Plurals: -en, -s, and apostrophe-s
In the Schrijven (Writing) exam, plural mistakes cost points immediately. If you write twee kind or drie autoos, the examiner will deduct points for spelling or grammaticale correctheid. Most Dutch plurals use -en or -s, but there are specific spelling rules you must follow to keep your score high.
1. The Standard -en Plural
Most words get -en. However, Dutch spelling rules for long and short vowels apply here:
- Short vowels (Double the consonant): To keep a short sound, double the consonant.
kat(cat) becomes katten.bus(bus) becomes bussen.
- Long vowels (Drop one vowel): To keep a long sound in an open syllable, drop the second vowel.
maan(moon) becomes manen.boot(boat) becomes boten.
2. The f/v and s/z Shift
This is a major distractor trap in reading and a common error in writing. When a word ends in -f or -s, it often changes to -v or -z before adding -en.
| Singular | Plural | Note |
|---|---|---|
| huis | huizen | The s becomes z |
| brief | brieven | The f becomes v |
| fles | flessen | Short vowel, so double the s instead |
3. When to use -s
Words that end in unstressed sounds like -el, -er, -en, -em usually just get an -s.
tafel(table) → tafelskamer(room) → kamerskeuken(kitchen) → keukens
4. The Apostrophe Rule ('s)
If a word ends in a "long" vowel (a, i, o, u, y), you must use an apostrophe before the s. Without it, the pronunciation changes, and it is marked as a spelling error.
auto→ auto'sfoto→ foto'staxi→ taxi'sbaby→ baby's
5. Irregular Plurals to Memorize
On the Formulier task, you will often see questions about your family. You must know these two irregulars:
kind(child) → kinderenei(egg) → eieren
Exam Tip: Look for keywords like twee, veel, sommige (some), or alle (all). These signal that the following noun must be plural.