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Modern Dutch no longer actively uses the subjunctive mood to express wishes, hypotheticals, or commands. Instead, it relies on modal verbs and specific word orders. However, the present subjunctive survives as a relic in fixed expressions, sayings, and proverbs.

The present subjunctive is typically formed by taking the verb stem and adding *-e* (which looks exactly like the infinitive minus the final *-n*).

### Celebrations and Determination

During traditional festivals or when giving a toast, you will often hear wishes expressed using these fixed forms. For example, *leve* (long live) is the subjunctive of *leven*.

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When expressing extreme determination, Dutch speakers frequently use the phrase *koste wat het kost* (whatever the cost / at any cost), which features the subjunctive form of *kosten*.

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### Formal Wishes and Acceptance

Another common relic is *moge* (may), from the verb *mogen*. It is used at the beginning of a sentence to express a formal hope or blessing for the future.

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The verb *zijn* (to be) has a highly irregular present subjunctive form: *zij*. It survives almost exclusively in phrases of resignation, most notably *het zij zo* (so be it).

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You will frequently encounter these formulaic phrases as established sayings or proverbs.

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### Dramatic Idioms

You will occasionally spot this formulaic *-e* ending in other theatrical idioms. For example, *gebeuren* becomes *gebeure* in "whatever happens," and *redden* becomes *redde* in the classic warning "every man for himself."

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Formulaic subjunctive (leve, koste wat het kost)

adjective

adverb

conjunction

determiner

determiner/pronoun

interjection

noun

numeral

particle

preposition

pronoun

sentence

verb

Singular pronouns and 'to be' (ik ben, hij is)

The formal 'you' (u bent)

Definite articles (de, het)

Plural pronouns and 'to be' (wij zijn)

The verb 'to have' (hebben)

Basic word order

Numbers 1 to 10 (een, twee, drie)

Verb stems and the 'I' form (ik werk)

Long vowels in verb stems (maken, ik maak)

Short vowels in verb stems (zitten, ik zit)

Present tense singular (-t)

Present tense plural (-en)

Yes/no questions

Question words (wie, wat, waar)

Noun negation (geen)

Plural nouns (-en)

Plural nouns (-s)

Diminutives (-je)

Adjective modifiers (heel, erg, te)

Verb negation (niet)

Singular possessives (mijn, jouw, zijn, haar)

Plural and formal possessives (ons/onze, jullie, hun, uw)

This and these (deze, dit)

That and those (die, dat)

Asking which (welke, welk)

Numbers 11 to 20 (elf, twaalf, dertien...)

Tens and compound numbers (dertig, veertig...)

Ordinal numbers 1st to 10th (eerste, tweede...)

Telling time: hours and half hours (uur, half)

Telling time: quarters (kwart over, kwart voor)

Question words (hoeveel, waarom)

Irregular verbs (doen, gaan, staan, zien, komen)

Adjective endings (+e)

Adjectives with 'het' words

Prepositions of place (uit, bij)

Subject-verb inversion

Time before place

Modal verbs (willen, kunnen)

Modal verbs (moeten, mogen)

The verb bracket

Separable prefix verbs

The imperative mood (kom, luister)

Singular object pronouns (mij, jou, hem, haar)

Plural and formal object pronouns (ons, jullie, hen, u)

Reflexive verbs and pronouns (zich, me, je)

Position of negation (niet)

The present perfect tense with regular verbs (hebben gewerkt)

The present perfect tense with motion verbs (zijn gegaan)

Irregular past participles (gezien, gedaan)

The present continuous (zijn aan het)

There is / there are (er is, er zijn)

Unstressed there (er)

And, but, or (en, maar, of)

Because (want)

Months of the year

Prepositions of time (om, van ... tot)

Greetings and politeness

Conversational glue

Prepositions with days (op)

Prepositions with seasons (in)

Genitive of time ('s morgens, 's nachts)

Adverbs of frequency (altijd, vaak)

The future tense (gaan)

The future tense (zullen)

Separable verbs with auxiliary verbs

Apostrophe plurals ('-s)

Irregular plurals (-eren)

Complex diminutives (-pje, -etje, -kje)

Possessive 's (Jan's, vaders)

Indefinite pronouns (iets, niemand, alles)

Indefinite subject pronoun (je)

Reciprocal pronoun (elkaar)

Comparative adjectives (-er dan)

Comparatives with spelling change (-der)

Superlative adjectives (-st)

Irregular comparisons (beter, meer, minder)

Expressing preference (graag, liever, het liefst)

Equality comparisons (even ... als)

Fixed prepositions

That clauses (dat)

Because clauses (omdat)

If and when clauses (als)

Inversion after clauses

Separable verbs in clauses

Negation in clauses (niet)

Past tense of to be (was / waren)

Past tense of to have (had / hadden)

Question	Answer
to raise (e.g. a glass)	heffen
prosperity	de voorspoed
Raise the glass to mother's prosperity!	Hef het glas op moeders voorspoed!
the majesty	de majesteit
We raise our glasses and shout: long live the majesty!	We heffen onze glazen en roepen: leve de majesteit!
the toast	de toost
Listen to the toast and raise your glass!	Luister naar de toost en hef je glas!
Father's toast must be perfect, whatever the cost.	Vaders toost moet perfect zijn, koste wat het kost.
May the future bring you much prosperity.	Moge de toekomst je veel voorspoed brengen.
So be it, said the majesty.	Het zij zo, zei de majesteit.
the victory	de zege
May the best person win and achieve the victory!	Moge de beste winnen en de zege behalen!
the saying / proverb	de spreuk
eternal / eternally	eeuwig
We remember the saying: the victory is eternal.	Wij onthouden de spreuk: de zege is eeuwig.
He wants to stay eternally young, at any cost.	Hij wil eeuwig jong blijven, koste wat het kost.
'So be it' is a famous saying.	'Het zij zo' is een bekende spreuk.
to keep watch / to watch over	waken
May no one keep watch alone here.	Moge niemand hier alleen waken.
Watch over mother's stuff, whatever happens!	Waak over moeders spullen, wat er ook gebeure!
determined	vastberaden
the sacrifice	het offer
Stay determined and accept that sacrifice!	Blijf vastberaden en accepteer dat offer!
Everything for that sacrifice, every man for himself!	Alles voor dat offer, redde wie zich redden kan!
Whatever the cost, the soldier remains determined.	Koste wat het kost, de soldaat blijft vastberaden.
the faith / the belief	het geloof
The faith remains eternal.	Het geloof blijft eeuwig.
They make a sacrifice for the faith.	Zij brengen een offer voor het geloof.
to pray	bidden
We pray resolutely for prosperity.	Wij bidden vastberaden om voorspoed.
The monarch prays and watches.	De majesteit bidt en waakt.
the sky / heaven	de hemel
The saying is about heaven.	De spreuk gaat over de hemel.
They raise the glass to the sky.	Zij heffen het glas naar de hemel.

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