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Intermediate

Simple Past

The imperfectum

Weak verbs: -te(n) or -de(n)

Add the dental suffix to the stem; 't kofschip chooses -te vs -de.

📊 Simple past endings (weak)
Stem ends in Singular Plural
t,k,f,s,ch,p ('t kofschip) -te -ten
any other sound -de -den
💬 Examples
ik werkte
I worked
📝 werk + te
ik hoorde
I heard
📝 hoor + de
Strong verbs change the vowel

Strong verbs form the past by an internal vowel change.

💬 Examples
lopen → liep
to walk → walked
📝 Vowel change o→ie
geven → gaf
to give → gave
📝 e→a
Used for narration and states

The imperfectum suits writing and ongoing past states.

💬 Examples
Het regende.
It was raining.
📝 Ongoing past state
Hij was ziek.
He was ill.
📝 was = past of zijn