Use of zullen (proposal, promise, probability)

Using zullen: suggestion, promise, probability

zullen is a small verb with three very useful meanings:

• Suggestion: making a plan together.
• Promise: saying what you will do.
• Probability: giving your assumption, your guess.

In English you often translate it with shall, will or will probably.

The 3 main uses with short examples

• Suggestion (we / I + question):
  Zullen we vanavond iets drinken? – Shall we have a drink tonight?
  Zal ik reserveren? – Shall I make a reservation?
• Promise (I / we + statement):
  Ik zal je morgen bellen. – I will call you tomorrow.
  We zullen op tijd zijn. – We will be on time.
• Probability / assumption (often with wel):
  Je zult wel moe zijn. – You are probably tired.
  Zij zullen het wel druk hebben. – They are probably busy.

Forms of zullen (present tense)

*In spoken Dutch you often hear je zal instead of jij zult. Both are correct at A1 level.

Word order: where does zullen go?

Think in two simple steps:

1. zullen is conjugated and stands in the “normal” verb place (second position in the main clause).
2. The main verb (the action) goes at the end in the infinitive form.

• Statement:
  We zullen morgen koken.
  [zullen = 2nd position, koken at the end]
• Yes/no question: put zal/zullen first:
  Zullen we morgen koken?
  [zullen first, then subject, infinitive at the end]

How to make suggestions with zullen

For suggestions, Dutch strongly prefers we or ik in a question.

• Pattern with we:
  Zullen we + infinitive ... ?
  Zullen we vanavond uit eten gaan?
  Zullen we om acht uur afspreken?
• Pattern with ik:
  Zal ik + infinitive ... ?
  Zal ik iets te drinken halen?
  Zal ik de deur openmaken?

These questions sound polite and cooperative. You invite the other person to react.

Common mistake:

• We gaan vanavond naar de film? – This is grammatically okay, but sounds like you already decided.
• Better as a suggestion: Zullen we vanavond naar de film gaan?

How to make promises with zal / zullen

Use a statement, not a question.

• Pattern:
  Subject + zal/zullen + ... + infinitive (end)

Examples:

• Ik zal de offerte morgen versturen. – I will send the quotation tomorrow.
• We zullen u zo snel mogelijk bellen. – We will call you as soon as possible.
• Ik zal vanavond koken. – I’ll cook tonight.

Check yourself:

• If you could add “I promise” in English, you are probably using zal/zullen correctly as a promise.

How to express probability: zullen + wel

For assumptions in Dutch, you usually combine:

• personal form of zullen
• + often wel
• + the main verb (often zijn or a verb of thinking/feeling) at the end.

Patterns:

• Subject + zal/zult/zullen + wel + infinitive (end)
• Subject + zal/zult/zullen + object + wel + infinitive (end)

Examples:

• Je zult wel moe zijn. – You are probably tired.
• Hij zal het wel begrijpen. – He will probably understand it.
• Ze zullen nu wel thuis zijn. – They are probably at home now.

Important:

• wel makes the assumption softer. Without wel, it can sound very sure or even a bit hard.
• Je zult moe zijn = sounds like a strong statement, not a gentle guess.

Choosing between suggestion, promise or probability

Ask yourself one quick question:

• Do I want an answer from the other person?

1. If yes → make a suggestion → use a question.
   Zullen we morgen lunchen?
   Zal ik de agenda sturen?
2. If no, I just say what I will do → it is a promise → use a statement.
   Ik zal morgen de agenda sturen.
3. If no, I am talking about what I think is true now → use probability with wel.
   Hij zal wel thuis zijn.

Typical mistakes and how to avoid them

• 1. Using the wrong person
  Zullen ik iets koken?
  ✔ Zal ik iets koken?
  ik → always zal, never zullen.
• 2. Forgetting the infinitive at the end
  Ik zal morgen.
  ✔ Ik zal morgen bellen.
  ✔ Ik zal morgen komen.
  Ask: “What will I do?” → that verb goes at the end.
• 3. Confusing suggestion with promise
  Zal ik morgen de presentatie geven. (with a dot → looks like a statement, but form is a question)
  ✔ As a suggestion: Zal ik morgen de presentatie geven?
  ✔ As a promise: Ik zal morgen de presentatie geven.
• 4. Forgetting wel in soft assumptions
  Je zult moe zijn na zo’n dag. – can sound very sure / heavy.
  ✔ Je zult wel moe zijn na zo’n dag. – much more natural.

Step-by-step: build your own sentence with zullen

1. Choose the function: suggestion, promise, or probability.
2. Choose the subject: ik, jij, hij, we, jullie, zij.
3. Pick the correct form of zullen: zal or zullen (for jij: zult / zal).
4. Think of the main action → infinitive at the end (gaan, komen, koken, bellen, zijn, begrijpen...).
5. For a suggestion → make it a yes/no question.
   Zullen we …?
6. For a probability → add wel in the middle.

Example 1 (suggestion):

• Goal: suggest coffee.
• Subject: we → zullen.
• Main verb: drinken.
• Result: Zullen we koffie drinken?

Example 2 (promise):

• Goal: promise to send an email.
• Subject: ik → zal.
• Main verb: sturen.
• Result: Ik zal je een e‑mail sturen.

Example 3 (probability):

• Goal: say that your colleague is probably busy.
• Subject: hij → zal.
• Extra: wel.
• Main verb: zijn.
• Result: Hij zal wel druk zijn.

Quick self-check: do I understand zullen?

• Can you make a suggestion with Zullen we ... ? for tonight?
• Can you make a promise with Ik zal ... for tomorrow at work?
• Can you make an assumption with Je zult wel ... zijn. about a colleague?

If you can do these three things, you are ready to use zullen in conversation.