Connected and reduced speech: 'r / ie / 'm / 't

Verbonden en gereduceerde spraak: 'r / ie / 'm / 't

Bij verbonden en gereduceerde spraak worden woorden samengevoegd of ingekort, zoals 'r, ie, 'm, 't.

(In linked and reduced speech, words are joined together or shortened, such as 'r, ie, 'm, 't.)

Teacher explanation

When do you use these short forms?

Forms like 'r, 'm, 't and ie are reduced pronouns. You mainly hear them in:

informal spoken Dutch (daily conversation, quick speech)
some informal messages (chat, WhatsApp)

In formal writing (emails to clients, reports), choose the full form: er / haar / hem / het / die.

Meaning: what does each one replace?

Reduced form	Full form	Typical meaning
'r	er / haar	there (er) or her (haar)
'm	hem	him (male person)
't	het	it (a het-word or “the situation/thing”)
ie	die	that one / the one that... (referring back)

How to choose fast (a practical checklist)

Do you mean a person?
- male person → hem → 'm
- female person → haar → 'r
Do you mean “it” / a thing / a situation?
- het → 't
Do you mean “there” (a place, a situation, “from it/there”)?
- er → 'r
Do you mean “that one” / “the one that...”?
- die → ie

Where do these forms appear in a sentence?

They often come close to the verb, because they behave like weak, unstressed words.
They can sound like they “stick” to the previous word. That is why you see an apostrophe: 'm, 't, 'r.

Full form (clear)	Spoken (reduced)
Ik heb hem niet gezien.	Ik heb 'm niet gezien.
We hebben het al besproken.	We hebben 't al besproken.
Ik kom er net vandaan.	Ik kom 'r net vandaan.
Daar is die dan.	Daar is ie dan.

Common pitfalls (what to pay attention to)

'r can mean er or haar.
- Place/situation? → usually er: Ik ben 'r geweest.
- Female person? → haar: Ik bel 'r straks.
'm is only for hem (= him). Not for objects.
- ~~Ik stuur 'm de offerte.~~ (unless you mean: I send him something)
- Correct: Ik stuur 'm de offerte. (= I send him the quote.)
- Correct: Ik stuur 't vandaag nog door. (= I’ll forward it.)
ie replaces die (pointing back to something already known).
- Natural: Die kans? Daar is ie dan.
- Less natural: ~~Ik heb ie map nodig.~~ → better: Ik heb die map nodig.

Self-check: do you sound natural?

Can you say the same sentence slowly with the full form?
Yes → your reduced form is probably correct.
Is it a formal situation?
Yes → stick to er/haar/hem/het/die.
Do you clearly know what it refers to?
No → use the full form for clarity.

What you should take away

These forms are about pronunciation and style, not new grammar.
Use them when speaking informally: 'm (him), 't (it), 'r (there/her), ie (that one).
When in doubt, choose the full form: it is always safe and clear.

Linked forms like 'r, ie, 'm, 't are typical of informal spoken language.

Verbonden vorm (Linked form)	Volledige vorm (Full form)	Voorbeeld (Example)
'r	er/haar (there/her)	Ik kom 'r net vandaan. (I just came from there.)
'm	hem (him)	Ik heb 'm niet gezien. (I didn’t see him.)
't	het (it / the)	We hebben 't al besproken. (We have already discussed it.)
ie	die (that one)	Daar is ie dan, de kans die we nodig hadden. (There he is* then, the opportunity we needed.*)

Exercise 1: Multiple choice

Instruction: Choose the correct answer

1. Als we vandaag tekenen, kan ik ____ 10% korting geven.

2. Ik vind ____ aanbod aantrekkelijk, maar ik wil eerst de voorwaarden lezen.

3. Ik kom ____ net vandaan, bij die klant die op een lagere prijs aandringt.

4. Daar is ____ dan, de kans om bij deze uitverkoop te profiteren van extra korting.

Exercise 2: Rewrite the phrases

Instruction: Rewrite the sentences in informal spoken language: replace er/haar/hem/het/die with the contracted forms ('r, 'm, 't, ie).

Show/Hide translation Show/Hide hints

Ik kom er net vandaan.

⇒ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
Ik kom 'r net vandaan.
(I just came from there.)
Ik heb hem niet gezien bij de receptie.

⇒ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
Ik heb 'm niet gezien bij de receptie.
(I didn't see him at reception.)
We hebben het al besproken in de vergadering.

⇒ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
We hebben 't al besproken in de vergadering.
(We already discussed it in the meeting.)
Ik heb die map nodig voor het gesprek.

⇒ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
Ik heb ie map nodig voor het gesprek.
(I need ie folder for the conversation.)

Exercise 3: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the sentence that best fits connected or reduced speech.