raken + Adjective

Get/Become + Adjective

Level 4

The verb raken functions as a linking verb (koppelwerkwoord) to express a transition into a new state. While worden is the neutral way to say 'to become', raken emphasizes a sudden or involuntary shift, often (but not always) into a negative or distressed condition.

How It Works

The pattern raken + adjective is a specific way to express 'getting' or 'becoming' something. It is distinct from the general verb worden in several ways:

  • Involuntary Nature: It usually describes things that happen to you rather than things you choose. You don't usually 'raken' rich; you 'worden' rich.
  • Suddenness: It often implies a moment of transition, like 'hitting' a new state.
  • Common Collocations: It is the standard verb for specific states like kwijt (lost), gewond (injured), overstuur (upset), and verslaafd (addicted).
  • Prepositional Phrases: It is also frequently used with phrases like in paniek raken (to panic) or in brand raken (to catch fire).

Morphology and Tense:
The past participle of raken is geraakt. When using raken to describe a change of state in the past, you must use zijn as the auxiliary verb. Even though raken can mean 'to hit' (which takes hebben), the 'become' sense always takes zijn.

Regional Note: In Flemish Dutch (Belgium), the verb geraken is often used instead of raken in the infinitive and present tense (e.g., Ik geraak de weg kwijt).

Examples (5)

  1. De fietser raakte gewond bij het ongeluk.

    The cyclist got injured in the accident.

    Word by Word: The cyclist touched/got injured at the accident.

    Here, 'raakte' shows a sudden physical change caused by an external event.

  2. Ik ben mijn sleutels kwijtgeraakt.

    I have lost my keys.

    Word by Word: I am my keys lost-gotten.

    Note the use of 'ben' (zijn) as the auxiliary verb for the perfect tense.

  3. Maak je geen zorgen, hij raakt niet snel overstuur.

    Don't worry, he doesn't get upset easily.

    Word by Word: Make you no worries, he touches not quickly upset.

    This describes an emotional transition.

  4. We raakten al snel aan elkaar gewend.

    We soon got used to each other.

    Word by Word: We touched already quickly to each-other used.

    This is a neutral/positive use of 'raken' meaning 'to get used to'.

  5. Zij zijn bevriend geraakt tijdens de vakantie.

    They became friends during the holiday.

    Word by Word: They are friended gotten during the holiday.

    Using 'raken' with 'bevriend' implies the friendship happened spontaneously.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'hebben' instead of 'zijn' in the perfect tense.

    Ik heb gewond geraakt.
    Ik ben gewond geraakt.

    When 'raken' indicates a change of state, it is a verb of transition and must use 'zijn'.

  • Using 'raken' for a plan you control.

    Different MeaningIk wil rijk raken.
    Ik wil rijk worden.

    'Ik wil rijk raken' is fine Dutch, but 'raken' suggests something that happens to you, like 'gewond raken' or 'verliefd raken'. For a planned goal, 'worden' is the more neutral verb.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

raken + AdjectiveLevel 4Get/Become + Adjective

Learn This First

To use 'raken + adjective', you first need to understand how to conjugate verbs in the present tense. It is also helpful to understand the basic 'worden + adjective' pattern, as 'raken' is a more specific way to express a change of state, often implying a sudden or negative transition (unintentional) transition.

Words in This Pattern

raken