't kofschip

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The 't kofschip rule (also called 't fokschaap, 't fokxschaap^{[citation needed]}, 't ex-kofschip, 't ex-fokschaap, soft ketchup^{[citation needed]}, schoftkip^{[citation needed]} or even xtc koffieshop^{[citation needed]}) is a rule that determines the endings of a regular Dutch verb in the past simple indicative/subjunctive and the ending of the past participle. This rule may not be confused with the so-called T-rules(t-regels).

1 The rule
2 Verbs with a root on e
3 Verbs with a root on ' (apostrophe)
4 Exceptions
5 References

[edit] The rule

The rule goes as follows:

If the verb-root ends in one of the consonants of 't kofschip, being t,f,k,s,ch,p or x=(ks) (j,q?), then the past simple ends on -te and the past participle on -t, if the verb-root ends on any other consonant or a vowel (except the e, see later), the past simple ends on -de and the past participle on -d.

For example:

rusten (to rest): verb root = rust ==> past simple: ik rustte, past participle: gerust
werken (to work): verb root = werk ==> past simple: ik werkte, past participle: gewerkt
spelen (to play): verb root = speel ==> past simple: ik speelde, past participle: gespeeld
leven (to live): verb root = leev ==> past simple: ik leefde, past participle: geleefd
crashen (to crash): verb root = crash ==> past simple: ik crashte, past participle: gecrasht
bingoën (to play bingo): verb root = bingo ==> past simple: ik bingode, past participle: gebingood

[edit] Verbs with a root on e

If the verb root ends on an e, one must check the previous letter and use the 't kofschip-rule on this letter^{[^{citation needed]}}, if this letter is still an e, than the past simple ends on -de and the past participle on -d.

For example

timen (to time): verb root = time ==> past simple: ik timede, past participle: getimed
racen (to race): verb root = race ==> past simple: ik racete, past participle: geracet
deleten (to delete): verb root = delete ==> past simple: ik deletete, past participle: gedeletet (the middle "e" in between both "t"s remains silent, so the t's are pronounced as one)
sleeën (to sleigh): verb root = slee ==> past simple: ik sleede, past participle: gesleed

[edit] Verbs with a root on ' (apostrophe)

If the verb root ends on an apostrophe, one must check the previous letter and use the 't kofschip-rule on this letter.

For example

sms'en (to send an sms): verb root = sms' ==> past simple: ik sms'te, past participle: gesms't
gsm'en (to phone using a mobil phone): verb root = gsm' ==> past simple: ik gsm'de, past participle: gegsm'd

[edit] Exceptions

There are (at least) two exceptions two these rules:

petanquen (to play petanque): verb root = petanque; but past simple: ik petanquete, past participle gepetanquet
- This is due to the fact that, in Dutch, a q is always followed by a u, if this were not the case, the verb would be "petanqen" (root "petanq"), since q en k are pronounced the same "petanqen" would follow the t kofschip rule
- petanquen is the only Dutch verb with a root on q
ramsjen (to sell something very cheap to get rid of it): verb root = ramsj; but past simple: ik ramsjte, past participle geramsjt
- ramsjen is the only Dutch verb with a root on j