The Dutch verb "kennen" means "to know (people/places)" in English. It is a regular verb. Below you'll find the complete conjugation tables for "kennen" across all 6 tenses. New to Dutch verbs? Start with the Dutch verb guide.
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How to Conjugate "kennen" in the Present Tense
Onvoltooid tegenwoordige tijd Actions happening now or regularly| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ik | I | ken |
| jij/je | you (informal) | kent |
| hij/zij/het | he/she/it | kent |
| wij/we | we | kennen |
| jullie | you all | kennen |
| zij/ze | they | kennen |
Hij kent het antwoord op de vraag.
He knows the answer to the question.
How to Conjugate "kennen" in the Simple Past Tense
Onvoltooid verleden tijd Completed actions in the past| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ik | I | kende |
| jij/je | you (informal) | kende |
| hij/zij/het | he/she/it | kende |
| wij/we | we | kenden |
| jullie | you all | kenden |
| zij/ze | they | kenden |
Hij kende het antwoord op de vraag.
He knew the answer to the question.
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Voltooid tegenwoordige tijd Completed actions with present relevance| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ik | I | heb gekend |
| jij/je | you (informal) | hebt gekend |
| hij/zij/het | he/she/it | heeft gekend |
| wij/we | we | hebben gekend |
| jullie | you all | hebben gekend |
| zij/ze | they | hebben gekend |
Hij heeft haar lang gekend.
He has known her for a long time.
How to Conjugate "kennen" in the Past Perfect Tense
Voltooid verleden tijd Actions completed before another past action| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ik | I | had gekend |
| jij/je | you (informal) | had gekend |
| hij/zij/het | he/she/it | had gekend |
| wij/we | we | hadden gekend |
| jullie | you all | hadden gekend |
| zij/ze | they | hadden gekend |
Zij had de weg gekend.
She had known the way.
How to Conjugate "kennen" in the Future Tense
Onvoltooid tegenwoordige toekomende tijd Actions that will happen| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ik | I | zal kennen |
| jij/je | you (informal) | zult kennen |
| hij/zij/het | he/she/it | zal kennen |
| wij/we | we | zullen kennen |
| jullie | you all | zullen kennen |
| zij/ze | they | zullen kennen |
Hij zal de regels goed kennen.
He will know the rules well.
How to Conjugate "kennen" in the Conditional Tense
Onvoltooid verleden toekomende tijd Hypothetical situations and polite requests| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ik | I | zou kennen |
| jij/je | you (informal) | zou kennen |
| hij/zij/het | he/she/it | zou kennen |
| wij/we | we | zouden kennen |
| jullie | you all | zouden kennen |
| zij/ze | they | zouden kennen |
Hij zou de weg kennen.
He would know the way.
Frequently Asked Questions About "kennen"
Is "kennen" regular or irregular in Dutch?
"Kennen" is a regular Dutch verb that follows standard conjugation patterns for its verb group.
What does "kennen" mean in English?
The Dutch verb "kennen" means "to know (people/places)" in English.
How do you conjugate "kennen" in the present tense?
In the present tense (Onvoltooid tegenwoordige tijd): ik → ken, jij/je → kent, hij/zij/het → kent, wij/we → kennen, jullie → kennen, zij/ze → kennen.
How many tenses does "kennen" have in Dutch?
"Kennen" is conjugated across 6 tenses in Dutch: Present, Simple Past, Present Perfect, Past Perfect, Future, Conditional.
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