Complex Past Participles
Normally, forming a past participle requires the ge- prefix (e.g., maken → gemaakt). For standard separable verbs, this -ge- sits right between the separable prefix and the verb stem (schoonmaken → schoongemaakt).
However, verbs that begin with an unstressed, inseparable prefix—such as be-, ver-, or ont-—never take a ge- prefix in the past tense (e.g., bespreken → besproken).
When a separable verb is built around one of these base verbs, you still omit the -ge-. Simply attach the separable prefix directly to the base verb's past participle.
For example, nabespreken (to discuss afterwards / review) is formed from na + bespreken. Because bespreken becomes besproken, the complex past participle is nabesproken (not nagebesproken).
| The editor discussed the draft with me afterwards. | De redacteur heeft het concept met mij nabesproken. |
More Multi-Prefix Verbs
This rule applies to many verbs used when structuring or editing a document:
- onderverdelen (to subdivide) is formed from onder
- verdelen. The past participle is onderverdeeld.
- uitvergroten (to magnify / exaggerate) is formed from uit
- vergroten. The past participle is uitvergroot.
| The long paragraph that I am reading is subdivided into three parts. | De lange alinea die ik lees, is in drie delen onderverdeeld. |
| Why did you exaggerate every small mistake in the draft? | Waarom heb je elke kleine fout in het concept uitvergroot? |
Standard Verbs in Context
For contrast, remember that regular verbs—even those related to editing—still follow standard past participle rules as long as they don't contain an inseparable prefix. For instance, schrappen (to delete) simply becomes geschrapt.
| We deleted every paragraph, because the grammar was very bad. | We hebben elke alinea geschrapt, want de grammatica was heel slecht. |