Dutch grammar: bijvoeglijk gebruikte onvoltooid deelwoorden

What this grammar point covers

In Dutch, 'bijvoeglijk gebruikte onvoltooid deelwoorden' are present participles used as adjectives. They describe a noun by showing that something is happening.

When to use it

Use this form to describe a noun that is doing something at the same time. It shows that the action is happening now or continuously.

Key forms

• The infinitive stem + -end (e.g., lopend, zingend)
• Add -e for adjective agreement (e.g., lopende man, zingende kinderen)

Examples

Tips

• Always add -e when the participle is used before a noun (bijvoeglijk).
• Do not use this form for completed actions.
• Some verbs do not use this form often; check if your sentence sounds natural.

Exceptions and edge cases

• Some verbs rarely form a present participle as an adjective, especially stative verbs like 'zijn'.