Dutch present tense conjugation explained
The present tense is the backbone of Dutch. The good news: most verbs follow one simple pattern, and only a couple are irregular. Learn this and you can describe almost anything you do.
The regular pattern
Three steps:
- Find the stem: take the infinitive and remove -en. werken → stem werk.
- ik = the stem.
- jij / u / hij / zij (singular) = stem + t.
- wij / jullie / zij (plural) = the full infinitive.
| Subject | werken (to work) |
|---|---|
| ik | werk |
| jij / u | werkt |
| hij / zij | werkt |
| wij / jullie / zij | werken |
The two essential irregulars: zijn and hebben
These appear in almost every conversation. Memorise them as whole sets.
| Subject | zijn (to be) | hebben (to have) |
|---|---|---|
| ik | ben | heb |
| jij / u | bent | hebt |
| hij / zij | is | heeft |
| wij / jullie / zij | zijn | hebben |
Spelling: keep the vowel sound
Adding -t or forming the plural can change spelling so the vowel keeps its sound:
- maken → ik maak, jij maakt, wij maken (double a stays long).
- wonen → ik woon, jij woont, wij wonen.
- If the stem already ends in t (e.g. zitten → zit), you do not add a second t: jij zit.
The jij question rule
Put it in a sentence
Remember Dutch word order: the verb comes second in a statement.
- Ik woon in Rotterdam., I live in Rotterdam.
- Hij werkt bij een bank., He works at a bank.
- Wij leren Nederlands., We are learning Dutch.
See the word order guide for how the verb and subject arrange around each other.
Try it yourself
Conjugate the verb for the subject in brackets. Remember: ik = stem, jij/hij/zij = stem + t, wij/jullie/zij = infinitive.
Now the two irregulars. Pick the right form:
Practise conjugation in the course
Grammar pages plus an interactive game in every module. Students get the full online course.
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