Interrogative pronouns (wie, wat, welk(e))

1. What are wie, wat and w elk(e)?

In this chapter you work with three Dutch question words:

• wie = who
• wat = what
• w elk / welke = which

They are all question pronouns. They replace the thing or person you don’t know yet.

So your main choices are:

• person → wie
• thing / idea / action → wat
• choice between options → w elk(e)

2. Step 1 – Is it about a person? Use wie

Ask yourself first:

“Am I asking about a person or people?”

• If the answer is yes → use wie.
• It does not matter if the person is male, female, singular or plural.

Examples:

• Wie gaat naar het postkantoor?
  Who is going to the post office?
• Wie heeft het pakket aangenomen?
  Who accepted the parcel?

Typical mistakes:

• Welk gaat naar het postkantoor? → you are asking about a person, so use wie.
• Wat heeft het pakket aangenomen? → a person accepted it → wie.

Self-check: Can you replace the answer with “my colleague / that woman / the manager / they”? If yes → use wie.

3. Step 2 – Is it about a thing, idea or action? Use wat

Ask yourself next:

“Am I asking for information, not for a person and not choosing between options?”

• Use wat for:
• • things: documents, emails, objects
  • information: content of a message, reason, problem
  • actions: what someone does

Examples:

• Wat staat er in de brief?
  What is in the letter?
• Wat is het probleem?
  What is the problem?
• Wat doe je morgen?
  What are you doing tomorrow?

Important:

• Use wat when there is no list of options in your head.
• You simply want to know the information.

Typical mistakes:

• Welk staat er in de brief? → there is no choice between letters → use wat.
• Wie is het probleem? → you ask about a situation, not a person → use wat.

Self-check: Can you answer with a sentence like “The problem is … / The content is … / I do …”? If yes → use wat.

4. Step 3 – Is it a choice between options? Use w elk(e) or wat voor (een)

Now ask yourself:

“Am I choosing from two or more concrete options?”

• If yes → you need w elk(e) or wat voor (een).

w elk / welke = which (one/s)

• Use when you have specific options in mind:
• • two or more documents
  • different departments
  • several forms, packages, options …

Examples:

• Welk document moet ik ondertekenen?
  Which document do I have to sign?
• Welke formulieren liggen in de postkamer?
  Which forms are in the mailroom?
• Welke afdeling is verantwoordelijk?
  Which department is responsible?

wat voor (een) = what kind of

• Use when you ask about the type / category, not a concrete item.

Examples:

• Wat voor (een) pakket is dit?
  What kind of parcel is this?
• Wat voor (een) abonnement heb je?
  What kind of subscription do you have?

Compare:

• Welk abonnement heb je?
  Which subscription (out of a known list)?
• Wat voor abonnement heb je?
  What kind of subscription in general?

Self-check:

• If you think “Option A, B or C?” → use w elk(e).
• If you think “What kind of thing is it?” → use wat voor (een).

5. When do you use w elk and when welke?

w elk / welke must agree with the noun. Look at the article and the number.

Practical strategy (A2 level):

1. Learn the article with the noun: de afdeling, het formulier, de formulieren.
2. Then apply:

• het-word, singular → w elk
• de-word, singular → welke
• plural (de) → welke

Typical mistakes:

• Welk afdeling …? → afdeling is a de-word → Welke afdeling …?
• Welke formulier …? → formulier is a het-word → Welk formulier …?

6. Quick decision flow – which question word?

Use this mini flow chart in your head:

1. Person?
   → Yes: wie.
2. No person. Choice between options?
   → Yes: look at the noun:
   • het-word, singular → w elk
   • de-word, singular → welke
   • plural → welke
3. Not a choice?
   → You just want information → wat.
   → Or you want the type → wat voor (een).

7. Word order in questions with wie / wat / w elk(e)

The word order is regular for Dutch questions with a question word:

1. Question word (wie / wat / w elk(e))
2. Verb
3. Subject (if it is not already in the question word)
4. Rest of the sentence

Examples:

• Wie gaat morgen naar de vergadering?
  (wie = subject)
• Wat staat er in de brief?
  (wat = subject; verb in second position)
• Welk document moet ik vandaag ondertekenen?
  (w elk document – object; verb moet is in second position)
• Welke afdeling is verantwoordelijk?
  (welke afdeling – subject; verb is in second position)

At A2, focus on one simple rule:

• After the question word or question phrase, the first verb comes immediately.

Examples with a preposition:

• Naar welk pakket verwijst de brief?
  (preposition + w elk(e) together at the start)

8. Mini practice: can you choose the right word?

Check yourself quickly. Think of the Dutch question word (don’t look at the answer first).

1. ________ stuurt de e-mail naar de klant?
   (You ask about a person.)

   Answer: Wie stuurt de e-mail naar de klant?

2. ________ staat er in het contract?
   (You ask about the content.)

   Answer: Wat staat er in het contract?

3. ________ formulier moet ik invullen?
   (You see different forms. Formulier is a het-word.)

   Answer: Welk formulier moet ik invullen?

4. ________ documenten neem jij mee naar de vergadering?
   (Plural.)

   Answer: Welke documenten neem jij mee naar de vergadering?

5. ________ voor (een) baan zoek je?
   (You ask about the type of job.)

   Answer: Wat voor (een) baan zoek je?

9. What should you pay attention to?

• First decide: person or not?
  Person → wie. This is often the easiest step.
• If not a person, decide: choice or open information?
  Choice → w elk(e) (or wat voor (een) for type).
  No choice → wat.
• With w elk(e): always think of the article and number of the noun.
• Keep verbs in second position after the question word or question phrase.
• Don’t mix up “who” and “what” thinking patterns from English.
  In Dutch the person vs thing distinction is strict: persons = wie, things/information = wat.

If you follow these small steps, you can build correct questions with wie, wat and w elk(e) independently and use class time mainly for speaking practice.