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This lesson covers negation in Dutch using the words 'niet' and 'geen'. Learn how to say sentences like 'Ik werk niet' (I do not work) and 'Ik heb geen auto' (I have no car), focusing on their correct placement.
  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.
Type (Type)Positief (Positive)Negatief (Negative)

 

Zinnen met niet (Sentences with not)

Werk je? (Do you work?)

Studeren jullie? (Are you studying?)

Nee, ik werk niet.  (No, I do not work.)

Nee, wij studeren niet. (No, we do not study.)

Werk je in Utrecht? (Do you work in Utrecht?)

Studeren jullie in Amsterdam? (Do you study in Amsterdam?)

Wij Nee, ik werk niet in Utrecht. (We No, I do not work in Utrecht.)

Nee, wij studeren niet in Amsterdam. (No, we do not study in Amsterdam.)

Zinnen met geen (Sentences with geen)

Werk je hard? (Do you work hard?)

Spreken jullie goed Nederlands? (Do you speak Dutch well?)

Nee, ik werk niet hard. (No, I do not work hard.)

Nee, wij spreken niet goed Nederlands. (No, we do not speak Dutch well.)

Heb je een auto?  (Do you have a car?)

Spreek je Chinees? (Do you speak Chinese?)

Hebben jullie kinderen? (Do you have children?)

Nee, ik heb (No, I have no)geen auto. 

Nee, ik spreek (No, I speak)geen Chinees.

Nee, wij hebben (No, we have)geen kinderen.

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 ben ___ vriendelijk.

(I am ___ friendly.)

2. Zij heeft ___ geduld.

(She has ___ patience.)

3. Wij spreken ___ hard.

(We speak ___ loudly.)

4. Hij eet ___ vlees.

(He eats ___ meat.)

5. Ik kan ___ lachen als ik boos ben.

(I can ___ laugh when I am angry.)

6. Jij werkt vandaag ___ hard.

(You are working hard today ___ .)

Understanding Negation in Dutch

This lesson focuses on the fundamental concept of negation in Dutch, specifically how to express negative sentences correctly using the words niet and geen. Both are essential negation tools, but they are used in different contexts depending on the type of word or phrase you want to negate.

Key Negation Words

  • Niet is generally used to negate verbs, adjectives, adverbs, or specific parts of a sentence. It typically appears after the verb or before the word it negates.
  • Geen negates nouns that are indefinite and uncountable or plural, such as objects you do not have or quantities that are zero.

Forming Negative Sentences

Here are some practical examples to understand the placement of niet and geen:

  • With niet:
    Werk je? (Do you work?) – Negative: Nee, ik werk niet. (No, I do not work.)
  • With geen:
    Heb je een auto? (Do you have a car?) – Negative: Nee, ik heb geen auto. (No, I do not have a car.)

Additional Notes on Usage

When using infinitive verbs, niet is usually placed after the infinitive unless there is a conjugated verb in the main clause. For example:

  • Ik kan niet lachen als ik boos ben. (I cannot laugh when I am angry.)

Comparing Dutch Negation with English

In English, negation is often done by adding not after auxiliary verbs (e.g., do not, cannot), which is similar to Dutch niet. However, English does not have a direct equivalent to geen. Instead, English uses phrases like no or not any to express negation of indefinite nouns.

Useful phrases to keep in mind include:

  • Ik werk niet – I do not work
  • Ik heb geen tijd – I have no time
  • Wij spreken niet hard – We do not speak loudly
  • Zij heeft geen geduld – She has no patience

Understanding when to use niet versus geen is a key step in mastering Dutch negation at the A1 level.

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Kato De Paepe

Business and languages

KdG University of Applied Sciences and Arts Antwerp

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Last Updated:

Tuesday, 07/10/2025 03:18