What is the Present Tense?
The present tense is used to talk about actions that are happening now or general truths.
The Structure of Verbs in the Present Tense
In Dutch, the form of the verb changes based on the subject. The subjects we will focus on are hij (he), zij (she), and het (it).
How to Conjugate Regular Verbs
- For hij, we usually add -t to the stem of the verb.
- For zij, we also add -t.
- For het, the same rule applies—it also gets -t.
Examples with the Verb ‘werken’ (to work)
| Subject | Verb |
|---|---|
| Hij | werkt |
| Zij | werkt |
| Het | werkt |
Examples with the Verb ‘spelen’ (to play)
| Subject | Verb |
|---|---|
| Hij | speelt |
| Zij | speelt |
| Het | speelt |
Practice Makes Perfect!
Now you understand how to form the present tense for hij, zij, and het. Keep practicing!