This lesson covers sterke werkwoorden in Dutch, focusing on the onvoltooid verleden tijd (e.g., kreeg, koos) and voltooid deelwoord (e.g., gekregen, gekozen). Learn common verbs like doen, gaan, and zeggen with their vowel changes and correct past forms.
  1. Strong verbs are verbs that deviate from the general conjugation rules.
  2. Strong verbs change the vowel in the simple past tense.
  3. Voltooid deelwoord often ends with '-en' or 'ge- + stem + en'.
InfinitiefO.V.T.Voltooid deelwoord
Krijgen (To get)kreeggekregen
Kiezen (Choose)koosgekozen
Trekken (To pull)trokgetrokken
Vragen (To ask)vroeggevraagd
Doen (To do)deedgedaan
Gaan (To go)ginggegaan
Houden (To keep)hieldgehouden
Komen (Come)kwamgekomen
Denken (To think)dachtgedacht
Zeggen (Say)zeigezegd

Exercise 1: Sterke werkwoorden: onvoltooid verleden tijd en voltooid deelwoord

Instruction: Fill in the correct word.

Show translation Show answers

gebleven, aangedaan, las, wist, kocht, droeg, Zag, zei

1. Zeggen:
Ze ... dat mijn jurk erg in de mode is op het moment.
(She said that my dress is very fashionable at the moment.)
2. Zien:
... jij van welk merk die jas was?
(Did you see what brand that jacket was?)
3. Lezen:
Opa ... altijd modebladen uit dat tijdperk.
(Grandpa always read fashion magazines from that era.)
4. Weten:
Ik ... niet dat jij zo met mode bezig bent.
(I didn't know that you are so into fashion.)
5. Kopen:
Ik ... een vintage jurk in de tweedehandswinkel.
(I bought a vintage dress in the secondhand shop.)
6. Blijven:
De stijl van mijn moeder is altijd een beetje ouderwets ....
(My mother's style has always remained a bit old-fashioned.)
7. Aandoen:
We hebben onze nieuwe outfit ...
(We have put on our new outfit)
8. Dragen:
Hij ... een hippe jas op het feest.
(He wore a trendy jacket at the party.)

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct sentence with the proper use of strong verbs in the simple past tense or the past participle. Pay attention to the vowel change and the correct past participle.

1.
The verb 'kopen' is a strong verb that is 'kocht' in the past tense, and the past participle is 'gekocht'. However, here the simple past tense is needed because it refers to 'yesterday'.
'Buyed' is incorrect; the verb 'kopen' changes irregularly to 'kocht' in the past tense, not 'buyed'.
2.
'Choosed' is not a correct conjugation of the verb 'kiezen'.
This sentence is duplicated and incorrectly marked. The correct form is 'gekozen'; any other spellings are wrong.
3.
'Were' is not correct here; it should be 'was'.
'Putted' does not exist; the correct plural form in the past tense is 'trokken'.
4.
'Keeped' is not the correct form; it should be 'hield'.
'Hielden' is plural and does not fit with the singular 'she' in this context.

Strong Verbs in Dutch: Past Simple and Past Participle

This lesson focuses on strong verbs in Dutch, specifically how they change in the onvoltooid verleden tijd (past simple) and the voltooid deelwoord (past participle). Understanding these verb forms is essential for precise communication about past actions and events.

What Are Strong Verbs?

Strong verbs are verbs that change their vowel when conjugated in the past simple tense and past participle, unlike regular verbs that follow standard patterns. These verbs don’t simply add typical endings but have unique changes you need to learn.

Examples of Strong Verbs

Here are some common strong verbs with their forms:

InfinitiefO.V.T. (Past Simple)Voltooid Deelwoord (Past Participle)
Krijgenkreeggekregen
Kiezenkoosgekozen
Trekkentrokgetrokken
Vragenvroeggevraagd
Doendeedgedaan
Gaanginggegaan
Houdenhieldgehouden
Komenkwamgekomen
Denkendachtgedacht
Zeggenzeigezegd

How Strong Verbs Change

Strong verbs change the vowel in the past simple tense (onvoltooid verleden tijd). You will also notice that the past participle often ends in -en or is formed by ge- + stem + -en.

Key Notes for Learners

  • Strong verbs don’t follow regular conjugation patterns; they are exceptions to watch out for.
  • The vowel change is crucial: for example, krijgen becomes kreeg in past simple, not *krijgde.
  • The past participle often begins with ge- and ends with -en, e.g., gekregen.
  • Practice these verbs regularly to recognize patterns and exceptions.

Differences and Useful Phrases

In English, strong verbs are often called irregular verbs, and the concept of vowel change is similar but much more pronounced in Dutch. While English verbs like "go" and "went" have irregular forms, Dutch strong verbs involve systematic vowel alternations that impact both past simple and past participle forms.

Useful expressions include:

  • Krijgen – to get/receive
  • Kiezen – to choose
  • Trekken – to pull/draw
  • Gaan – to go
  • Doen – to do

Recognizing these verbs and their forms will help you form correct sentences about past actions, an essential skill at the A2 Dutch level.

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Kato De Paepe

Business and languages

KdG University of Applied Sciences and Arts Antwerp

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Last Updated:

Sunday, 31/08/2025 01:30