Regular Verbs - Present Tense (A1)

Most Dutch verbs follow a regular pattern in the present tense.

The Rule:

1. Find the infinitive (the dictionary form, usually ending in -en, e.g., wonen - to live, maken - to make).
2. Find the stem by removing -en from the infinitive (e.g., won-, mak-).
3. Add the correct ending to the stem based on the subject:

• ik: stem
• jij / je: stem + t
• u: stem + t
• hij / zij / het: stem + t
• wij / we: infinitive (stem + en)
• jullie: infinitive (stem + en)
• zij / ze: infinitive (stem + en)

Example: wonen (to live)

• Stem: woon
• ik woon
• jij woont
• u woont
• hij woont
• wij wonen
• jullie wonen
• zij wonen

Important Spelling Rules:

1. Stem ends in v -> changes to f:

• leven (to live) -> stem leev -> ik leef (not leev)

1. Stem ends in z -> changes to s:

• reizen (to travel) -> stem reiz -> ik reis (not reiz)

1. Double vowel in infinitive, single in stem -> Add t as usual:

• maken (to make) -> stem maak -> jij maakt

1. Single vowel in infinitive, double vowel needed for sound -> Double it in the stem:

• This rule applies more to forming the stem itself if the syllable structure changes, but less directly to present tense endings. A better A1 focus is the f/v and s/z change.

Question Form (jij): When asking a question with jij, the -t is dropped from the verb: Woon jij in Delft? (NOT Woont jij...)