De gesloten deur is zwaar.
English: The closed door is heavy.
- Language
- Dutch
- Level
- B1
- Unit
- Bijvoeglijke naamwoorden en vergelijking
- Practice types
- 0
What this grammar point covers
In Dutch, 'bijvoeglijk gebruikte voltooid deelwoorden' are past participles used as adjectives. They describe a noun, showing that something has already happened.
When to use it
Use this form to describe a noun that has been affected by an action. For example, to talk about a door that is already closed or a letter that has been written.
Key forms
- ge- + verb stem + -d/-t (for regular verbs), e.g. 'gesloten', 'gemaakt'
- Some irregular forms, e.g. 'geschreven', 'gelopen'
- Add -e ending to agree with the noun: 'de gesloten deur', 'een gemaakte fout'
Examples
Hij leest een geschreven brief.
English: He reads a written letter.
De gebakken taart ruikt lekker.
English: The baked cake smells good.
Dat is een verloren kans.
English: That is a lost opportunity.
We hebben een gebroken raam.
English: We have a broken window.
Tips
- Always add -e to the participle when it comes before a noun.
- Remember that some participles are irregular, so their forms can change.
- Do not use 'ge-' for participles of verbs with prefixes like 'be-', 'ver-', 'ont-'.
Exceptions and edge cases
- Some verbs have irregular participle forms, like 'geschreven' (from 'schrijven').
- No 'ge-' prefix for participles from verbs with certain prefixes (e.g. 'vergeten', not 'gevergeten').