Let's go over Dutch pronouns and the verb "to be" (zijn), which is essential for forming basic sentences in Dutch.
Dutch has a set of personal pronouns similar to English, used in subject and object positions.
English | Dutch |
|---|---|
I | Ik |
You | Jij / je / u (formal) |
He | Hij / ze |
She | Zij / ze |
It | het |
We | Wij / we |
You | Jullie |
They | Zij / ze |
English | Dutch |
|---|---|
Me | mij / me |
You (singular, informal) | jou / je |
You (singular, formal) | u |
Him | hem |
Her | haar |
It | het |
Us | ons |
You (plural) | jullie |
Them | hen / hun / ze |
Note: "Jij" and "je," "zij" and "ze," "wij" and "we" are interchangeable, but the shorter forms ("je," "ze," "we") are used more casually and often in conversation.
"Zijn" is an irregular verb in Dutch, and it’s one of the most frequently used verbs. Here is the conjugation of "zijn" in the present tense:
English | Dutch |
|---|---|
I am | ik ben |
You are (informal) | jij bent |
You are (formal) | u bent |
He/She/It is | Hij / Zij / Het is |
We are | Wij zijn |
You are (plural) | Jullie zijn |
They are | Zij zijn |
Examples: "Ik ben blij." = "I am happy." / "Jij bent student." = "You are a student." / "Wij zijn hier." = "We are here."
Questions: Like in other Dutch questions, the subject and verb switch positions.
Example: "Ben jij blij?" = "Are you happy?"
Negatives: Add "niet" (not) after the verb to negate.
Example: "Ik ben niet blij." = "I am not happy."