In a previous lesson, you learned about the "double infinitive" rule for modal verbs in the perfect tense. This same rule—using two infinitives at the end of the sentence instead of a past participle—also applies to several other types of verbs.
Verbs of Perception
When you talk about seeing (zien) or hearing (horen) someone do something in the past, you use the double infinitive. Just like with modals, the conjugated auxiliary verb is hebben.
| Subject | Auxiliary | Rest of sentence | Perception Infinitive | Main Infinitive |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ik | heb | de clown | horen | lachen. |
| I heard the clown laugh. | Ik heb de clown horen lachen. |
Remember that the conjugated auxiliary sits in the second position (or moves to the front for a yes/no question), while the two infinitives are pushed all the way to the end.
| Did you see the acrobat fall? | Heb jij de acrobaat zien vallen? |
Verbs of Motion and Position
Verbs that describe motion or a state of position—such as gaan (to go), komen (to come), and blijven (to remain/stay)—also trigger the double infinitive when combined with another verb.
However, because these verbs express a change of state or motion, they use zijn as their auxiliary verb instead of hebben.
| There is a show and we went to watch. | Er is een show en wij zijn gaan kijken. |
| He remained standing in the circus. | Hij is in het circus blijven staan. |
The Causative Verb "laten"
The verb laten means "to let" or "to make" (as in, causing someone else to do something). It also follows the double infinitive rule in the perfect tense and uses the auxiliary hebben.
| We let the elephant bow. | Wij hebben de olifant laten buigen. |
| The magician let the trick fail in the show. | De goochelaar heeft de truc in de show laten falen. |