A1 Dutch GrammarCommon Verbs
Master essential Dutch verbs: gaan (to go), komen (to come), doen (to do), kunnen (can), willen (want), moeten (must). Learn modal verbs and their conjugations.
1Gaan (To Go)
Gaan (to go) is irregular and very common. It's used for movement and to form the future: ik ga eten (I'm going to eat).
Gaan - Present Tense
| Person | Conjugation | English |
|---|---|---|
| ik | ga | I go |
| jij/je | gaat | you go |
| hij/zij/het | gaat | he/she/it goes |
| wij/we | gaan | we go |
| jullie | gaan | you (pl) go |
| zij/ze | gaan | they go |
Examples
Ik ga naar huis.
I'm going home.
naar = to
Waar ga je heen?
Where are you going?
heen = (to)where
Wij gaan morgen zwemmen.
We're going swimming tomorrow.
future with gaan
Ze gaat elke dag sporten.
She goes exercising every day.
gaan + infinitive
2Komen (To Come)
Komen (to come) is commonly used for arrival and origin. 'Waar kom je vandaan?' means 'Where are you from?'
Komen - Present Tense
| Person | Conjugation | English |
|---|---|---|
| ik | kom | I come |
| jij/je | komt | you come |
| hij/zij/het | komt | he/she/it comes |
| wij/we | komen | we come |
| jullie | komen | you (pl) come |
| zij/ze | komen | they come |
Examples
Ik kom uit Nederland.
I come from the Netherlands.
uit = from
Kom je morgen?
Are you coming tomorrow?
question
Hij komt om drie uur.
He's coming at three o'clock.
arrival time
Ze komen uit België.
They come from Belgium.
origin
3Modal Verbs (kunnen, willen, moeten)
Modal verbs express ability, desire, or necessity. The main verb goes to the end in infinitive form. Modal verbs are irregular.
Modal Verbs - ik/jij/hij forms
| Verb | ik | jij/hij | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| kunnen | kan | kan/kunt | can, to be able |
| willen | wil | wil/wilt | want, to want |
| moeten | moet | moet | must, have to |
| mogen | mag | mag | may, to be allowed |
Examples
Ik kan goed zwemmen.
I can swim well.
kunnen = ability
Wil je koffie?
Do you want coffee?
willen = want
Je moet nu gaan.
You must go now.
moeten = must
Mag ik hier zitten?
May I sit here?
mogen = permission
4Doen (To Do)
Doen (to do/make) is irregular. It's used for actions and in questions like 'Wat doe je?' (What are you doing?).
Doen - Present Tense
| Person | Conjugation | English |
|---|---|---|
| ik | doe | I do |
| jij/je | doet | you do |
| hij/zij/het | doet | he/she/it does |
| wij/we | doen | we do |
| jullie | doen | you (pl) do |
| zij/ze | doen | they do |
Examples
Wat doe je?
What are you doing?
common question
Ik doe mijn best.
I'm doing my best.
expression
Dat doet pijn.
That hurts.
pijn doen = to hurt
Wij doen de boodschappen.
We're doing the shopping.
boodschappen doen