Present tense: A verb form for now or a usual activity.
Infinitive: The dictionary verb form: , .
present tense and polite sorry
Many Dutch verbs have short, regular present-tense forms at A1. The infinitive often ends in -en: , , , . With , you usually use the stem: , . With , , , and , you often add -t: , , .
A useful rule: in yes/no questions with after the verb, the -t disappears: not You can see the same pattern in
Use the infinitive after another verb: and The second verb stays in the infinitive form.
For a polite apology, use . It is simple and common: You can also say
| Form | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| to live | ||
| to live | ||
| to play | ||
| to play | ||
| to sleep | ||
| to sleep | ||
| to know | ||
| to know | ||
| I live here. | ||
| I live here. | ||
| you live | ||
| you live | ||
| you play | ||
| you play | ||
| Do you play now? | ||
| Do you play now? | ||
Ik woon beneden.I live downstairs.
U woont boven.You live upstairs.
Joost speelt 's nachts.Joost plays at night.
Hij slaapt hier.He sleeps here.
Hoe weet u dat?How do you know that?
Kun jij morgen spelen?Can you play tomorrow?
Ik wil slapen.I want to sleep.
Sorry, mevrouw De Vries!Sorry, Mrs De Vries!
Practice 1/6 · Finding words
Notice the useful pattern
Tap the form practised in this unit.
.
I live downstairs.
.
You live upstairs.
.
Joost plays at night.
.
He sleeps here.
Practice 2/6 · The right form
Choose the form
Use the English meaning and the pattern in this unit.
Ik beneden.
I live downstairs.
U boven.
You live upstairs.
Joost 's nachts.
Joost plays at night.
Hij hier.
He sleeps here.
Hoe u dat?
How do you know that?
Kun jij morgen ?
Can you play tomorrow?
Ik wil .
I want to sleep.
, mevrouw De Vries!
Sorry, Mrs De Vries!
Practice 3/6 · Fill the gaps
Complete the messages
Fill the gaps with the words from the box.
Joost 's nachts.
Joost plays at night.
Hij hier.
He sleeps here.
Hoe u dat?
How do you know that?
Kun jij morgen ?
Can you play tomorrow?
Ik wil .
I want to sleep.
, mevrouw De Vries!
Sorry, Mrs De Vries!
Practice 4/6 · Building sentences
Build a sentence
Put the words in order.
I live downstairs.
You live upstairs.
Joost plays at night.
He sleeps here.
How do you know that?
Can you play tomorrow?
Practice 5/6 · In situations
What would you say?
Choose the right words for the situation.
I live downstairs.
You say:
Use the meaning and Dutch pattern explained in this unit.
I live downstairs.
You say:
Use the meaning and Dutch pattern explained in this unit.
You live upstairs.
You say:
Use the meaning and Dutch pattern explained in this unit.
You live upstairs.
You say:
Use the meaning and Dutch pattern explained in this unit.
Joost plays at night.
You say:
Use the meaning and Dutch pattern explained in this unit.
Joost plays at night.
You say:
Use the meaning and Dutch pattern explained in this unit.
He sleeps here.
You say:
Use the meaning and Dutch pattern explained in this unit.
He sleeps here.
You say:
Use the meaning and Dutch pattern explained in this unit.
Practice 6/6 · Matching
Connect messages and meanings
Match the pairs.
Unit complete
