Dutch Language/The verb "to be" in Dutch

Learning Dutch - Lesson 2: The verb "to be" in Dutch

Lesson overview

You will learn the verb "to be" in several tenses.

Present Simple

Ik ben = I am
Jij bent = You are
Hij/zij/het is = He/she/it is
Wij zijn = We are
Jullie zijn/u bent = You are
Zij zijn = They are
Gij zijt = Thou art

Past Simple

Ik was = I was
Jij was = You were
Hij/zij/het was = He/she/it was
Wij waren = We were
Jullie waren/u was = You were
Zij waren = They were

Present Perfect

Ik ben geweest = I have been
Jij bent geweest = You have been
Hij/zij/het is geweest = He/she/it has been
Wij zijn geweest = We have been
Jullie zijn geweest/u bent geweest = You have been
Zij zijn geweest = They have been

Past Perfect

Ik was geweest = I had been
Jij was geweest = You have been
Hij/zij/het was geweest = He/she/it has been
Wij waren geweest = We had been
Jullie waren geweest/u was geweest = You had been
Zij waren geweest = They had been

Notes: Just learn the present and past simple by heart. With the perfect's just put "geweest" after the simple form.

Handy sentences with to be

Ik ben groot = I am tall
Ik ben klein = I am short
Ik ben ... jaar oud = I am ... years old
Ik was jong = I was young
Ik ben oud = I am old
Ik was jong, maar nu ben ik oud = I was young, but I am old now.

Notes: Learn "to be" by heart, and you will quite easily make Dutch sentences. We will soon cover more advanced "to be" grammar.

Dutch Language