Because the lion roared terribly.

  5. 298

    No, the mouse gnawed through the knots of the net and the lion went on.

  6. 299

    He owed his life to his own magnanimity.

Lesson 21: exercise 45

  1. 300

    ging

    (gaan)

  2. 301

    zei

    (zeggen)

  3. 302

    ligt

    (liggen)

  4. 303

    steek

    (steken)

  5. 304

    antwoordde

    (antwoorden)

  6. 305

    bukt

    (bukken)

  7. 306

    antwoordde

    (antwoorden)

  1. 307

    nam

    (nemen)

  2. 308

    stak

    (steken)

  3. 309

    verkocht

    (verkoopen)

  4. 310

    kocht

    (koopen)

  5. 311

    vervolgden

    (vervolgen)

  6. 312

    zag

    (zien)

  7. 313

    stierf

    (sterven)

  1. 314

    kon

    (kunnen)

  2. 315

    liet

    (laten)

  3. 316

    stak

    (steken)

  4. 317

    liet

    (laten)

  5. 318

    opraapte

    (oprapen)

  6. 319

    duurde

    (duren)

  7. 320

    opgegeten

    (opeten)

  8. 321

    wendde

    (wenden)

  9. 322

    zei

    (zeggen)

Lesson 21: exercise 46

  1. 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.

  2. 324

    “What can you do, I should like to know, which I cannot?” said the physician.

  3. 325

    “Since you press me,” answered the poet, “I will just tell you.

  4. 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.”

Lesson 21: exercise 47

  1. 327

    A man one day took a walk in the town, and saw a poor dog who had hurt his leg and was lame.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 330

    In a few weeks the dog came back once more and with him came another dog who was lame.

  5. 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.”

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
Two whoopie pies and a pine. An inside joke.