Dutch verb reference · frequency-list position 5,081

bevatten conjugation and meaning

to contain. Use this reference to retrieve the standard present and past anchors, check the participle, and then move the verb into a complete spoken message.

Corpus and license boundary.

The exact lemma appears at position 5,081 in the cited OpenSubtitles-derived Dutch 50k token list. That is a corpus signal, not search volume or a claim that every sense is equally common. Forms, glosses, pronunciation and cited examples are adapted from English Wiktionary via Kaikki under CC BY-SA 4.0. See sources and modifications.

How bevatten is pronounced

IPA: /bəˈvɑtə(n)/ · Syllables: be·vat·ten

Pronunciation can vary by region and speaking context. Treat the transcription as a compact reference, then compare it with current native audio and practise the verb inside a phrase rather than as an isolated sound.

What bevatten means

01

to contain

02

to comprehend

The English gloss identifies a sense, not a one-word substitution that works in every sentence. Check the object, preposition, reflexive pronoun or separable element in the Dutch example before transferring the verb to a new situation.

Bevatten conjugation table

TenseSubjectDutch form
Presentikbevat
Presentjij (subject first)bevat
Presenthij/zij/hetbevat
Presentwij/jullie/zijbevatten
Simple pastsingularbevatte
Simple pastpluralbevatten
Past participlebevat

The table shows the standard subject-first jij anchor. Inversion after jij and formal u can require a different surface form. For separable verbs, the cited forms may already show the element in its natural main-clause position. In perfect constructions, choose the auxiliary required by the actual meaning and construction; do not attach hebben or zijn mechanically.

Translated bevatten examples

01

Het bevatte drie doosjes en een steen.

It contained three boxes and a stone.

02

Dat kon ik niet bevatten.

I couldn't comprehend that.

These examples are citation-backed language data. Use them to notice the verb's partners and sentence position. Then change only one detail at a time—subject, time, place or object—so that your next sentence stays grammatical and remains connected to a real communicative purpose.

Turn the reference into speaking practice

  1. Read the first example once and identify the finite verb, subject and any required particle or preposition.
  2. Build a new present-tense message with bevat or bevat and add a concrete time or place.
  3. Move the same event into the past with bevatte; keep the meaning stable while changing the timeline.
  4. Use bevat in a complete result message after checking the correct auxiliary for that construction.

Record all four messages without restarting. Listen once for meaning and sentence order, then once for the target form. Correct only the first error that changes meaning or blocks the listener, and repeat the sentence with one new detail. This creates retrieval practice rather than table recitation.

Self-check

  • The chosen sense matches the situation.
  • The finite form agrees with the subject.
  • The time marker and verb tense tell the same timeline.
  • Any separable element, reflexive pronoun, object or fixed preposition is present.
  • The sentence contains enough detail for another person to respond.

Questions about bevatten

What does bevatten mean?

to contain; to comprehend.

What is the past tense of bevatten?

The cited standard singular anchor is bevatte and the plural anchor is bevatten.

What is the past participle of bevatten?

The cited past participle is bevat. Verify the auxiliary in the sentence you actually want to say.

Use bevatten in a recorded answer

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