Short Vowels and Double Consonants
In Dutch, some verbs use a double consonant to keep a vowel sound short before the -en infinitive ending. Plural subjects like wij (we) use this full infinitive form.
| We are sitting on the bed. | We zitten op het bed. |
The "Ik" Form (The Stem)
To find the verb stem for ik (I), drop the -en from the infinitive. For zitten, this leaves zitt.
Because Dutch words never end in double identical consonants, we drop one to get the correct stem: zit.
| I am sitting on the chair. | Ik zit op de stoel. |
This rule applies to all verbs with a short vowel followed by a double consonant, like bellen (to call) and kennen (to know).
| I am calling the doctor today. | Ik bel vandaag de arts. |
| I do not know the woman. | Ik ken de vrouw niet. |
Adding "-t" for Other Subjects
Just like other regular verbs, form the verb for jij, hij, zij, or het by taking the stem and adding -t. For pakken (to take), the stem pak becomes pakt.
| The man takes the chair. | De man pakt de stoel. |
If the stem already ends in a -t (like zit), you do not add a second one. Because Dutch spelling avoids double identical consonants at the end of a word, ik zit and hij zit are spelled exactly the same.