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This lesson covers negation in Dutch using 'niet' and 'geen', teaching how to negate verbs, adjectives, and nouns with examples like 'Ik heb geen geld' and 'Hij is niet vriendelijk' for effective communication at A1 level.
  1. 'Niet' usually comes after the verb or before the word that is negated.
  2. In a sentence with an infinitive, niet is usually placed after the infinitive, except when there is also a conjugated verb in the main clause.
TypePositief (Positive)Negatief (Negative)
Zelfstandig naamwoord zonder lidwoord (Noun without article)Ik heb geld.Ik heb geen geld.
Werkwoord (Verb)

Wij gaan zwemmen.

Wij werken.

Wij gaan niet zwemmen.

Wij werken niet.

Infinitief

Wij werken.

Ik kan zwemmen.

Wij werken niet.

Ik kan niet zwemmen.

Bijvoeglijk naamwoord (Adjective)Hij is vriendelijk.Hij is niet vriendelijk.

Exercise 1: Negatie

Instruction: Fill in the correct word.

Show translation Show answers

geen, niet

1.
Mijn zus is ... zo open over haar gevoelens.
(My sister is not so open about her feelings.)
2.
Het is ... slimme jongen.
(He is not a clever boy.)
3.
We hebben elkaar gisteren ... ontmoet.
(We did not meet each other yesterday.)
4.
Hij lijkt onvriendelijk, want hij toont ... interesse.
(He seems unfriendly because he shows no interest.)
5.
Het is ... eerlijk.
(It is not fair.)
6.
De jongen is ... zo gesloten als zijn vader.
(The boy is not as reserved as his father.)

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct solution

1. Ik vind hem ______ vriendelijk.

(I do not find him ______ friendly.)

2. Zij heeft ______ geduld.

(She has ______ patience.)

3. Wij spreken ______ hard.

(We speak ______ loudly.)

4. Hij is ______ spontaan.

(He is ______ spontaneous.)

5. Ik heb ______ overzicht.

(I have ______ overview.)

6. Jij kunt ______ goed luisteren.

(You can ______ listen well.)

Understanding Negation in Dutch

This lesson focuses on the basic rules of negation in Dutch, a fundamental aspect of everyday communication. You'll learn how to use the two main negative words: niet and geen, and when to apply each one correctly depending on the type of word or phrase being negated.

When to Use 'geen'

Geen is used to negate nouns that appear without an article (such as 'a' or 'the'). It is typically used to express the absence of something.

  • Example: Ik heb geen geld. (I have no money.)
  • This negative form directly replaces a positive noun phrase without an article, turning it into a negation.

When to Use 'niet'

Niet is used primarily to negate verbs, adjectives, infinitives, and other parts of speech. Its placement is flexible but generally follows the word or phrase it negates.

  • Example with a verb: Wij gaan niet zwemmen. (We are not going swimming.)
  • Example with an adjective: Hij is niet vriendelijk. (He is not friendly.)
  • Example with an infinitive: Ik kan niet zwemmen. (I cannot swim.)

Positioning of 'niet' in Sentences

In sentences containing an infinitive verb, niet is usually placed after the infinitive unless there is another conjugated verb in the main clause, which can affect the position.

Summary of Key Points

  • Geen negates nouns without articles.
  • Niet negates verbs, adjectives, infinitives, and is placed close to the word it negates.
  • The correct placement of niet is essential for natural and clear sentence structure.

Differences Between English and Dutch Negation

Unlike English, where the basic negation word is not and is combined with the auxiliary verbs, Dutch uses two distinct words for negation: niet and geen. English does not have a direct equivalent to geen; negation with nouns simply involves the use of no or not any. For example, no money corresponds to geen geld.

In English, not is placed directly before an adjective or after auxiliary verbs, similar to the Dutch niet. However, Dutch places niet differently based on sentence structure, which learners should pay attention to.

Useful Dutch Expressions with Negation

  • Ik heb geen tijd. — I don't have time.
  • Hij is niet blij. — He is not happy.
  • Wij gaan niet mee. — We are not joining.

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Kato De Paepe

Business and languages

KdG University of Applied Sciences and Arts Antwerp

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Last Updated:

Friday, 18/07/2025 01:47