Anna test de microfoon.

Anna

Breakdown of Anna test de microfoon.

• testen: to test
• de microfoon: the microphone

Questions & Answers about Anna test de microfoon.

Why is the verb test not written as tests (like English) or testet (like German)?

Dutch infinitives typically end in -en, here testen. The stem is test-, which already ends in t. In the present tense you add -t to that stem for third-person singular (hij/zij/het). Because the stem ends in t, you do not double it. So both hij test and Anna test use exactly test. Dutch also never adds an -s to the verb in this form.

What is the infinitive form of test?

The infinitive is testen (“to test”). All present-tense forms are built on that stem.

How do you conjugate testen in the present tense?

It’s a regular (weak) verb. Present tense:
• ik test
• jij test (in questions or after jij)
• hij/zij/het test
• wij/jullie/zij testen

Why does microfoon take de and not het?

Dutch nouns are either de-words (common gender) or het-words (neuter). Microfoon is a common-gender noun, so it takes de. You must memorize each noun’s article or check a dictionary.