The Prefix ver-
In Dutch, you can often turn an adjective or a noun into a verb by adding the prefix ver- (along with the standard verb ending -en). These verbs express a transition or a change in state, usually meaning "to become" or "to make."
For example, taking ouder (older) gives us verouderen (to age). The same applies to nouns like kleur (color) to form verkleuren (to discolor), or adjectives like slechter (worse) to form verslechteren (to deteriorate).
| This wallpaper will age quickly. | Dit behang zal snel verouderen. |
| The floor discolors because of the sun. | De vloer verkleurt door de zon. |
| The condition of the roof is deteriorating. | De staat van het dak verslechtert. |
Upgrading the Home
This prefix is extremely useful when talking about home renovations. From warm (warm) we get verwarmen (to heat), and from duurzaam (sustainable) we get verduurzamen (to make sustainable).
| They heat the house with wood. | Zij verwarmen het huis met hout. |
| You really must make this old house sustainable. | Jullie moeten dit oude huis echt verduurzamen. |
Resizing and Reinforcing
When changing the physical dimensions or structure of a house, ver- verbs are everywhere. If you want to make something bigger (groot), you use vergroten (to enlarge). To make something smaller (klein), you use verkleinen.
| We want to enlarge the bathroom. | We willen de badkamer vergroten. |
| Why do you want to make the bedroom smaller? | Waarom wil je de slaapkamer verkleinen? |
Similarly, breed (wide) becomes verbreden (to widen).
| We are widening the driveway for the new car. | Wij verbreden de oprit voor de nieuwe auto. |
Other common structural changes include verlichten (to illuminate, from licht) and verstevigen (to reinforce, from stevig).
| These large windows illuminate the attic perfectly. | Deze grote ramen verlichten de zolder perfect. |
| We are reinforcing the ceiling, so that it does not collapse. | We verstevigen het plafond, zodat het niet instort. |