Learn how to use the Dutch words 'er' and 'daar' to express presence and location, with examples like 'Er is een stoel' (There is a chair) and 'Daar ligt mijn jas' (There lies my coat).
  1. 'Er' indicates the presence of something, as in 'Er is een stoel.'
  2. 'Daar' refers to a specific location, as in 'Daar staat de tafel.'
  3. 'Er' is often used as a placeholder in sentences with an indefinite subject.
Er is + onbepaald lidwoordEr is een stoel in de kamer. (There is a chair in the room.)
Er zijn + meervoudEr zijn 2 slaapkamers. (There are 2 bedrooms.)
Daar + werkwoord + onderwerpDaar ligt mijn jas. (There lies my coat.)
Daar woont mijn oma. (There lives my grandmother.)

Exercise 1: Gebruik van 'er' en 'daar'

Instruction: Fill in the correct word.

Show translation Show answers

Er, er, daar

1.
In de woonkamer staat een bank, maar ... is geen tafel.
(In the living room there is a sofa, but there is no table.)
2.
De trap leidt naar boven, ... is de slaapkamer.
(The stairs lead upstairs, there is the bedroom.)
3.
Ze werkt ... vier dagen per week.
(She works there four days a week.)
4.
Wij wonen ..., vlakbij het station.
(We live there, near the station.)
5.
... is een mooie tuin achter het huis.
(There is a beautiful garden behind the house.)
6.
... zijn veel winkels in deze buurt.
(There are many shops in this neighbourhood.)

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct solution

1. ___ is een bed in de slaapkamer.

(___ is a bed in the bedroom.)

2. ___ staat de kast naast het raam.

(___ is the cupboard next to the window.)

3. ___ zijn drie stoelen aan de tafel.

(___ are three chairs at the table.)

4. ___ hangt een schilderij aan de muur.

(___ hangs a painting on the wall.)

5. ___ is geen lamp in deze kamer.

(___ is no lamp in this room.)

6. ___ woont mijn tante op de tweede verdieping.

(___ lives my aunt on the second floor.)

Understanding the Use of er and daar in Dutch

This lesson focuses on the Dutch words er and daar, which are often used to indicate presence and location respectively. These words are fundamental for describing where things are or stating that something exists within a certain context.

Key Uses of er

Er is commonly used to express the presence or existence of something. It typically appears in sentences with an indefinite article or plural noun.

  • Er is + indefinite article: Used when there is one singular item.
    Example: Er is een stoel in de kamer. (There is a chair in the room.)
  • Er zijn + plural noun: Used to talk about multiple items.
    Example: Er zijn 2 slaapkamers. (There are 2 bedrooms.)

Key Uses of daar

Daar refers to a specific location and is usually followed by a verb and the subject.

  • Daar + verb + subject: States where something is located.
    Examples: Daar ligt mijn jas. (There lies my jacket.)
    Daar woont mijn oma. (There lives my grandmother.)

Summary of Differences

Er highlights the existence or presence of objects or people without specifying a precise location, whereas daar points to an exact place.

Relevant Notes on Dutch Compared to English

English often uses "there is" or "there are" to indicate presence, similar to Dutch er is and er zijn. However, Dutch uses daar more explicitly to indicate a specific place, which in English is usually shown by "there" without a verb inversion, like "There lies the jacket." In Dutch, sentence order changes after daar, placing the verb immediately after it.

Useful Phrases & Words

  • Er is een bed in de slaapkamer. — There is a bed in the bedroom.
  • Er zijn drie stoelen aan de tafel. — There are three chairs at the table.
  • Daar hangt een schilderij aan de muur. — There hangs a painting on the wall.
  • Daar woont mijn tante op de tweede verdieping. — My aunt lives there on the second floor.

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This content has been designed and reviewed by the coLanguage pedagogical team: About coLanguage

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Kato De Paepe

Business and languages

KdG University of Applied Sciences and Arts Antwerp

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Last Updated:

Thursday, 17/07/2025 20:45