Dutch has two main past tenses: the simple past (onvoltooid verleden tijd) and the perfect tense (voltooid tegenwoordige tijd). Both are used frequently ā the perfect tense in speech and informal writing, the simple past more in formal writing and narration. This guide explains both clearly with full conjugation tables and examples.
In spoken Dutch, the perfect tense is used for most past events ā it is your default past tense in conversation. The simple past is mainly used for stories, news, and formal writing ā and for a handful of very common verbs (zijn, hebben, komen, gaan) that Dutch speakers use in simple past even in speech.
āŖ Part 1: The Simple Past (Onvoltooid Verleden Tijd)
The simple past adds -te(n) or -de(n) to the verb stem. The choice depends on the famous 't kofschip rule.
š The 't Kofschip Rule
Write out the word: 't-k-o-f-s-c-h-i-p (also: fokschaap / 't fokschaap)
Check the LAST LETTER of the verb stem:
- If it's in 't kofschip ā add -te / -ten
- If it's NOT in 't kofschip ā add -de / -den
Singular uses -te or -de. Plural uses -ten or -den.
| Verb | Stem | Last letter in 't kofschip? | Ik (singular) | Wij (plural) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| werken | werk | k ā | werkte | werkten |
| kopen | koop ā kop | p ā | kocht (irregular!) | kochten |
| fietsen | fiets | s ā | fietste | fietsten |
| leven | leef | f ā (vāf at end) | leefde | leefden |
| spelen | speel | l ā | speelde | speelden |
| reizen | reis | s ā (zās at end) | reisde | reisden |
| leren | leer | r ā | leerde | leerden |
| wonen | woon | n ā | woonde | woonden |
š Common Irregular Simple Pasts
| Infinitive | Ik (sing.) | Wij (pl.) | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| zijn | was | waren | to be |
| hebben | had | hadden | to have |
| gaan | ging | gingen | to go |
| komen | kwam | kwamen | to come |
| doen | deed | deden | to do |
| zien | zag | zagen | to see |
| zeggen | zei | zeiden | to say |
| staan | stond | stonden | to stand |
| rijden | reed | reden | to drive/ride |
ā Part 2: The Perfect Tense (Voltooid Tegenwoordige Tijd)
The perfect tense is formed with a form of hebben or zijn + the past participle.
š Forming the Past Participle
ge- + stem + -t (if stem ends in 't kofschip letter) or -d (if not)
- werken ā stem: werk ā gewerkt
- spelen ā stem: speel ā gespeeld
- leven ā stem: leef ā geleefd
- Verbs with inseparable prefix (be-, ge-, ver-, ont-, her-) ā NO ge- prefix:
betalen ā betaald | vergeten ā vergeten - Separable verbs ā ge- goes between prefix and stem:
opbellen ā opgebeld | uitleggen ā uitgelegd
š Hebben vs Zijn as Auxiliary
| Use hebben with... | Use zijn with... |
|---|---|
| Most verbs (transitive verbs ā those that can have a direct object) | Verbs expressing movement/change of state: gaan, komen, rijden, vallen, worden, blijven, zijn, sterven |
| Ik heb gewerkt. (I have worked.) | Ik ben gegaan. (I have gone.) |
| Hij heeft gegeten. (He has eaten.) | Ze is gevallen. (She has fallen.) |
| We hebben gespeeld. (We have played.) | Het kind is gegroeid. (The child has grown.) |
āļø Practice
- Simple past of werken (ik) ā ik werkte
- Simple past of zijn (wij) ā wij waren
- Past participle of spelen ā gespeeld
- Perfect of gaan (ik) ā ik ben gegaan (zijn!)
- Perfect of werken (hij) ā hij heeft gewerkt
š Continue Learning
- š Verb Conjugation (Present)
- š Modal Verbs ā modals in the past tense
- š Word Order ā perfect tense verb position
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