De brief wordt geschreven.
English: The letter is being written.
- Language
- Dutch
- Level
- B2
- Unit
- Lijdende vorm en zinsnadruk
- Practice types
- 0
What this grammar point covers
The 'lijdende vorm' in Dutch is the passive voice. It is used when the focus is on the action or the object, not on who is doing the action.
When to use it
Use the passive voice in Dutch when the person doing the action is unknown, unimportant, or obvious. It is common in news reports, instructions, and formal writing.
Key forms
- worden + voltooid deelwoord (present and future)
- zijn + voltooid deelwoord (past tense)
- Voorbeeld: Het boek wordt gelezen.
Examples
Het huis is verkocht.
English: The house has been sold.
De appels worden gegeten.
English: The apples are being eaten.
De auto werd gerepareerd.
English: The car was repaired.
Tips
- Remember to use 'worden' for present and future passive, and 'zijn' for the past.
- The past participle (voltooid deelwoord) often ends with -d, -t, or -en.
- Do not use a direct object after the passive form.
Exceptions and edge cases
- Some verbs do not form a passive because they do not take a direct object.
- With modal verbs, the structure is: modal + worden + voltooid deelwoord.