Dutch/Lesson 19
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Advanced level: cycle 5 |
Lesson 19 ~ Lesson 19
Onscheidbare werkwoorden~ Inseparable verbs
• Syntax: separability types |
Separability
editTypes
editThere are three basic kinds of verbs in Dutch in terms of separability
- Basic verbs (current database at nl.wiktionary)
- Basic verbs form their past participle with ge-
- Either they simply consist of a stem: lopen - gelopen
- Or they may have prefixes that are treated as part of the stem; this is the case for all prefixes of Latin origin: degenereren -gedegenereerd
- Separable verbs (current database at nl.wiktionary)
- Separable verbs have a prefix that is separated in some of the tenses, reunited in others
- They form their past participle by inserting -ge- between the prefix and the stem: doorlopen - doorgelopen
- Inseparable verbs (current database at nl.wiktionary)
- Inseparable verbs have a prefix before the stem that does not separate
- The prefix suppresses the ge- prefix of the past participle - onthalen - onthaald
Stress
editThere is a difference in stress between the separable and inseparable prefixes:
- separable prefixes carry stress
- inseparable prefixes never carry stress: the stress is on the stem of the verb
Dual prefixes
editSEP+INSEP+STEM
editVerbs can have more than one prefix. Usually a separable one precedes an inseparable one: e.g. in afbetalen, where af- is separable and be- is inseparable. In such a case the af- prefix will follow the rules for separation:
afbetalen | infinitive | united |
hij besloot af te betalen | the te-form of the infinitive | separates |
hij betaalde af | finite forms in main clauses | separates |
ik geloof dat hij afbetaalt | finite form in subject clauses | reunite |
But the be- prefix will still suppress the ge- prefix in the past participle:
- hij heeft afbetaald (not: *afgebetaald)
INSEP+INSEP+STEM
editThe inseparable prefix "her-" is still somewhat productive and can appear before verbs that already have another inseparable prefix like "be-", as in herbeginnen. Such a verb behaves entirely as an inseparable verb
INSEP+SEP+STEM
editIn a few cases with a reverse order of separability a conflict may arise, e.g. if the inseparable "her-" is put before a separable "in-" as in "herinrichten". Such verbs tend to be incomplete: not all forms are used. One may see a form like "heringericht", but speakers may avoid phrases like "ik richt herin".
Inseparable prefixes
editThe number of truly inseparable prefixes that can only be used as inseparable, is relatively small in Dutch. A few prepositional adverbs like door-, onder- can be used either as separable of as inseparable and were already reviewed in chapter 17.
be-
editMuch like in English the prefix be- 'pins' the action of a verb 'down onto' an object. If the prefix is added to an intransitive verb it often becomes transitive and thus the verb can be used in the passive voice:
- slapen - to sleep
- beslapen - to sleep on something
- het bed is niet beslapen - the bed has not been slept on
- gaan - to go
- begaan - to set foot on, to perpetrate
- onbegaanbaar - inpassible (impossible to set foot on)
ont-
editThis prefix has been largely supplanted in English by a prefix of Latin origin de-
- dooien - to thaw
- ontdooien - to defrost
The prefix mostly indicates an irreversible change or movement away from a previous state
- slapen - to sleep
- ontslapen - to die, to pass away
- zien - to see
- ontzien - to spare someone, to look the other way
It can have the flavor of an antonym at times
- komen - to come
- ontkomen - to escape
- zich kleden - to get dressed
- zich ontkleden - to get undressed
her-
editThis prefix has been supplanted by the Latin prefix re- in English. It means a renewal or a repeated action:
- stellen - to put, to make stand
- herstellen - to repair, to heal
- denken - to think
- herdenken - to commemorate
- kiezen - to choose
- herkiezen - to reelect
ver-
editThis prefix denotes a variety of meaning, some of which correspond to the English prefixes for- and fore-
In general it denotes a change.
- taal - language
- vertalen - to translate
- kort - short
- verkorten - to shorten
- jong
- verjongen - to rejuvenate
It can have the connotation of "change for the worse":
- gaan - to go
- vergaan - to perish
- worden - to become
- verworden - to degenerate, to decay
Some verbs only occur with this prefix:
- vergeten - to forget
- (krijgen, worden) - to get
There is a second prefix ver- with a different pronunciation: a stress carrying /vɛr/ rather than an unstressed /vər/. It is separable and has the meaning of English "far".
- vérspringen - vérgesprongen: to make a long jump
- verspríngen - verspróngen: to tick away, to suddenly change position
ge-
editIn Old Dutch this prefix was used as a general intensifier. Only later did it become a marker for the perfect tenses. English has had a similar development but lost the marker in the past participle. There are a few remnants in English like:
- to rise - to arise
In Dutch the remnants are a bit more numerous.
- denken - to think
- gedenken - to ponder, to consider solemnly
- bieden - to offer, to bid
- gebieden - to command
- dragen - to carry, to wear
- zich gedragen - to comport oneself, to behave
- loven - to praise
- geloven - to believe
- beloven - to promise
Notice that a word like "geboden" could either be the past participle of bieden or of gebieden. It can also be a noun, meaning commandments.
weer-
editThis prefix can convey the meaning of "again" (re-):
- galmen - to sound, to resonate
- weergalmen - to reverberate, to echo
- spiegelen - to mirror
- weerspiegelen - to reflect
However, it can also represent the with- of withstand:
- weerstaan - to withstand
- weerhouden - to withhold, to thwart