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Leer hoe je onvervulde wensen en spijt uitdrukt met de onvoltooid verleden tijd, zoals in 'Had ik maar meer geld' en 'Was het al maar zomervakantie.' Begrijp het gebruik van 'maar' om deze gevoelens helder te communiceren.
  1. Use the onvoltooid verleden tijd to express regret or an unfulfilled wish.
  2. The situation is imaginary or unrealistic at this moment.
  3. It is often accompanied by maar.
Situatie (Situation)Voorbeelden (Examples)
Wens (Wish)Was het al maar zomervakantie. (If only it were already summer holiday.)
Had ik maar meer geld, dan kon ik mijn huur betalen.  (If only I had more money, then I could pay my rent.)
At ik maar wat gezonder, dan was ik slanker. (If only I ate a bit healthier, then I would be slimmer.)
Spijt (Regret)Hadden we maar gewacht. (If only we had waited.)
Had ik maar meer gespaard. (If only I had saved more.)
Had ik maar beter geluisterd. (If only I had listened better.)

Exercise 1: Wensen uitdrukken met de onvoltooid verleden tijd

Instruction: Fill in the correct word.

Show translation Show answers

Had, moest, kocht, Kon, Wist, ging

1. Kunnen:
... ik maar muntgeld wisselen bij de balie.
(I wish I could change coins at the counter.)
2. Weten:
... ik dat maar eerder!
(If only I had known that earlier!)
3. Kopen:
Was ik maar rijk, dan ... ik een groot huis.
(If only I were rich, I would buy a big house.)
4. Hebben:
... ik maar meer geld om eten te kopen.
(If only I had more money to buy food.)
5. Gaan:
Had ik maar meer gespaard, dan ... ik op wereldreis.
(If only I had saved more, I would go on a world trip.)
6. Moeten:
Had ik maar mijn betaling op tijd gedaan, dan ... ik geen boetes betalen.
(If only I had made my payment on time, then I wouldn't have to pay fines.)

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct sentence in which a wish or regret is expressed using the simple past tense and 'maar' (but).

1.
The placement of 'maar' is incorrect; it must come directly after 'Had ik' for a correct wish structure.
Infinitive used instead of simple past tense after 'maar'. Correct is 'te regelen'.
2.
The verb form 'Was' is incorrectly used here for expressing a wish with the simple past tense in this context.
Incorrect use of present tense 'kan' instead of simple past tense for expressing a wish.
3.
Incorrect word order; correct is 'kon betalen' and not 'betalen kon'.
Wrong: 'kan' is present tense, but the wish requires simple past tense ('kon').
4.
Incorrect word order; 'eerder' must come before the past participle.
Incorrect infinitive 'controleren' instead of past participle 'gecontroleerd' after 'Hadden we maar'.

Expressing Wishes Using the Simple Past Tense in Dutch

This lesson focuses on how to express wishes and regrets in Dutch using the onvoltooid verleden tijd, or simple past tense. It covers the structure and common expressions used to talk about unreal or hypothetical situations that are different from reality at the moment.

What You Will Learn

  • How to form and use wishes and regrets with the simple past tense.
  • Common introductory phrases such as Had ik maar, Was het al maar, and Wist ik maar, which introduce hypothetical desires or regrets.
  • Typical sentence structures featuring maar (meaning "if only" in this context) to emphasize the wish or regret.
  • Understanding that these sentences describe imagined or contrary-to-fact situations, often expressing a longing for something different.

Example Situations and Sentences

SituationExamples
WishWas het al maar zomervakantie.
Had ik maar meer geld, dan kon ik mijn huur betalen.
At ik maar wat gezonder, dan was ik slanker.
RegretHadden we maar gewacht.
Had ik maar meer gespaard.
Had ik maar beter geluisterd.

These phrases express wishes or regrets about past events or current situations that are not true. You use the simple past tense, often combined with maar, to indicate this unreality.

Key Highlights

  • Onvoltooid verleden tijd is always used to express the wish or regret.
  • Typical introductory phrases begin with verbs in simple past, such as Had ik maar (If only I had).
  • The situation described is imaginary or unrealistic at the present moment.
  • Maar is placed immediately after the auxiliary verb for emphasis.

Differences Between English and Dutch

In English, wishes about the past or unreal situations often use "If only" or "I wish" with past perfect or past tense verbs (e.g., "If only I had more money"). Dutch uses the simple past tense similarly but structures the sentence differently, often starting with the verb, for example, Had ik maar meer geld. The use of maar in Dutch is a key particle that has no direct English equivalent but is essential for expressing emphasis on regret or wishfulness.

Useful Dutch phrases for expressing wishes and regrets include:

  • Had ik maar... – If only I had...
  • Was het al maar... – If only it were already...
  • Wist ik maar... – If only I knew...
  • Hadden we maar... – If only we had...

Mastering these structures will help you sound natural and express feelings of longing or regret accurately in Dutch.

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Kato De Paepe

Business and languages

KdG University of Applied Sciences and Arts Antwerp

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Last Updated:

Thursday, 17/07/2025 17:04