Dutch separable verbs: opstaan, aanmelden, invullen

Opstaan, aanmelden, invullen: Dutch verbs whose prefix breaks off and goes to the end — ik sta op, ik meld me aan. When they split, when they stay together, and how to spot them.

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Many everyday Dutch verbs have a stressed prefix — op-, aan-, in-, af-, mee-, terug-, uit-, door- — that separates in a main clause and goes to the end: opstaan → Ik sta om zeven uur op. On 16Word their tables say separable: opstaan, aanmelden, invullen, afspreken, schoonmaken, uitleggen, doorgaan, terugkeren.

Split in a main clause, present and simple past: ik vul het formulier in. Together at the end of a clause: after a modal (*ik moet het formulier invullen*), in a subordinate clause (*…omdat ik het formulier invul*), and in the participle with *ge* in the middle (*ik heb het ingevuld***).

opstaan (get up)invullen (fill in)
presentik sta opik vul … in
simple pastik stond opik vulde … in
perfectik ben opgestaanik heb … ingevuld
with a modalik moet opstaanik moet … invullen
subordinate… omdat ik opsta… omdat ik … invul
with teom op te staanom … in te vullen

How to spot them

  • The stress is on the prefix: OPstaan, AANmelden. Inseparable prefixes are never stressed: verSTAAN, beTAlen — see pronunciation.
  • The prefix is often a word of its own: op (up), aan (on), in (in), af (off), mee (along), terug (back), uit (out).
  • be-, ge-, her-, ont-, ver-, er- never separate: betalen, vertellen, herhalen, ontvangen.

Ik meld me morgen aan voor het examen.

Literally: I'm registering for the exam tomorrow.

Meaning: aanmelden: ik meld me … aan — the particle at the end.

Kunt u dit formulier invullen?

Literally: Could you fill in this form?

Meaning: After a modal it stays together at the end: invullen.

We hebben afgesproken om drie uur.

Literally: We agreed on three o'clock.

Meaning: Participle with ge in the middle: af-ge-sproken (afspreken).

The verbs you will meet in the exams

Letters from DUO and the gemeente are full of them: zich aanmelden (register), invullen (fill in), afspreken (arrange), terugbellen (call back), meenemen (bring along), opsturen (send). Read them in context in how to register and practise them in the writing exam.

Practise

  1. Take five separable verbs and make the six forms of the table above.
  2. Describe your morning: Ik sta op, ik ruim op, ik ga weg…
  3. Write a short message with aanmelden and invullen.
  4. Then check the word order in word order.

Particles in the right place

16Word’s Sentences and Dialogues tracks put separable verbs in real sentences — type them until the particle lands at the end by itself. Page 1 is free.

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Frequently asked questions

What is a separable verb in Dutch?

A verb with a stressed prefix that breaks off in a main clause and goes to the end: opstaan → ik sta op; invullen → ik vul het formulier in.

When does a separable verb stay together?

At the end of a clause: after a modal (ik moet invullen), in a subordinate clause (omdat ik opsta) and in the participle (ingevuld, opgestaan).

How do I know if a Dutch verb is separable?

The stress is on the prefix (OPstaan), and the prefix is usually a word on its own (op, aan, in, af, mee, terug, uit). Be-, ge-, her-, ont-, ver- and er- never separate.

Where does ge go in a separable verb's participle?

Between the prefix and the verb: opgestaan, ingevuld, afgesproken.

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