Verbs whose stem ends in d follow the normal present-tense rule: stem plus t for _jij_, _u_, _hij_, _zij_ and _het_. That gives _ik word_ but _jij wordt_ and _hij vindt_, with dt. The t disappears when the subject _jij_ or _je_ comes after the verb, as in _word jij?_
The pattern
Take the stem and add the usual ending: nothing for _ik_, a t for _jij_, _u_, _hij_, _zij_ (she) and _het_. A d at the end of the stem stays, so you write dt.
- _ik word_, _ik vind_: just the stem.
- _jij wordt_, _u wordt_, _hij vindt_, _zij vindt_: stem plus t.
- Verb before the subject _jij_ or _je_: no t, as in _word jij?_ and _vind je het leuk?_ It is the same rule as _werk jij?_ ([where the t disappears](#/lesson/jij-inversion)).
- Verb before _u_, _hij_ or _zij_: the t stays, as in _wordt u?_ and _vindt hij?_
- Stem already ends in t: no second t, as in _hij zit_ and _jij wacht_.
- A few very common verbs have their own forms, like _hij kan_ and _hij mag_ ([irregular verbs](#/lesson/irregular-present)).
Examples
| Ik word in mei dertig. | I turn thirty in May. |
|---|---|
| Morgen wordt Sanne veertig. | Sanne turns forty tomorrow. |
| Jij vindt de trein veel te duur. | You think the train is far too expensive. |
| Vind jij het ook koud vandaag? | Do you think it's cold today too? |
| Wordt u al geholpen? | Is someone already helping you? |
| Het vliegtuig landt om tien uur. | The plane lands at ten o'clock. |
| Ahmed antwoordt nooit op mijn berichten. | Ahmed never answers my messages. |
| Vindt je zus het nieuwe huis mooi? | Does your sister like the new house? |
| Dat gebeurt vaak op maandag. | That often happens on Mondays. |
| Wat is er gebeurd? | What happened? |
Why it works this way
The d and the t do different jobs. The d belongs to the verb itself: it is in _worden_ and _vinden_, so it stays in the stem. The t is the ending for _jij_, _u_, _hij_, _zij_ and _het_, the same t as in _hij werkt_. Dutch spelling shows both pieces, so you get dt.
Your ears cannot help you here. At the end of a word, d is pronounced as t ([why d sounds like t](#/lesson/final-devoicing)), so _word_ and _wordt_ sound exactly the same. Plenty of Dutch people get this wrong in their emails too.
So borrow a verb whose ending you can hear: _lopen_. Put a form of _lopen_ in the same spot, with the same subject, and listen for a t. The sentence does not have to make sense.
- _hij loopt_, so _hij wordt_
- _loop jij?_, so _word jij?_
- _loopt u?_, so _wordt u?_
- _loopt je zus?_, so _wordt je zus?_ (here _je_ means your, so the subject is _je zus_)
The same test settles _gebeurt_ or _gebeurd_. _Het ... vaak_ becomes _het loopt vaak_: you hear a t, so it is the present tense, _het gebeurt vaak_. _Het is gisteren ..._ becomes _het is gisteren gelopen_: no t, because that is a past participle, so you write the participle _gebeurd_ ([t or d in participles](#/lesson/t-kofschip)).
Remember: the d belongs to the verb, the t belongs to the person. When in doubt, ask _lopen_.
Watch out
- Not: _Hij vind het te duur._ Say: _Hij vindt het te duur._ (stem _vind_ plus the t for _hij_)
- Not: _Ik wordt in juni veertig._ Say: _Ik word in juni veertig._ (_ik_ gets just the stem, like _ik loop_)
- Not: _Vindt jij het leuk?_ Say: _Vind jij het leuk?_ (no t when _jij_ follows the verb, even though German keeps its ending here)
- Not: _Word u al geholpen?_ Say: _Wordt u al geholpen?_ (_u_ keeps the t)
- Not: _Wat is er gebeurt?_ Say: _Wat is er gebeurd?_ (after _is_ you need the participle, like _is gelopen_)
Quick check
- Fix the sentence: _Joris word volgende maand vader._
- Fill in a form of _worden_: _Hoe oud ... jij volgende week?_
- Fill in a form of _vinden_: _... u het goed als ik hier ga zitten?_
- Choose _gebeurt_ or _gebeurd_: _Wat is er met je fiets ...?_
Answers
- _Joris wordt volgende maand vader._ (_Joris loopt_, so stem _word_ plus t.)
- _word_ (_jij_ comes after the verb: _loop jij_, no t.)
- _Vindt_ (_u_ keeps the t: _loopt u_.)
- _gebeurd_ (after _is_ you need the participle: _is gelopen_.)
Use it today
Check a birthday calendar (many Dutch homes keep a _verjaardagskalender_ on the toilet door) and write three sentences: one with _ik word_, one about someone who _wordt_ a certain age, and one question that starts with _Word jij_. Test every verb with _lopen_ before you call it done.