plegen + te + Infinitive

Be Accustomed to

Level 5

The pattern plegen te + infinitive is a formal way to say 'to be in the habit of' or 'to usually do.' It is primarily used in literature, legal texts, and high-level journalism.

How It Works

The verb plegen is a semi-auxiliary verb that requires the particle te before the main infinitive at the end of the sentence. It is a Level 5 pattern because of its specific register and irregular past tense.

1. Conjugation and Tense:

  • Present Tense: It follows regular conjugation (ik pleeg, jij pleegt, wij plegen).
  • Past Tense: Crucially, the habitual plegen is a different verb from the transitive plegen (to commit). For habits, the past tense is always irregular: placht (singular) and plachten (plural). Using pleegde for habits is a grammatical error.
  • Perfect Tense: In modern Dutch, the habitual plegen has no past participle. You cannot use it in the voltooid tegenwoordige tijd.

2. Register:
This pattern is rarely heard in casual conversation. If you use it with friends, you will sound very stiff or archaic. In speech, native speakers prefer gewoon zijn om te or simply using the adverb meestal.

3. The 'Commit' Distinction:
Do not confuse this with the transitive verb plegen meaning 'to commit' (e.g., een misdaad plegen). These are linguistically distinct: the 'commit' version is regular in the past tense (pleegde) and has a participle (gepleegd), whereas the habitual version does not.

Examples (4)

  1. Men pleegt hier bij binnenkomst de schoenen uit te trekken.

    It is the custom here to take off one's shoes upon entering.

    Word by Word: One habits here at entry the shoes out to pull.

    This uses the present tense 'pleegt' to describe a general custom or standard procedure.

  2. Mijn grootvader placht elke avond een pijp te roken in de tuin.

    My grandfather was accustomed to smoking a pipe in the garden every evening.

    Word by Word: My grandfather habited every evening a pipe to smoke in the garden.

    This uses the irregular past tense 'placht' to describe a past habit.

  3. Dergelijke besluiten plegen niet zonder slag of stoot te worden genomen.

    Such decisions are usually not made without a struggle.

    Word by Word: Such decisions habit not without blow or push to be taken.

    A typical example of formal/legal register where 'plegen' describes how a process usually unfolds.

  4. De dichter placht zijn inspiratie in de natuur te zoeken.

    The poet used to seek his inspiration in nature.

    Word by Word: The poet habited his inspiration in the nature to seek.

    Demonstrates the literary use of the past tense 'placht' to describe a characteristic behavior.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the regular past tense 'pleegde' for habits.

    Hij pleegde elke zondag naar de kerk te gaan.
    Hij placht elke zondag naar de kerk te gaan.

    The habitual 'plegen' and the transitive 'plegen' (to commit) are two distinct verbs. Using 'pleegde' for a habit is grammatically incorrect; you must use the irregular form 'placht' for the habitual sense.

  • Attempting to use a past participle (Perfect Tense).

    Ik heb gepleegd daar te eten.
    Ik at daar gewoonlijk.

    The habitual 'plegen' has no usable past participle in modern Dutch. Use 'placht te' for the past, or an adverb such as 'gewoonlijk' or 'meestal' with a normal tense.

  • Using the pattern in casual conversation.

    Different MeaningPleeg jij 's ochtends koffie te drinken?
    Drink je meestal koffie 's ochtends?

    Using 'plegen te' in a casual setting sounds overly formal or pompous. Stick to adverbs like 'meestal' or 'gewoonlijk' in speech.

How It Connects

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plegen + te + InfinitiveLevel 5Be Accustomed to

Learn This First

To understand 'plegen te', you first need to be comfortable with the 'te + infinitive' construction, as 'plegen' functions as a semi-auxiliary verb that always takes this form. Additionally, you must know how to conjugate regular verbs in the present tense and understand how verb clusters are ordered in Dutch sentences.

Words in This Pattern

plegente