hebben / zijn

Hebben or Zijn?

Level 2

In the perfect tense, Dutch uses hebben for most actions and zijn for changes of state or location.

How It Works

To form the perfect tense, you need an auxiliary verb and a past participle. The choice between hebben and zijn follows these rules:

  • Hebben (The Default): Used for all transitive verbs (verbs with a direct object) and intransitive verbs describing a continuous activity (e.g., slapen, werken).
  • Zijn (Change of State): Used for transitions (e.g., sterven, worden, groeien). Note: If a change-of-state verb is used transitively (with an object), it switches to hebben (e.g., Het ijs is gesmolten vs. De zon heeft het ijs gesmolten).
  • Zijn (Change of Location): Used for movement verbs like gaan, komen, and vertrekken. Other movement verbs (like lopen) only take zijn when a specific destination is mentioned.
  • Reflexive Verbs: Almost all reflexive verbs use hebben (e.g., Ik heb me gewassen), though rare idiomatic exceptions exist (e.g., zich rot schrikken).
  • Special Exceptions: The verbs zijn, blijven, gebeuren, and blijken always take zijn.
  • The 'Vergeten' Rule: Use zijn when you forget information (Ik ben het vergeten) and hebben when you physically leave an object behind (Ik heb mijn tas vergeten).

Examples (6)

  1. Ik heb een appel gegeten.

    I have eaten an apple.

    Word by Word: I have an apple eaten.

    'Eten' is a transitive verb (it has an object), so it uses 'hebben'.

  2. De kinderen zijn snel gegroeid.

    The children have grown quickly.

    Word by Word: The children are quickly grown.

    'Groeien' indicates a change of state, so it uses 'zijn'.

  3. De zon heeft het ijs gesmolten.

    The sun has melted the ice.

    Word by Word: The sun has the ice melted.

    When a change-of-state verb like 'smelten' is used transitively (with an object), it uses 'hebben'.

  4. Ik ben zijn naam vergeten.

    I have forgotten his name.

    Word by Word: I am his name forgotten.

    Use 'zijn' with 'vergeten' when information has slipped your mind.

  5. Ik heb mijn paraplu vergeten.

    I forgot my umbrella (left it behind).

    Word by Word: I have my umbrella forgotten.

    Use 'hebben' with 'vergeten' when you physically leave an object behind.

  6. Wat is er gebeurd?

    What has happened?

    Word by Word: What is there happened?

    'Gebeuren' is a verb that always takes 'zijn'.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'hebben' for the verb 'zijn' (to be).

    Ik heb in Londen geweest.
    Ik ben in Londen geweest.

    In English we say 'I have been', but in Dutch, the verb 'zijn' uses itself as the auxiliary.

  • Using 'zijn' for reflexive verbs.

    Ik ben me gewassen.
    Ik heb me gewassen.

    Learners of other European languages often assume reflexives take 'zijn', but almost all Dutch reflexives use 'hebben'.

  • Using 'hebben' for 'blijven' or 'gebeuren'.

    Hij heeft daar gebleven.
    Hij is daar gebleven.

    Verbs like 'blijven' (to stay) and 'gebeuren' (to happen) are fixed exceptions that must use 'zijn'.

Words in This Pattern