Grammar Rules
How Dutch past participles (voltooide deelwoorden) are formed.
R Regular verbs — regelmatig
ge + stam + d or t
Ending with -d
When the stem ends in a voiced consonant — use the hint below:
v, l, m, n, r, b, w ('t kofschip rule inverted — everything not in 't kofschip)
leven → geleefd to live
horen → gehoord to hear
leren → geleerd to learn
Ending with -t
When the stem ends in one of the voiceless consonants in:
't kofschip (t, k, f, s, ch, p)
werken → gewerkt to work
fietsen → gefietst to cycle
maken → gemaakt to make
O Irregular verbs — onregelmatig
ge + vowel change + en
Irregular verbs change their vowel (and sometimes consonants) in unpredictable ways. There is no rule — you have to memorize them.
nemen → genomen to take
schrijven → geschreven to write
spreken → gesproken to speak
geven → gegeven to give
zien → gezien to see
! Exceptions
No ge- prefix
Verbs with inseparable prefixes (be-, er-, ge-, her-, ont-, ver-) and verbs ending in -eren do not add ge-:
vertellen → verteld to tell
bestellen → besteld to order
studeren → gestudeerd to study
Separable verbs
For separable verbs, ge- goes between the prefix and the stem:
opbellen → opgebeld to call up
aankomen → aangekomen to arrive