Simple past tense: weak verbs

When to use the OVT (simple past)

Use the onvoltooid verleden tijd (OVT) to talk about:

• Actions that happened one after another in the past.
  Ik wachtte en daarna werkte ik. (I waited and then I worked.)
• Habits / repeated actions in the past (often, always, every…).
  Ze werkten vaak tot laat. (They often worked late.)

Tip: If your sentence has time words like gisteren, vorige week, toen, and you are telling “what happened”, OVT is usually a good choice.

Build the OVT in 4 steps (weak verbs)

1. Take the infinitive: werken, voelen, wachten, openen.
2. Find the stem (stam): remove -en.
   • werken → werk
   • voelen → voel
   • wachten → wacht
   • openen → open
3. Check the last letter of the stem:
   • Ends in softketchup (s f t k ch p)? → add -te / -ten
   • Not softketchup? → add -de / -den
4. Add the ending:
   • singular (ik/jij/hij/zij/het) → -te or -de
   • plural (wij/jullie/zij) → -ten or -den

Softketchup: the quick decision tool

Memorise: softketchup = s f t k ch p.

Spelling traps (very common mistakes)

• Double consonants are sometimes needed (to keep the sound the same).
  wacht + te → wachtte (not wachte)
  wij/jullie/zij: wachtten (not wachtden)
• No extra -e- in the past tense with verbs like openen.
  open + de → opende (not openede)
• Singular vs plural matters.
  • we / wij → plural: werkten, voelden, wachtten, openden
  • ik → singular: werkte, voelde, wachtte, opende

One-minute self-check before you answer

1. Did I really need the past? (time word like gisteren, toen, vorige week)
2. Is the verb weak (regular)? If yes: use stam + te/de.
3. Does the stem end in softketchup? If yes: -te(n). If no: -de(n).
4. Is my subject singular or plural? → choose -e or -en.

Important: not every verb follows this rule

Some common verbs are irregular and must be memorised (they do not use -te/-de).

• vragen → vroeg (not vraagde)

If a past tense form looks “special” or short (like vroeg), it is often irregular.