Ik heb mijn huiswerk gemaakt.
English: I have done my homework.
- Language
- Dutch
- Level
- B2
- Unit
- Werkwoordsvormen en tijden
- Practice types
- 0
What this grammar point covers
The 'voltooide tijd' in Dutch is the present perfect tense. It is used to talk about actions that are completed in the past but have a connection to the present.
When to use it
Use the 'voltooide tijd' to talk about experiences, completed actions with a result in the present, or actions that happened in the recent past.
Key forms
- Hebben/zijn + voltooid deelwoord
- Ik heb gewerkt.
- Hij is gegaan.
Examples
Zij is naar huis gegaan.
English: She has gone home.
We hebben het boek gelezen.
English: We have read the book.
Jullie zijn vroeg opgestaan.
English: You (plural) have gotten up early.
Hij heeft de auto gekocht.
English: He has bought the car.
Tips
- Use 'hebben' for most verbs, but use 'zijn' with verbs of movement or change (like 'gaan', 'komen', 'worden').
- The past participle (voltooid deelwoord) usually starts with 'ge-' and ends with '-d' or '-t', but there are exceptions.
- Word order: the participle comes at the end of the sentence.
Exceptions and edge cases
- Some verbs use 'zijn' instead of 'hebben', especially verbs of movement or change.
- Irregular verbs have irregular past participles (e.g., 'geweest', 'gedaan').