Learn how to use the 2 Dutch auxiliary verbs HEBBEN and ZIJN

To place verbs in the past tense, in most cases you need an auxiliary verb. This is an extra verb that supports the verb that you want to put in the past tense. For instance in English you can say "I have eaten too much". The verb "have" is the auxiliary verb that you need to place the sentence in the Present Perfect Tense (Perfectum). In Dutch there are 2 auxiliary verbs that you must learn, which are HEBBEN (to have) and ZIJN (to be). In this lesson I explain exactly how and when to use each of these verbs as auxiliary verbs.
Enjoy the lesson and let me know what you think in the comments!
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[@stephenogier7499]

Another interesting and useful video, Vinod. Thank you. Just one question (for now): to say 'I have washed the dog.' would seem to be 'Ik heb de hond gewassen.' But wouldn't 'De hond is gewassen.' be more of a passive construction than a perfect tense (The dog is washed.)? Perhaps I am just stuck in English grammar and structures. (I used to teach English as a foreign language, so that might explain it.) So, how might you say 'The dog has been washed'? (perfect passive)

[@dutchforexpats]

Hi Stephen, both are good and it depends on the perspective you choose. I can say "I have washed the car" (I am the one who did it) or "the car is washed" (the car is the one being in that state). In Dutch: "ik heb de auto gewassen" or "de auto is gewassen". The words "has been" is not used in Dutch in the way it's used in English. Literally 'has been' translates to 'is geweest'. But you can't say "de hond is gewassen geweest". You will just say "de hond is gewassen".

[@stephenogier7499]

@@dutchforexpats Thank you. That's great. I must try to think less like an English speaker when I consider Dutch, but it's such an easy trap to fall into as ther are so many (almost) similarities! 😀