When forming the past participle of a standard Dutch verb, you usually add the prefix ge-. However, if a verb starts with an inseparable, unstressed prefix—such as be-, er-, ge-, her-, ont-, or ver-—you drop the ge- entirely.
| Infinitive | Prefix | Root + Ending | Past Participle |
|---|---|---|---|
| betalen | be | taald | betaald |
| veranderen | ver | anderd | veranderd |
| beloven | be | loofd | beloofd |
These verbs still take regular endings (using the 't kofschip rule for -t or -d) or maintain their irregular forms; they simply skip the ge- at the beginning.
The Prefix "ver-"
Many common verbs start with ver-. Whether the verb is regular or irregular, the past participle will not have a ge-.
| I have forgotten my debit card. | Ik ben mijn bankpas vergeten. |
| I did not expect that balance. | Ik heb dat saldo niet verwacht. |
The Prefix "be-"
The world of personal finance and banking relies heavily on verbs starting with be-, such as betalen (to pay), beheren (to manage), and besparen (to save). Just like with ver-, these past participles jump straight into the prefix.
| We have paid the amount. | Wij hebben het bedrag betaald. |
| Who has managed your money? | Wie heeft uw geld beheerd? |
| I have saved a lot of time. | Ik heb veel tijd bespaard. |
The Prefix "ont-"
Similarly, verbs starting with ont- skip the ge-. An important financial verb is ontvangen (to receive). It has an irregular past participle that looks identical to its infinitive.
| I received the loan yesterday. | Ik heb de lening gisteren ontvangen. |
| I have received the income and paid the amount. | Ik heb het inkomen ontvangen en het bedrag betaald. |
