The exact lemma appears at position 14,603 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 waarnemen is pronounced
IPA: /ˈʋaːrˌneː.mə(n)/ · Syllables: waar·ne·men
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 waarnemen means
to perceive, to observe, to notice, to sense
to be acting, to temporarily assume the duties of another person
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.
Waarnemen conjugation table
| Tense | Subject | Dutch form |
|---|---|---|
| Present | ik | neem waar |
| Present | jij (subject first) | neemt waar |
| Present | hij/zij/het | neemt waar |
| Present | wij/jullie/zij | nemen waar |
| Simple past | singular | nam waar |
| Simple past | plural | namen waar |
| Past participle | — | waargenomen |
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 waarnemen examples
Ik kan de geur van vers gebakken brood waarnemen.
I can perceive the smell of freshly baked bread.
De vice-president zal de taken van de president waarnemen tijdens zijn afwezigheid.
The vice-president will assume the duties of the president during his absence.
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 neem waar or neemt waar and add a concrete time or place.
- Move the same event into the past with nam waar; keep the meaning stable while changing the timeline.
- Use waargenomen 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 waarnemen
What does waarnemen mean?
to perceive, to observe, to notice, to sense; to be acting, to temporarily assume the duties of another person.
What is the past tense of waarnemen?
The cited standard singular anchor is nam waar and the plural anchor is namen waar.
What is the past participle of waarnemen?
The cited past participle is waargenomen. Verify the auxiliary in the sentence you actually want to say.
Use waarnemen in a recorded answer
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