A weak verb: if the stem of the infinitive ends in t, k, f, s, ch or p (remember ’t kofschip), the past takes -te and the participle -t, otherwise -de and -d: belde, gebeld. → Werkte or woonde: the regular imperfect
Every sentence comes from this course’s word lists or grammar topics. The verb form is highlighted, and the line below says which tense and person it is.
We moeten de loodgieter bellen.We have to call the plumber.
bellen — Onvoltooid tegenwoordige tijd · wij/we; Onvoltooid tegenwoordige tijd · jullie
Ik bel je vanavond. Er wordt gebeld!I will call you tonight. Somebody is ringing!
gebeld — voltooid deelwoord
Er belt iemand aan.Somebody is ringing the doorbell.
Op welk tijdstip kan ik u bellen?At what time can I call you?
bellen — Onvoltooid tegenwoordige tijd · wij/we; Onvoltooid tegenwoordige tijd · jullie
Tijdens de les mag je niet bellen.During the lesson you may not use your phone.
bellen — Onvoltooid tegenwoordige tijd · wij/we; Onvoltooid tegenwoordige tijd · jullie
More example sentences
Bel me maar na het eten.Ring me after dinner.
Ik belde de huisarts, maar die was in gesprek.I rang the GP, but the line was busy.
Je kunt me altijd bellen, ook 's nachts.You can call me at any time, even at night.
Mistakes English speakers often make
WrongIk heb gisteren mijn zus gebelt.
RightIk heb gisteren mijn zus gebeld.
The stem bel ends in l, not in a sound from ’t kofschip, so the participle ends in -d: gebeld, belde. You hear a t at the end, but you write a d. English “called” has a d sound.
Common word combinations
iemand terugbellen— to ring someone back
aan de bel trekken— to sound the alarm
bellen met iemand— to phone someone
Easily confused verbs
opbellenopbellen is “to ring up”, a little more old-fashioned than bellen.
aanbellenaanbellen is to ring a doorbell, not to phone: De postbode belt aan.
Quick practice
5 gaps, first from the example sentences above, then from the table. Every answer counts towards your reviews.
The forms are calculated from the rules of the language — twice, in two independent ways — and checked against every hand-written form in this course. The example sentences are the course’s own.