T-rules


The T-rules are a set of conjugation rules used in the Dutch language to determine whether the second person singular/plural and the first and third person singular of a verb end in -t or not. These rules are related to the 't kofschip-rule, which is used to determine the verb end for past tenses and participles. The combined sets of rules are also known as the d/t-rules.
  • Ik drink nooit t never drink t)
  • Jij drinkt alleen t only drink t
  • Gij drinkt altijd t always drinkst t)
  • U drinkt enkel t only drink t)
  • Hij drinkt enkel t only drinks t)

Second person pronouns

The pronoun jij/je only calls for the verb to end in -t if it precedes the verb, and if the verb is in the present simple or present perfect indicative. Modal verbs and the future/conditional auxiliary zullen allow forms with and without -t.
  • Jij gaat naar school.
  • Ga jij naar school?
  • Je zou naar school gaan.
  • Jij ging naar school.
  • Je kan naar school gaan.
  • Je kunt naar school gaan.
  • Kun je naar school gaan?
  • Je zal naar school gaan.
  • Je zult naar school gaan.
  • Zul je naar school gegaan zijn?
If the stem of the verb ends in -t, the jij form always ends in -t:
  • Jij rust.
  • Rust jij?
With the verbs houden, rijden and verbs derived from them, the -d of the radical can be dropped if it is not followed by -t. In a formal context, usually the d is not dropped.
  • Hou jij van bloemen
  • Houd jij van bloemen
  • Jij houdt van bloemen

''Jullie'' (2nd plural)

The pronoun jullie always makes the verb end in -en. The ending -t is also possible, but this form is archaic.
  • Jullie lopen naar school.
  • Jullie loopt naar school.

''Gij/ge'' (2nd sing./plur.)

The pronoun gij/ge makes the verb end in -t, whether the pronoun precede or follow the verb. Modal and auxiliary forms also end in -t. This pronoun is used informally in spoken language in North Brabant and Flanders only. Its written form only appears in archaic texts where it compares to English thou.
  • Gij gaat naar school.
  • Gaat gij naar school.
  • Ge zoudt naar school gaan.
  • Gij gingt naar school.
  • Ge kunt naar school gaan.
No extra -t is added if the verb stem already end in -t. The ending -t is added after -d:
  • Gij rust.
  • Houdt gij van bloemen?
  • Gij houdt van bloemen
In the subjunctive and in the regular past, the -t survives only as an archaic form:
  • Gij neme een lepel suiker.
  • Werkte ge hard?
In informal speech, the verb ends in -de or -te, if gij follows the verb. In very informal speech, the subject is dropped altogether. The -e ending after the stem is a remnant of the Middle Dutch pronoun di which, over the centuries, developed into a clitic.
  • Zijde gij blind! Ziede dat nu niet?

Third person singular and ''u''/''U''

The rules for third person singular subjects and the pronoun u/''U are the same: the verb takes -t in the simple present and present perfect tense of the indicative. Modal verbs and zullen have forms without -t. This pronoun is formal and is used in both written and spoken language. The spelling with a capital U'' is very formal and is used for royalty or deities.
  • Hij gaat naar school.
  • Gaat u naar school.
  • Hij zou naar school gaan.
  • U ging naar school.
  • Zij kan naar school gaan.
The first person singular for non-modal verb is identical to the radical. The form can end in a vowel or in a consonant. For the verbs houden, rijden and their derivatives, the -d of the radical can be dropped in spoken language. In a formal context, the d is not dropped.
  • Ik ga naar school
  • Ik rust
  • Ik hou van bloemen
  • Ik houd van bloemen