Deze les legt het verschil uit tussen de woorden heel, zeer en veel, bijvoorbeeld "heel mooi", "zeer duur" en "veel toeristen", en laat zien hoe je ze correct gebruikt met bijvoeglijke naamwoorden, bijwoorden en zelfstandige naamwoorden.
  1. You do not use heel and zeer with nouns.
  2. You don't use veel with adjectives.
Woord (Word)Gebruik met (Use with)Voorbeeld (Example)
heel (whole)Bijvoeglijk naamwoord (Adjective)Heel mooi (Very beautiful)
Bijwoord (Adverb)Ik fiets heel graag (I like to cycle very much)

zeer (very)

(formeler) ((more formal))

Bijvoeglijk naamwoord (Adjective)Een zeer dure auto (A very expensive car)
Bijwoord (Adverb)Het gaat zeer goed (It is going very well)
veel (Many)Zelfstandig naamwoord (Noun)Veel toeristen (Many tourists)
Werkwoord (Verb)Hij werkt veel (He works a lot)

Exercise 1: Verschil tussen heel, zeer en veel"

Instruction: Fill in the correct word.

Show translation Show answers

heel, zeer, veel

1.
Er is ... papierwerk bij de verzekering.
(There is a lot of paperwork with the insurance.)
2.
Mijn rijbewijs is ... belangrijk.
(My driving licence is very important.)
3.
Dit is een ... goed formulier.
(This is a very good form.)
4.
Deze auto is ... comfortabel.
(This car is very comfortable.)
5.
Hij rijdt ... graag met de fiets.
(He really likes cycling.)
6.
Je moet de scooter ... vroeger terugbrengen.
(You have to return the scooter much earlier.)
7.
De verzekering is ... duidelijk.
(The insurance is very clear.)
8.
Je moet ... betalen voor de waarborg.
(You have to pay a lot for the deposit.)

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose in each group the correct sentence that shows the proper use of 'heel', 'zeer' or 'veel' according to the rules.

1.
'Heel' is not used directly with nouns like 'toeristen' without the word 'veel' in between.
'Veel' cannot be used with adjectives like 'duur'. 'Duur' belongs to a noun, so this combination is incorrect.
2.
'Zeer' is not combined with 'veel' for nouns or quantities.
'Zeer' is not used with nouns like 'bezoekers'.
3.
'Zeer' is not used with nouns.
'Heel' is not used directly with nouns like 'fietsen'.
4.
'Zeer' is not used with verbs.
'Heel' is not used with verbs; here it should be 'veel'.

Difference Between heel, zeer and veel

This lesson focuses on distinguishing the Dutch words heel, zeer, and veel, which are often used to express degree, quantity, or intensity but have different grammatical uses and contexts.

Understanding the Words

  • heel: Used as an adjective or adverb. For example, "Heel mooi" (very beautiful) and "Ik fiets heel graag" (I like cycling a lot).
  • zeer: A more formal word used as an adjective or adverb. For example, "Een zeer dure auto" (a very expensive car) and "Het gaat zeer goed" (it's going very well).
  • veel: Used as a noun or verb. For example, "Veel toeristen" (many tourists) and "Hij werkt veel" (he works a lot).

Key Usage Rules

  • heel and zeer are not used with nouns.
  • veel is not used with adjectives.

Examples Summary

WordUsageExample
heelAdjectiveHeel mooi
AdverbIk fiets heel graag
zeer (formal)AdjectiveEen zeer dure auto
AdverbHet gaat zeer goed
veelNounVeel toeristen
VerbHij werkt veel

Notes on Differences from English

In English, words like "very" and "much" can often be used more flexibly, but Dutch distinguishes clearly between adjectives/adverbs and nouns/verbs with these words. For example, "heel" and "zeer" correspond to "very," but unlike English, they are not used directly with nouns. The word "veel" corresponds to "much/many/a lot of," but cannot modify adjectives as "very" does.

Useful phrases to remember:

  • Heel mooi — very beautiful (adjective/adverb)
  • Een zeer dure auto — a very expensive car (formal tone)
  • Veel toeristen — many tourists (noun use)
  • Hij werkt veel — he works a lot (verb use)

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Kato De Paepe

Business and languages

KdG University of Applied Sciences and Arts Antwerp

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Last Updated:

Thursday, 16/10/2025 03:10