Teaching guidelines +/- 15 minutes

This lesson explains Dutch persoonlijke voornaamwoorden like ik (I), jij (you informal), u (you formal), hij (he), zij (she), and wij (we), focusing on their use as subjects in singular and plural forms.
  1. First person: 'ik' for singular, 'wij' for plural.
  2. Second person: 'jij' for informal, 'u' for formal.
  3. Third person: 'hij' for masculine, 'zij' for feminine.
Persoon (Person)Enkelvoud (Singular)Meervoud (plural)
1. ikwij / we
2. jij / je / ujullie
3. hij / zij / zezij / ze
3. (onzijdig)het / 't 

Exceptions!

  1. Use 'je' in informal situations instead of 'jij'.
  2. Use 'u' for polite or formal situations.
  3. The neuter pronoun 'het' refers to things or ideas.
  4. Je, ze, en we cannot be used for contrast or emphasis, such as: 'Wie heeft de afwas gedaan? Zij heeft dat gedaan, jij niet!'

Exercise 1: Persoonlijke voornaamwoorden (ik, jij, hij,…)

Instruction: Fill in the correct word.

Show translation Show answers

Het, Zij, Ik, Jullie, Jij, Wij, U

1.
... gaan naar de markt.
(We are going to the market.)
2.
... is tijd om te gaan.
(It is time to go.)
3.
... bent meneer Jansen, toch?
(You are Mr Jansen, aren't you?)
4.
... woon in Amsterdam.
(I live in Amsterdam.)
5.
... woont in Rotterdam.
(She lives in Rotterdam.)
6.
... leren Nederlands.
(You are learning Dutch.)
7.
... zijn mijn vrienden.
(They are my friends.)
8.
... spreekt Nederlands.
(You speak Dutch.)

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct solution

1. ___ begin de vergadering nu.

(___ am starting the meeting now.)

2. Wilt ___ een kopje koffie?

(Would ___ like a cup of coffee?)

3. ___ bent vandaag erg vriendelijk.

(___ are very friendly today.)

4. ___ gaat morgen naar de training.

(___ is going to training tomorrow.)

5. ___ hebben het rapport klaar.

(___ have the report ready.)

6. ___ kunt je vragen stellen als je wilt.

(___ can ask your questions if you want.)

Personal Pronouns in Dutch

This lesson introduces the basic personal pronouns in Dutch, essential for daily communication. Personal pronouns replace nouns and are typically used as subjects in sentences. Understanding these pronouns helps you form sentences that refer to people or things without repeating their names.

Singular and Plural Forms

In Dutch, personal pronouns have singular and plural forms, affecting how you refer to one person or multiple people.

  • First Person: ik (I - singular), wij / we (we - plural)
  • Second Person: jij / je / u (you - singular), jullie (you - plural)
  • Third Person: hij (he), zij / ze (she or they)
  • Neuter Third Person Singular: het / 't (it)

Formal vs Informal Address

Different forms of the second person pronoun indicate varying levels of formality:

  • jij/je is informal, used with friends, family, or peers.
  • u is formal, used in polite or professional contexts.

For example, Wilt u een kopje koffie? means "Would you like a cup of coffee?" in a respectful form.

Usage Notes

  • The pronoun je is often used informally instead of jij.
  • Pronouns like je, ze, and we do not usually appear in sentences where emphasis or contrast is needed. For example: Wie heeft de afwas gedaan? Zij heeft dat gedaan, jij niet!

Comparison with English

English personal pronouns are similar but with some differences in usage and formality:

  • English has no formal "you," while Dutch distinguishes jij/je (informal) and u (formal).
  • The Dutch pronoun zij/ze can mean both "she" and "they," depending on context. English distinguishes between singular and plural.
  • The neutral pronoun het is used for objects or ideas, similar to English "it."

Useful Phrases

  • Ik begin de vergadering nu. – I start the meeting now.
  • Jij bent vandaag erg vriendelijk. – You are very friendly today.
  • Wij hebben het rapport klaar. – We have the report ready.

These examples help practice the use of personal pronouns in context.

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