Use of adjectives

When do adjectives get -e (and when not)?

In Dutch, an adjective in front of a noun is usually in one of two forms:

• with -e (inflected): gevaarlijk → gevaarlijke
• without -e (base form): gevaarlijk

Your job is to decide: Do I add -e? Use the checklist below.

Step-by-step checklist (fast and reliable)

1. Is there “de” or “het”?

   • de/het + adjective + noun → adjective almost always gets -e

   Examples

   • de gevaarlijke wandeling
   • het veilige plan

2. Is there “een” / “elk” / “geen” / “mijn” etc.?

   • de-word after een (or similar) → adjective gets -e
     een nieuwe hobbyclub
   • het-word after een (or similar) → adjective usually has no -e
     een nieuw abonnement

3. No article at all? (no de/het/een)

   • Then the adjective is often without -e: oud brood, veilig vervoer

Common endings that still take -e

Some adjectives look like they might resist endings, but they still behave normally. With de/het they take -e:

Cases where you do not add -e (even if you expect it)

• Past participles used as adjectives often stay without -e (especially in set patterns):

  • een geschreven letter
  • een gekregen boek

• Rechter / linker often have no -e when they are part of one fixed word (a compound):

  • aan de rechterkant (one word: rechterkant)
  • aan de linkerkant
  • aan de rechte kant (wrong here)

Important exception: speaking in general (no article + singular)

If you mean something in general, Dutch often uses:

• singular noun + no article

In that case, with a het-word, the adjective stays without -e:

• Goed onderwijs is belangrijk. (onderwijs is a het-word)
• Nieuw personeel vraagt tijd. (general statement)

Compare (general vs. specific):

• Nieuw beleid kost tijd. (policy in general)
• Het nieuwe beleid kost tijd. (this specific policy)

Mini self-check (before you answer)

1. Do I see de/het? → yes: usually -e

2. Do I see een/elk/geen/mijn? → check if the noun is a de-word (→ -e) or a het-word (→ often no -e)

3. No article? → often no -e (oud brood)

4. Is it rechter/linker as one word with the noun? → no -e (rechterkant)

5. Am I talking in general (no article + singular)? → especially with a het-word, often no -e