verklaren en 30 secondes
- Verklaren is a Dutch verb meaning to explain a reason or to make an official declaration.
- It is inseparable (ver- stays with the stem) and a weak verb (verklaarde, verklaard).
- It is more formal than 'uitleggen' and is common in news, science, and law.
- Common phrases include 'de liefde verklaren' and 'iemand voor gek verklaren'.
The Dutch verb verklaren is a versatile and essential word that every learner should master as they progress from A2 to higher levels. At its core, it means 'to make clear', 'to explain', or 'to declare'. While English speakers might initially reach for the word 'uitleggen' when they want to say 'to explain', verklaren carries a slightly more formal, official, or logical weight. It is the difference between explaining how to bake a cake (uitleggen) and explaining the scientific reason why the cake rises (verklaren).
- The Logical Explanation
- When you use 'verklaren' in a scientific or analytical context, you are identifying the cause or reason behind a phenomenon. For example, a scientist might 'verklaren' why the climate is changing by pointing to CO2 emissions.
De wetenschapper probeert de resultaten te verklaren.
- The Official Declaration
- In legal or formal contexts, 'verklaren' means to state something officially. This could be a witness in court making a statement or a government declaring a state of emergency.
You will encounter this word in news reports, academic texts, and formal conversations. If someone says 'Ik kan het niet verklaren', they aren't just saying they can't describe it; they are saying they cannot find a logical reason or cause for it. This nuance is vital for sounding more like a native speaker. In romantic contexts, 'de liefde verklaren' is the standard way to say 'to profess one's love', which sounds much more poetic and deliberate than simply saying you like someone. Furthermore, in everyday Dutch, you might hear 'iemand voor gek verklaren', which idiomatically means to think someone is completely out of their mind. This demonstrates the range of the word from the highly formal to the colloquially expressive.
Hij besloot haar eindelijk de liefde te verklaren.
- Legal Contexts
- The term 'verklaring' (the noun form) is used for a 'statement' or 'declaration'. In a police report, your 'verklaring' is your official version of events.
Understanding the prefix 'ver-' is also helpful. In Dutch, 'ver-' often indicates a change of state or a process. Since 'klaar' means clear or finished, 'verklaren' literally means 'to make clear'. This etymological link helps English speakers connect it to the English word 'clarify'. However, 'verklaren' covers more ground than 'clarify' does. It is also used when a judge declares a suspect guilty ('schuldig verklaren') or when a customs officer asks if you have anything to 'declare' (aangeven is more common there, but verklaren can be used for official statements of goods).
De rechter zal hem morgen schuldig verklaren.
Kunt u uw aanwezigheid daar verklaren?
In summary, use 'verklaren' when the situation requires more than a simple set of instructions. Use it for reasons, logic, official statements, and deep personal admissions. It is a powerful verb that elevates your Dutch from basic communication to nuanced expression.
Using verklaren correctly requires an understanding of its grammar as an inseparable prefix verb and its various collocations. Because it is inseparable, the 'ver-' always stays attached to the stem, and in the past participle, it does not get an extra '-ge-'. So, it is 'ik verklaar', 'ik verklaarde', and 'ik heb verklaard'. This makes it easier to conjugate than many other Dutch verbs.
- Standard SVO Structure
- In a simple sentence, the subject comes first, followed by the conjugated form of 'verklaren'. For example: 'De krant verklaart de nieuwe regels' (The newspaper explains the new rules).
Zij verklaart waarom zij te laat was.
- Using with 'Dat' Clauses
- Often, 'verklaren' is followed by a subclause starting with 'dat' (that) or a question word like 'waarom' (why) or 'hoe' (how). Note that in the subclause, the verb moves to the end.
De getuige verklaarde dat hij de dader niet had gezien.
One of the most common ways to use 'verklaren' is in the passive voice, especially in news reporting. 'Er werd verklaard dat...' (It was stated that...). This allows the speaker to focus on the information being given rather than who is giving it. Additionally, when declaring someone to be something (like 'guilty' or 'insane'), the structure is: [Subject] + [verklaren] + [Object] + [Adjective]. For instance: 'De arts verklaarde hem gezond' (The doctor declared him healthy).
De directeur verklaarde de vergadering voor geopend.
- Reflexive Usage
- While rare, you might see 'zich verklaren' in older or very formal texts, meaning to explain oneself or one's actions.
When you want to emphasize the thoroughness of an explanation, you can use 'nader verklaren' (to explain further/in more detail). This is a common phrase in business meetings. 'Kunt u dat nader verklaren?' is a polite way to ask for a more detailed breakdown of a proposal. In academic writing, you will often use 'verklaren' to link a cause to an effect: 'Dit fenomeen kan worden verklaard door...' (This phenomenon can be explained by...).
De stijging van de prijzen is moeilijk te verklaren.
De overheid verklaarde de noodtoestand.
Mastering these patterns will allow you to navigate both formal Dutch society and complex intellectual discussions. Whether you are in a courtroom, a laboratory, or a romantic dinner, 'verklaren' gives you the linguistic tools to state your truth clearly and effectively.
You will hear verklaren in several distinct 'real-world' environments in the Netherlands and Flanders. Understanding these contexts will help you recognize the tone and intent of the speaker. It is not a word you typically hear shouted across a football pitch, but it is ubiquitous in media, professional life, and serious personal interactions.
- The Evening News (Het Journaal)
- News anchors use 'verklaren' constantly. They report on what politicians have 'verklaard' (stated) regarding new policies. If there is a mysterious event, experts are brought in to 'verklaren' the situation.
De minister verklaarde dat er geen extra geld beschikbaar is.
- Legal and Official Settings
- If you ever have to go to the 'gemeente' (municipality) or a police station, you might be asked to sign a 'verklaring'. This is your formal declaration. In court, a judge might 'iemand schuldig verklaren' (declare someone guilty).
In a professional office environment, 'verklaren' is used during presentations and meetings. If a project fails or succeeds beyond expectations, the manager will want to 'de resultaten verklaren'. It implies a deep dive into the data to find the 'why'. It is more professional than 'uitleggen'. If a colleague says, 'Ik kan zijn gedrag niet verklaren', they are expressing genuine confusion about someone's motives, often implying the behavior was irrational.
De analist probeert de beursval te verklaren.
- Romantic Literature and Film
- The phrase 'de liefde verklaren' is a staple of Dutch romantic storytelling. It is the moment of truth where one character tells another how they feel. It is solemn and life-changing.
In schools and universities (onderwijs), teachers ask students to 'hun antwoord te verklaren'. This means the student shouldn't just give the answer, but show the logic or the steps taken to reach it. In this context, it's about proving understanding. You will also see it on exams: 'Verklaar je nader' (Explain yourself further/Elaborate).
Je moet je antwoord op de toets altijd verklaren.
De politie verklaarde dat het onderzoek nog loopt.
Finally, in casual Dutch, you'll hear the expression 'voor gek verklaren'. If you tell a friend you want to swim in the North Sea in January, they might say: 'Ik verklaar je voor gek!' (I think you're crazy!). It's a colorful way to use a formal verb in a lighthearted, everyday conversation. By paying attention to these different settings, you'll start to feel the 'weight' of the word 'verklaren' and use it with the same precision as a native speaker.
Even though verklaren is a regular verb, English speakers often stumble over its usage and its distinction from similar Dutch words. The most common error is confusing it with 'uitleggen'. While they both translate to 'explain', they are not always interchangeable. 'Uitleggen' is for instructions and simple clarity; 'verklaren' is for reasons, causes, and declarations.
- Mistake 1: Separation Anxiety
- Many learners try to separate 'verklaren' like they do with 'uitleggen'. They might incorrectly say 'Ik klaar het ver'. This is wrong. 'Verklaren' is inseparable. The 'ver-' never leaves the stem.
Fout: Ik klaar de situatie ver.
Goed: Ik verklaar de situatie.
- Mistake 2: The 'Ge-' in Past Participles
- Because 'verklaren' starts with an unstressed prefix (ver-), it does NOT take 'ge-' in the past participle. Saying 'Ik heb geverklaard' is a very common mistake. The correct form is 'Ik heb verklaard'.
Another mistake involves the preposition used with 'verklaren'. When you declare someone *to be* something, you often use 'voor'. For example: 'voor gek verklaren' (to declare as crazy) or 'voor geopend verklaren' (to declare as opened). English speakers often forget the 'voor' or try to use 'als', which sounds unnatural in these specific idioms. However, in legal terms like 'schuldig verklaren', no 'voor' is used. This inconsistency can be tricky.
Fout: De burgemeester verklaarde de brug open.
Goed: De burgemeester verklaarde de brug voor geopend.
- Mistake 3: Over-formalizing
- Using 'verklaren' when you just want to explain how to get to the train station makes you sound like a textbook or a lawyer. In casual settings, stick to 'uitleggen'.
Finally, watch out for the noun 'verklaring'. It can mean 'explanation' or 'declaration/statement'. Learners sometimes use 'uitleg' (the noun for uitleggen) when they mean an official statement. If you are talking about a statement given to the police, it must be 'verklaring'. If you are talking about a teacher's explanation of a grammar rule, 'uitleg' is better. Mixing these up won't make you misunderstood, but it will mark you as a non-native speaker.
Zijn verklaring was niet erg geloofwaardig.
Zij heeft haar acties nog niet kunnen verklaren.
By avoiding these pitfalls, your Dutch will sound much more natural and precise. Pay close attention to how natives use 'verklaren' in newspapers versus how they use 'uitleggen' in the kitchen!
To truly master verklaren, you must understand its neighbors in the Dutch language. There are several verbs that share its semantic space, and choosing the right one depends on the level of formality and the specific type of 'explaining' or 'declaring' you are doing.
- Verklaren vs. Uitleggen
- This is the most frequent comparison. 'Uitleggen' is the everyday word for 'to explain'. It is used for instructions, meanings of words, or how something works. 'Verklaren' is for finding the reason why something happened or making an official statement.
Example: 'Ik leg de grammatica uit' (I explain the grammar) vs. 'Ik verklaar de historische oorzaak' (I explain the historical cause).
Kun je me dit even uitleggen? (Can you explain this to me? - common/casual)
- Verklaren vs. Toelichten
- 'Toelichten' means 'to clarify' or 'to elaborate'. It is often used in professional settings when you want someone to provide more detail on a point they just made. It is less about 'why' and more about 'more info'.
Example: 'Kunt u uw standpunt toelichten?' (Could you elaborate on your viewpoint?).
Other alternatives include 'beweren' (to claim), which is used when the truth of the statement is not yet proven, and 'bevestigen' (to confirm), which is used when a statement is made to agree with a previous one. If you are 'declaring' something like goods at customs, the correct word is 'aangeven'. If you are 'declaring' a winner, you might use 'uitroepen' (e.g., 'iemand tot winnaar uitroepen').
De getuige beweert dat hij onschuldig is.
- Verklaren vs. Vertellen
- 'Vertellen' is simply 'to tell'. Use this for stories or sharing information without the 'clarifying' or 'official' aspect of 'verklaren'.
In scientific contexts, you might also see 'duiden'. This means to interpret or explain the significance of something. It is very high-level Dutch. For example, a political analyst 'duidt de verkiezingsuitslag' (interprets the election results). While 'verklaren' looks for the cause, 'duiden' looks for the meaning.
De expert duidt de laatste trends op de markt.
Heeft u iets aan te geven? (Do you have anything to declare?)
By learning these distinctions, you avoid the 'one-word-fits-all' trap that many students fall into. Using 'verklaren' in the right context shows that you understand not just the word, but the Dutch culture of precision and formality.
Exemples par niveau
Ik kan het niet verklaren.
I cannot explain it.
Simple present tense negative.
Hij verklaart de regels.
He explains the rules.
Subject-Verb-Object.
Zij verklaart haar naam.
She explains her name.
Possessive pronoun usage.
De man verklaart de weg.
The man explains the way.
Definite article 'de'.
Kunt u dat verklaren?
Can you explain that?
Question with modal verb 'kunnen'.
Ik verklaar de liefde.
I declare my love.
Fixed expression.
Zij verklaart het plan.
She explains the plan.
Simple present.
Het kind verklaart de tekening.
The child explains the drawing.
Neuter noun 'het kind'.
De minister verklaarde dat hij ging stoppen.
The minister stated that he was going to stop.
Past tense with a 'dat' subclause.
Ik verklaar je voor gek!
I think you're crazy! (lit: I declare you for crazy)
Idiomatic use with 'voor'.
De politie heeft de oorzaak verklaard.
The police have explained the cause.
Present perfect tense.
Zij verklaarde waarom ze te laat was.
She explained why she was late.
Past tense with 'waarom' subclause.
De arts verklaart hem gezond.
The doctor declares him healthy.
Declaring someone a certain state.
Kun je je gedrag verklaren?
Can you explain your behavior?
Modal verb and possessive.
Hij heeft zijn onschuld verklaard.
He has declared his innocence.
Present perfect with 'zijn'.
De krant verklaart de nieuwe wet.
The newspaper explains the new law.
Inanimate subject.
De wetenschapper kon de resultaten niet verklaren.
The scientist could not explain the results.
Past tense modal 'kon'.
Er werd verklaard dat de vlucht vertraagd was.
It was stated that the flight was delayed.
Passive voice 'er werd verklaard'.
Zij verklaarde haar acties tijdens de vergadering.
She explained her actions during the meeting.
Prepositional phrase 'tijdens de vergadering'.
De rechter verklaarde de verdachte schuldig.
The judge declared the suspect guilty.
Legal terminology.
Hoe verklaar je deze stijging in de verkoop?
How do you explain this increase in sales?
Interrogative with 'hoe'.
De getuige legde een valse verklaring af.
The witness gave a false statement.
Noun 'verklaring' with the verb 'afleggen'.
De burgemeester verklaarde het festival voor geopend.
The mayor declared the festival open.
Formal idiom 'voor geopend verklaren'.
Dit fenomeen is moeilijk te verklaren.
This phenomenon is difficult to explain.
Structure 'te' + infinitive.
De psycholoog probeerde het trauma te verklaren.
The psychologist tried to explain the trauma.
Infinitive construction with 'te'.
De overheid heeft de noodtoestand verklaard.
The government has declared a state of emergency.
Official state declaration.
Hij verklaarde zich nader over zijn plannen.
He explained himself further about his plans.
Reflexive 'zich verklaren'.
De resultaten kunnen worden verklaard door de nieuwe methode.
The results can be explained by the new method.
Passive voice with modal 'kunnen'.
Zij verklaarde plechtig dat ze de waarheid sprak.
She solemnly declared that she was speaking the truth.
Adverb 'plechtig'.
De oorlog werd officieel verklaard op 10 mei.
War was officially declared on May 10th.
Passive past tense.
Kunt u de discrepantie in de cijfers verklaren?
Can you explain the discrepancy in the figures?
Formal vocabulary 'discrepantie'.
Het succes van de film is deels te verklaren door de marketing.
The success of the film can be partly explained by the marketing.
Adverb 'deels'.
De filosoof poogde het menselijk bestaan te verklaren.
The philosopher attempted to explain human existence.
Formal verb 'pogen'.
Zijn zwijgen kan als een bekentenis worden verklaard.
His silence can be interpreted as a confession.
Complex passive construction.
De directie verklaarde dat zij niet aansprakelijk was.
The board stated that they were not liable.
Legal term 'aansprakelijk'.
Men verklaarde hem unaniem tot winnaar.
He was unanimously declared the winner.
Adverb 'unaniem'.
De tekst is lastig te verklaren zonder context.
The text is difficult to explain without context.
Adjectival phrase 'lastig te verklaren'.
Zij verklaarde dat zij nimmer dergelijke uitspraken had gedaan.
She declared that she had never made such statements.
Formal 'nimmer' and 'dergelijke'.
De econoom verklaarde de inflatie aan de hand van diverse factoren.
The economist explained the inflation using various factors.
Phrase 'aan de hand van'.
Hij werd krankzinnig verklaard door de commissie.
He was declared insane by the committee.
Passive with 'door'.
De verdediging verklaarde het bewijs nietig.
The defense declared the evidence void/invalid.
Legal term 'nietig'.
Zijn handelen is geenszins te verklaren vanuit moreel oogpunt.
His actions cannot be explained at all from a moral point of view.
Formal 'geenszins' and 'oogpunt'.
De soevereiniteit van het land werd plechtig verklaard.
The sovereignty of the country was solemnly declared.
Abstract noun 'soevereiniteit'.
Men kan deze paradox slechts verklaren door diepere analyse.
One can only explain this paradox through deeper analysis.
Formal 'men' and 'slechts'.
Zij verklaarde zich bereid om de taak op zich te nemen.
She declared herself willing to take on the task.
Reflexive phrase 'zich bereid verklaren'.
De auteur verklaart de ondergang van het rijk in zijn nieuwste boek.
The author explains the downfall of the empire in his latest book.
Literary context.
De overeenkomst werd door beide partijen voor bindend verklaard.
The agreement was declared binding by both parties.
Passive with 'voor bindend'.
Hij verklaarde dat zijn geweten hem geen andere keus liet.
He stated that his conscience left him no other choice.
Abstract subject 'geweten'.
Summary
Verklaren is your 'heavyweight' verb for explaining. Use it when you need to provide a logical reason, a scientific cause, or an official statement. Remember: no 'ge-' in the past participle! Example: 'Ik kan dit resultaat niet verklaren' (I cannot explain this result).
- Verklaren is a Dutch verb meaning to explain a reason or to make an official declaration.
- It is inseparable (ver- stays with the stem) and a weak verb (verklaarde, verklaard).
- It is more formal than 'uitleggen' and is common in news, science, and law.
- Common phrases include 'de liefde verklaren' and 'iemand voor gek verklaren'.
Contenu associé
Plus de mots sur academic
aanduidig
B1Indicating or pointing out
aanleiding
B1L'occasion ou la cause immédiate d'un événement.
aanname
B1The action of accepting something as true.
aannemelijkheid
B1La vraisemblance d'une explication est essentielle pour convaincre un jury.
aanschouwing
B1The act of observing
aantoonbaar
B1Able to be proven
abstract
C1Existant en pensée ou comme une idée mais n'ayant pas d'existence physique.
accumuleren
C1Accumuler signifie rassembler ou acquérir un nombre croissant de quelque chose au fil du temps, comme de l'argent ou des connaissances. (Gathering or acquiring an increasing number of something over time, like money or knowledge.)
afgeleid
C1Obtained from or drawn from a source.
afleiden
C1To deduce or infer from evidence.
