Learn Dutch: Ik heb dat saldo niet verwacht. - I did not expect that balance.

The verb is verwachten (to expect). Because it starts with the unstressed prefix ver-, it is an inseparable verb. For these verbs, you do not add the standard ge- to the beginning to make the past participle.

How do we know what letter verwacht should end with?

To make a regular past participle, you normally add a -t or -d to the verb's stem. The stem of verwachten is verwacht. Since it already ends in a -t, we do not add another one. The past participle is simply verwacht.

Why is niet placed after dat saldo instead of right after the verb heb?

In Dutch, the negating word niet (not) generally comes after a specific direct object, like dat saldo (that balance). It is placed near the end of the sentence, right before the past participle (verwacht).

Why does the sentence use dat saldo instead of die saldo for "that balance"?