The exact lemma appears at position 903 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 voorstellen is pronounced
IPA: /ˈvoːrˌstɛ.lə(n)/ · Syllables: voor·stel·len
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 voorstellen means
to present, to put forth, to introduce
to propose, to suggest
to imagine
Usage label: reflexive
to amount to, to matter, to be important
to represent, to depict
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.
Voorstellen conjugation table
| Tense | Subject | Dutch form |
|---|---|---|
| Present | ik | stel voor |
| Present | jij (subject first) | stelt voor |
| Present | hij/zij/het | stelt voor |
| Present | wij/jullie/zij | stellen voor |
| Simple past | singular | stelde voor |
| Simple past | plural | stelden voor |
| Past participle | — | voorgesteld |
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 voorstellen examples
Ik wil graag mijn collega aan je voorstellen.
I would like to introduce my colleague to you.
Hij heeft een plan om kostenbesparingen voor te stellen.
He has a plan to propose cost savings.
Kun je een oplossing voorstellen voor dit probleem?
Can you suggest a solution for this problem?
De werkgroep zal een nieuw beleid voorstellen aan het management.
The task force will propose a new policy to the management.
De Schaal van Kardasjev is een door de Russische astronoom Nikolaj Kardasjev voorgestelde indeling voor de technologische ontwikkeling van beschavingen.
The Kardashev scale is a system proposed by the Russian astronomer Nicolai Kardashev for classifying the technological development of civilizations.
Hij kan zich niet voorstellen hoe moeilijk het is.
He can't imagine how difficult it is.
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
- Read the first example once and identify the finite verb, subject and any required particle or preposition.
- Build a new present-tense message with stel voor or stelt voor and add a concrete time or place.
- Move the same event into the past with stelde voor; keep the meaning stable while changing the timeline.
- Use voorgesteld 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 voorstellen
What does voorstellen mean?
to present, to put forth, to introduce; to propose, to suggest; to imagine; to amount to, to matter, to be important; to represent, to depict.
What is the past tense of voorstellen?
The cited standard singular anchor is stelde voor and the plural anchor is stelden voor.
What is the past participle of voorstellen?
The cited past participle is voorgesteld. Verify the auxiliary in the sentence you actually want to say.
Use voorstellen in a recorded answer
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