Practice: Time Markers: Imperfect

Vroeger (formerly), toen (then/when), in + year, and frequency words like altijd / nooit / vaak / soms used in a past narrative all signal the imperfectum. They describe how things were or what used to happen.

Net / zojuist (just now), al (already), nog niet (not yet), vandaag / deze week / dit jaar, and gisteren / vorige week signal the perfectum — they frame actions as recently completed or relevant to the present.

Toen refers to a specific moment or period in the past. Dan means "then" in a present or future sequence, or in a conditional result. Never use dan to refer back to a past moment.