Dutch for Beginners: To Have

The verb "hebben" (to have) is another important word. It is used both as a notional verb meaning "to possess, to own" and as an auxilary verb.

The key forms of the verb are as follows:

Tegenwoordige tijd	Present tense
Ik heb	I have
Jij hebt / heb jij (*)	You have (informal, singular)
Hij, zij heeft	He, she has
U heeft (**)	You have (polite, singular or plural)
Wij hebben	We have
Jullie hebben	You have (informal, plural)
Zij hebben	They have

(*) In so-called inverted sentences (such as questions), where the personal pronoun follows the verb, "heb" (instead of "hebt") is used with "jij". E.g., "Jij hebt een boek" = "You have a book"; but: "Heb jij een boek?" = "Do you have a book?"

(**) "U hebt" is sometimes also used.

Verleden tijd	Past tense
Ik had	I had
Jij had	You had (informal, singular)
Hij, zij had	He, she had
U had	You had (polite, singular or plural)
Wij hadden	We had
Jullie hadden	You had (informal, plural)
Zij hadden	They had

Voltooide tijd	Perfect tense
Ik heb gehad	I have had
Jij hebt gehad	You have had (informal, singular)
Hij, zij heeft gehad	He, she has had
U heeft gehad	You have had (polite, singular or plural)
Wij hebben gehad	We have had
Jullie hebben gehad	You have had (informal, plural)
Zij hebben gehad	They have had