- Simple Past -
In course A2.2, you discover another way to talk about the past: the imperfect tense. Or also knows as simple past. With this tense, you gain more flexibility to tell richer and more detailed stories.
Regular verbs
When we talk about the past (with the simple past / imperfectum), we add +te or +de.
Verbs for a plural subject also get the letter +n.
The rule for regular verbs is:
stam + te(n)
stam + de(n)
- Is the final letter of the stam in SoFT KeTCHuP? -> +te(n)
- Is the final letter of the stam not in SoFT KeTCHuP? -> +de(n)
Follow these rules, and you can conjugate the majority of the verbs.
Exercises
- Imperfectum - regelmatige verba - Quiz
- Imperfectum - regelmatige verba - Quiz 2
- Imperfectum - regelmatige verba - Sorteren
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Imperfectum - regelmatige verba - Kaarten delen
Irregular verbs
In addition to the regular verbs, there are quite some irregular verbs. Actually, the most common verbs are irregular. And as the word 'onregelmatig' already says, these verbs don't follow the rule, so you have to study them.
Although, the following categories will help you to remember them. These categories contain all the irregular imperfectum of the book Taaltalent 2.
Use these Quizlet links and learn the irregular imperfectum by heart.
- ij > ee (15 verbs)
- i > a (3 verbs)
- i > o (12 verbs)
- e > o (4 verbs)
- ie > oo (10 verbs)
- ui > oo (5 verbs)
- aa > oe (4 verbs)
- ee > a/aa (9 verbs)
- ? > ie (9 verbs)
- ? > -cht (5 verbs)
- regelmatig (8 verbs -> these have an irregular perfectum but regular imperfectum)
- overig (19 verbs)
Get rid of your doubts and learn the irregular verbs by heart. This will boost your confidence and make speaking Dutch easier.
Exercises
- Imperfectum - onregelmatige verba - Verbinden
- Imperfectum - onregelmatige verba - Quiz
- Imperfectum - onregelmatige verba met vragen - Flash cards
- Imperfectum - onregelmatige verba - Puzzle
Do you know them all? - Test yourself!