Subjunctive in Dutch

Updated on Nov 30, 2023

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The subjunctive mood in Dutch is a verb mood typically used in dependent clauses to express a wish, command, emotion, possibility, uncertainty, doubt, judgment, opinion, necessity, or action that has not yet occurred.

It is also referred to as the conjunctive mood (Dutch: aanvoegende wijs) as it often follows a conjunction. As in English the subjunctive mood in Dutch has gradually been replaced by modal auxiliary verbs. As a consequence of this, its contemporary use is mostly—but not completely—confined to set phrases and semi-fixed expressions. Readers of older Dutch texts frequently encounter the use of the subjunctive.

Present subjunctive

O.T.T. :

First Person: present root + e (ik kome) or if the root ends on a vowel: root (ik ga)

Second Person: present root +et or root +e: gij nemet', zij je, u lette

Third Person: present root +e: hij spele

Plural: present infinitive: wij mogen

V.T.T.: O.T.T. of hebben or zijn + Past Participle: ik hebbe gespeeld, u zij gegaan.

Past subjunctive

O.V.T.:

First Person: past root + e: Ik kwame.

Second Person: past root + e: Hij speelde.

Plural: past infinitive: Wij mochten.

One exception: the past subjunctive of the Dutch verb worden (to become) is wierde(n), not werde(n).

V.V.T.: O.V.T. of hebben (to have) or zijn (to be) + Past Participle: Ik hadde gespeeld, gij waret gegaan.

Future subjunctive

The future subjunctive is mostly a theoretical construct, which has almost never been used.

O.Tk.T.: O.T.T. of zullen + Present Infinitive: ik zulle spelen.

O.V.Tk.T.: O.V.T. of zullen + Present Infinitive: ik zoude spelen.

V.Tk.T.: O.Tk.T. of hebben or zijn + Past Participle: Ik zulle gespeeld hebben, gij zullet gegaan zijn.

V.V.Tk.T.: O.V.Tk.T. of hebben or zijn + Past Participle: Ik zoude gespeeld hebben, gij zoudet gegaan zijn.

Usage

In Dutch, the subjunctive mood can express a

wish: hence, it fulfills the function of the optative mood (wensende wijs) in other languages.

command

condition: hence, it fulfills the function of the conditional mood (voorwaardelijke wijs) in other languages.

irreality: hence, it fulfills the function of the irrealis mood in other languages.

possibility: potentialis

doubt

uncertainty

concession

purpose

exhortation: it fulfills the function of the hortative mood in other languages.

The subjunctive was quite common in the past, and is often encountered in older Dutch texts. It underwent a slow but steady decline in use, first in the spoken language and later in the written language. It was already noted by linguists in the early 20th century that the use of the subjunctive in oral language was rare. By that time the use of the subjunctive in writing was also dwindling, a process that continued throughout the 20th century.

If the subjunctive is used in accordance with the rules mentioned in this article, it is still considered grammatically correct but often sounds archaic or formal. In contemporary Dutch the subjunctive is no longer actively used, save for a few exceptions and a large range of set phrases. Instead the function of the subjunctive has been replaced by a range of auxiliary verbs, the most important of which is "zullen" (will), especially its past tense: "zouden" (would).

Command or wish

The subjunctive can express a wish or command. As such the subjunctive fulfills the function of what is known as the optative mood in some other languages. Example sentences:

Lang leve de koningin! (Long live the queen!)

Mogen zij in vrede rusten. (May they rest in peace.)

Het ga je goed! (May things go well for you!)

God zegene en beware je. (May God bless and save you.)

Het geluk zij met u! (May luck be with you!)

Hiermede moge ik u berichten dat wij uw brief goed hebben ontvangen. (I may inform you that we have received your letter.)

Ware hij toch verstandiger geweest! (I wish he had been wiser!)

U gelieve gepast te betalen. (Please pay in exact change.)

In contemporary Dutch, the optative function of the subjunctive has to a large extent been replaced by the auxiliary verb "zullen" (will) and to a much lesser extent by "laten" (to let). Example sentences: Ik hoop dat hij op tijd zal komen. (I hope he will come on time) and "Laat Uw Naam geheiligd worden." (Let Thy Name be hallowed, instead of "Geheiligd zij Uw Naam" or "Hallowed be Thy Name)." Many religious texts and official government or business letters still make use of the optative subjunctive.

Exhortation

The subjunctive can express an exhortation. Normally the third person is used.

U neme drie eieren. (You should take three eggs.)

De lezer bedenke wel dat dit boek vijftig jaar geleden geschreven is. (The reader should keep in mind that this book was written fifty years ago.)

Men zegge het voort. (One should tell others.)

Men herleze mijn brief. (One should reread my letter.)

De gebruiker lette hierop. (The user should take note of this.)

Irreality

The subjunctive can be used to express an irrealis situation. Example sentences:

De man sprak over de bankoverval als ware het een zondaguitstapje. (The man spoke about the bank robbery as if it were a Sunday trip.)

Concession

The subjunctive can express a concession. Example sentences:

Wie hij ook zij. (Whoever he may be.)

Wat hij ook moge doen. (Whatever he may do.)

Hoe het ook zij. (However it may be.)

Ik ben het met zijn standpunten eens, zij het niet geheel van harte. (I agree with his views, though not wholeheartedly.)

Set phrases

In contemporary Dutch, a wide range of fixed expressions that make use of the conjunctive exist. Some examples are mentioned here.

Proverbs

Some examples:

Gebeure wat gebeuren zal. (What will be, will be.)

Kome wat komen zal. (Come what may...)

Koste wat het kost. (Cost what it will...)

Redde wie zich redden kan. (We will save what we can save.)

Formal and religious language

Some examples:

Lord's Prayer: Onze Vader Die in de Hemelen zijt, geheiligd zij Uw Naam, Uw Rijk kome, Uw Wil geschiede op aarde als in de Hemel. (Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven.)

Oath phrase: Zo waarlijk helpe mij God almachtig. ("So help me God," as used in swearing an oath.)

Set words

In some words, the use of the subjunctive can be seen:

Dankzij from "dank zij" (thanks to)

Hetzij from "het zij" ("be it", either)

Tenzij from "'t en zij" (lit. "it not be", unless)

Godbetert from "God betere het". ((I wish that) God improve it)

Godverdomme from "God verdoeme (het)" ((I wish that) Goddamn(it))

Godzijdank from "God zij dank". (God be thanked)

The composite words can also be split in their components and form a full-fledged sentence.

References

Subjunctive in Dutch Wikipedia

(Text) CC BY-SA

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