Just like [_zijn_](#/lesson/Verbs.Ir06), the verb _hebben_ is used in a variety of ways. As an [independent verb](#/lesson/Verbs.Au02) it means 'to have'. But like _zijn,_ it can also serve as the [auxiliary verb before a past participle](#/lesson/Verbs.Au04). A less common use of hebben is [_hebben te_](#/lesson/Verbs.Au09), meaning 'to have to'.
The present tense of _hebben_ is not very irregular. Only the 3rd person singular has an irregular stem (heeft).
Simple present:
ik | heb | we | hebben
je | hebt | jullie | hebben
hij | heeft | ze | hebben
Simple past:
ik | had | we | hadden
je | had | jullie | hadden
hij | had | ze | hadden
Past participle: gehad
Note that the examples above give you the unstressed [personal pronouns](#/lesson/Pronouns.Ps01). Some pronouns change when they are stressed in a phrase: je/jij, we/wij, ze/zij (both singular and plural).