Relative pronouns (die, dat, wat, wie)

1. What are Dutch relative pronouns?

• Relative pronouns link two parts of a sentence.
• In this chapter you work with: die, dat, wie, wat.
• They replace English who, that, which, what, whoever.

Goal for you: After this explanation, you can choose die / dat / wie / wat with confidence.

2. First decision: de-word or het-word?

The most important question is:

“What word does the relative pronoun refer to?”

• If that word is a de-word → usually die
• If that word is a het-word (singular) → usually dat

• Plural is simple: always die, never dat.
• Only singular het-words use dat.

3. Quick choice routine: 3 steps

1. Find the noun you are talking about.
   • Example: Ik volg een dieet. Het dieet is streng.
   • Noun: dieet.
2. Check type of noun.
   • de-word? → die
   • het-word singular? → dat
   • plural? → die
3. Combine the sentences.
   • Ik volg een dieet. Het dieet is streng.
   • → Ik volg een dieet dat streng is.

Self-check: Can you do the same with:

• Ik heb een collega. De collega werkt in het ziekenhuis.
  Expected: Ik heb een collega die in het ziekenhuis werkt.
• Ik lees rapporten. De rapporten zijn vertrouwelijk.
  Expected: Ik lees rapporten die vertrouwelijk zijn.

4. Typical mistakes with die and dat

At A2, two mistakes are very common.

• Using “dat” with a de-word

Wrong:

De persoon dat ik gisteren sprak, werkt in de zorg.

Correct:

De persoon die ik gisteren sprak, werkt in de zorg.

Why? persoon is a de-word → use die.

• Using “dat” with a plural

Wrong:

De ingrediënten dat je toevoegt, zijn vers.

Correct:

De ingrediënten die je toevoegt, zijn vers.

Rule: plural → die, never dat.

5. When do you use wat?

Wat has two main uses at this level:

1. After indefinite words
2. After a whole idea or sentence

5a. Wat after indefinite words (everything, something, nothing)

• After alles (everything)
• After iets (something)
• After niets (nothing)
• Sometimes after veel, weinig without a noun

Examples:

• Alles wat ik vandaag eet, is gezond.
  (“Everything that I eat today is healthy.”)
• Ik zoek iets wat snel klaar is.
  (“I’m looking for something that is quick to prepare.”)
• Er is niets wat ik echt wil veranderen.
  (“There is nothing that I really want to change.”)

Typical error:

Alles die ik vandaag eet, is gezond. → Alles wat …

5b. Wat for a whole idea (“which / something that”)

Sometimes wat refers not to one word, but to the whole sentence before it.

• In English: “which”, or “something that”.

Examples:

• Hij werkt ’s nachts, wat heel vermoeiend is.
  (“He works at night, which is very tiring.”)
• Ik mag thuis werken, wat ik heel prettig vind.
  (“I’m allowed to work from home, which I find very pleasant.”)

At A2 you do not need to produce this form actively yet, but it helps to recognise it while reading.

6. When do you use wie?

Wie is used for people, but in a different way than die.

• Die → refers to a concrete noun before it.
  • De collega die naast mij zit …
• Wie → has no noun before it. It stands alone.
  • “Whoever …”, “Anyone who …”

Typical patterns:

• Wie + bijzin (subclause with verb at the end)

Examples:

• Wie veel sport, is vaak fitter.
  (“Whoever exercises a lot is often fitter.”)
• Wie gezond eet, heeft meer energie.
  (“Anyone who eats healthily has more energy.”)

Important:

• You cannot say De persoon wie … in standard Dutch.
• Use: De persoon die …

7. Word order in relative clauses

After die, dat, wie, wat, you get a subordinate clause (bijzin).

In a subordinate clause, the finite verb goes to the end.

Common A2 error:

De cliënt die ik zie morgen, wil afvallen.

Correct:

De cliënt die ik morgen zie, wil afvallen.

8. Mini checklist: die, dat, wie, wat

Use this checklist when you are unsure.

1. Do you have a noun before the gap?
   • Yes → go to step 2.
   • No → probably wie (for people) or wat (for things/ideas).
2. Is the noun singular or plural?
   • Plural → die.
   • Singular → go to step 3.
3. Is the singular noun a de-word or het-word?
   • de-word → die.
   • het-word → dat.
4. Is the word “alles / iets / niets / veel / weinig” without a noun?
   • Then use wat.

9. Short translation aid (to avoid English traps)

Be careful: English and Dutch do not match 1:1.

Tip: Do not simply translate English “who/that/which” mechanically. First check: de/het, singular/plural, or “alles/iets/niets”.

10. Self-check: do I really understand this?

Answer these questions for yourself. If you can answer them, you are ready to use this in conversation.

1. Can I look at a noun and say quickly: de-word → die, het-word → dat, plural → die?
2. Do I know that alles / iets / niets need wat?
3. Do I recognise that wie is used without a noun before it (“Wie veel sport …”)?
4. Do I remember to put the verb at the end of the clause after die/dat/wie/wat?

If one of these points is not clear yet, read the matching section again, then create 2–3 of your own short sentences and say them out loud. This will make using die, dat, wie, wat in real conversation much easier.