-t/-en Endings

Level 1

Dutch uses one present tense for both 'I work' and 'I am working'. It follows a simple pattern: ik (stem), jij/hij/u (stem + t), and plural (full infinitive).

How It Works

The Dutch present tense (OTT) is used for current actions, habits, and even future plans. Unlike English, Dutch does not usually distinguish between simple and continuous forms.

1. Finding the Stem
To conjugate, you first need the verb stem. This is usually the infinitive minus -en. Because Dutch spelling aims to keep vowel sounds consistent, you must follow open and closed syllable rules:

  • Long Vowels: If the infinitive has a long vowel in an open syllable (e.g., lo-pen), you must double the vowel in the stem to keep the sound long in a closed syllable: loop.
  • Double Consonants: If the infinitive has a short vowel followed by double consonants (e.g., bak-ken), drop one consonant in the stem to keep the vowel short: bak.
  • F/S Shift: Stems cannot end in -v or -z. Change them to -f or -s (e.g., reizen → reis).
  • Verbs ending in -n: For a small group of verbs ending only in -n (e.g., gaan, staan, doen, zien), simply drop the -n to find the stem: ga, sta, doe, zie.

2. The Conjugation Pattern

  • ik: Just the stem (ik werk).
  • jij / u / hij / zij / het: Stem + t (hij werkt).
    • Note: If the stem already ends in -t, do not add another one (hij zit).
    • Note: If the stem ends in -d, adding a -t creates the -dt ending (hij wordt).
  • wij / jullie / zij (plural): The full infinitive (wij werken).

3. Special Rule: Inversion
When jij or je follows the verb as the subject (like in a question), the -t is dropped: Werk jij? (Do you work?). This is known as jij inversion. Note that the formal u always keeps the -t: Werkt u?

Examples (5)

  1. Ik werk elke dag.

    I work every day.

    Word by Word: I work every day.

    For 'ik', we use only the stem of 'werken'.

  2. Mijn broer woont in Utrecht.

    My brother lives in Utrecht.

    Word by Word: My brother lives in Utrecht.

    For 'hij' (my brother), we add a -t to the stem 'woon'.

  3. Wij lopen naar het park.

    We are walking to the park.

    Word by Word: We walk to the park.

    For plural subjects like 'wij', we use the full infinitive 'lopen'.

  4. Waarom antwoordt zij niet?

    Why doesn't she answer?

    Word by Word: Why answers she not?

    The stem of 'antwoorden' is 'antwoord'. Since it ends in -d, adding the -t for 'zij' creates the -dt spelling.

  5. Schrijf jij een brief?

    Are you writing a letter?

    Word by Word: Write you a letter?

    The -t is dropped because 'jij' follows the verb. Also note the 'v' from 'schrijven' changed to 'f' in the stem.

Common Mistakes

  • Adding a -t to the 'ik' form.

    Ik werkt in Amsterdam.
    Ik werk in Amsterdam.

    The first-person singular (ik) never takes a -t ending in the present tense.

  • Keeping the -t when 'jij' follows the verb.

    Werkt jij vandaag?
    Werk jij vandaag?

    In Dutch, the -t is dropped from the verb when 'jij' or 'je' (informal you) comes immediately after the verb.

  • Forgetting to double the vowel in the stem.

    Ik mak een afspraak.
    Ik maak een afspraak.

    To keep the long 'aa' sound from 'maken', the stem must be spelled 'maak'. A single 'a' in a closed syllable would sound short.

How It Connects

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-t/-en EndingsLevel 1

Learn This First

To conjugate regular verbs in the present tense, you must first be familiar with the subject pronouns that determine the verb's ending, as well as the general concept of how tenses function in a sentence.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

And 20 more in the full list.

Words in This Pattern

-t-en