Adjective agreement
In Dutch, adjectives (describing words) change their ending based on the noun they follow. Most of the time, you simply add an -e to the adjective. However, there is one specific trap involving het-words that you must master.
The Standard Rule: Add -e
You add an -e to the adjective in almost all common situations. This applies to:
- All de-words (e.g., de stad, de fiets).
- All plural nouns (e.g.,
boeken,kinderen). - All het-words when they are used with het, dit, dat, or possessives like mijn or uw.
| Phrase Type | Dutch Example | Why? |
|---|---|---|
| De-word | een grote stad | Stad is a de-word. |
| Plural | mooie bloemen | Plurals always get an -e. |
| Het-word (Definite) | het grote huis | Het triggers the -e. |
| Possession | mijn nieuwe adres | Mijn triggers the -e. |
The Exception: The 'Het-word + Een' Trap
This is the only situation where you do not add an -e. If a noun is a het-word and it is used with the word een (or no article at all), the adjective stays in its short form.
Use this checklist for NO -e:
- Is the noun a het-word? (e.g.,
huis,land,kind,paspoort,formulier) - Is there an een before the adjective?
- If both are YES, use the short form: een groot land.
Comparison Table
Look at how the ending changes for the het-word kind (child):
| Dutch | English | Pattern |
|---|---|---|
| het kleine kind | the small child | het + adjective + e |
| mijn kleine kind | my small child | mijn + adjective + e |
| een klein kind | a small child | een + adjective (short form) |
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Practice questions
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