Common Dutch Verbs
Dutch verbs are listed here in the infinitive, the dictionary form. Almost all of them end in -en, and the present tense needs only two endings.
The two you cannot avoid
-
zijn
zayn
-
to be
ik ben, jij bent, hij is
-
hebben
HEB-buh
-
to have
ik heb, jij hebt, hij heeft
Everyday actions
-
gaan
khahn
-
to go
-
komen
KOH-muh
-
to come
-
doen
doon
-
to do
-
maken
MAH-kuh
-
to make
-
zeggen
ZEKH-uh
-
to say
-
zien
zeen
-
to see
-
spreken
SPRAY-kuh
-
to speak
-
eten
AY-tuh
-
to eat
-
drinken
DRIN-kuh
-
to drink
-
wonen
VOH-nuh
-
to live somewhere
-
werken
VEHR-kuh
-
to work
-
heten
HAY-tuh
-
to be called
Used where English says my name is
Verbs that pair with another verb
-
kunnen
KUN-nuh
-
can, to be able to
ik kan, jij kunt
-
willen
VIL-luh
-
to want
ik wil, jij wilt
-
moeten
MOO-tuh
-
must, to have to
-
mogen
MOH-khuh
-
to be allowed to
-
weten
VAY-tuh
-
to know a fact
kennen is to know a person or place
Two endings, and where the second verb goes
Take off the -en and you have the ik form. Add -t for jij and for hij or zij. That is the whole present tense: ik werk, jij werkt, hij werkt, wij werken.
The -t disappears when jij comes after the verb, which happens in questions: jij werkt, but werk jij?
Zijn and hebben ignore all of this and have to be memorised, which is why they are listed first.
When a verb like kunnen or willen appears, the second verb moves to the end: Ik kan Nederlands spreken, literally I can Dutch speak. German does exactly the same.
- Ik woon in Amsterdam.I live in Amsterdam.
- Ik wil graag koffie.I would like coffee.
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