The -dt rule: when a Dutch verb ends in -dt
Why hij vindt (he finds) and jij/je wordt (informal you become) contain d plus t, while word jij? drops t and wordt u? (formal you) keeps it.
Ik vind het antwoord (I find the answer) has vind, but hij vindt het antwoord (he finds the answer) has vindt. The two forms sound the same. The spelling shows two parts: the stem vind already ends in -d, and the regular present-tense ending -t produces vindt.
Build -dt from a stem ending in -d
Start with worden → word → wordt: infinitive, written stem, then stem plus -t. Find the written stem before you choose an ending. Removing -en is only the first step because normal spelling rules still apply. The table gives four stems that keep their final -d.
| Infinitive | Stem | Stem + -t |
|---|---|---|
| worden | word | wordt |
| vinden | vind | vindt |
| antwoorden | antwoord | antwoordt |
| melden | meld | meldt |
In the regular present tense, use the stem with ik: ik word, ik vind. Add -t with subject-first informal singular jij/je, with u, and with a third-person singular subject: jij wordt, u vindt, de docent antwoordt. Use the infinitive with a plural subject: wij worden, de docenten antwoorden. The pattern gives -dt only when the written stem ends in -d. If a stem already ends in -t, Dutch does not write -tt: praten (to talk) → hij praat. Irregular present forms need their own conjugation.
Drop -t only with subject jij/je after the verb
Compare Jij wordt oud (You are getting old) with Word jij oud? (Are you getting old?). When informal singular jij or je is the subject and comes after the present-tense verb, use the stem without -t. This order appears in questions and when another part of the sentence comes first.
| Situation | Example | Ending |
|---|---|---|
| Subject first | Jij wordt oud. | -dt |
| Question: verb first | Word jij oud? | -d |
| Time expression first | Morgen word je opgehaald. | -d |
This exception does not apply to u or a third-person singular subject. Write U wordt gebeld (You will be called) and Wordt u gebeld? (Will you be called?). Also write Wordt hij boos? (Is he getting angry?) and Vindt Noor dat leuk? (Does Noor like that?). A few verbs allow a shorter stem in forms without -t: ik hou and rij jij? can appear beside ik houd and rijd jij?. Their forms with added -t remain jij houdt and hij rijdt.
Check whether je is the subject
Word je moe? (Are you getting tired?) has no -t, but Wat houdt je bezig? (What is on your mind?) keeps it. Do not drop -t merely because je follows the verb. If je can be replaced by subject-form jij, use the rule without -t. If je means object-form jou or possessive jouw, a different word or phrase is the subject and decides the verb form. In Wat houdt je bezig?, wat is the subject. In Wordt je fiets gemaakt? (Is your bike being repaired?), je fiets is a third-person singular subject.
Check that the form is a present-tense verb
Compare Hij antwoordt vandaag (He answers today) with Hij heeft gisteren geantwoord (He answered yesterday). In the first sentence, antwoordt is the present-tense verb and contains stem antwoord plus -t. In the second, geantwoord is a past participle used with heeft. Participles follow a separate d/t rule; they do not take the present-tense -t. The simple past and participle of worden are werd and geworden. For a quick check across d, t and dt, use d, t or dt?.
- Fill in the blank: *Hij ___ het antwoord niet.* (*vinden* = to find)
- *vind*
- *vindt*
- *vindet*
- *vint*
For *hij* you add *-t* to the stem *vind* → *vindt*. The stem's *-d* plus the ending *-t* gives *-dt*.
- Which is correct in a question?
- *Wordt jij moe?*
- *Word jij moe?*
- *Worden jij moe?*
- *Wort jij moe?*
In this question, *jij* is the subject and follows the verb. The *-t* drops, so you write only the stem *-d* → *Word jij moe?*
- Fill in the blank: *Ik ___ op elke e-mail.* (*antwoorden* = to answer)
- *antwoordt*
- *antwoord*
- *antwoordet*
- *antwoort*
The *ik* form is the bare stem *antwoord*, with no *-t* added → *ik antwoord* (not *antwoordt*).
- Spot the error: *Word jij boos als hij te laat komt?*
- *Word* should be *Wordt*
- nothing is wrong
- *komt* should be *komen*
- *jij* should be *je*
The sentence is correct. *Jij* follows the verb, so *word* takes no *-t*; and *hij komt* correctly keeps its *-t*.
- Fill in the blank: *___ je fiets al gemaakt?* (*worden* is the passive auxiliary here; *je* is the possessive 'your')
- *Word*
- *Wordt*
- *Worden*
- *Wort*
Here *je* means *jouw* (your). The full subject *je fiets* is third-person singular. Add *-t* to stem *word* → *Wordt je fiets al gemaakt?* with *-dt*.
Test yourself
Question 1 of 5
Fill in the blank: Hij ___ het antwoord niet. (vinden = to find)