Vragende voornaamwoorden zoals wie, wat, welk(e) gebruik je om te verwijzen naar personen, dingen, keuzes.

(Interrogative pronouns such as wie, wat, welk(e) are used to refer to people, things, choices.)

  1. Which do you use for choices between two or more things.
  2. 'Wat' is used for animals, things or actions.
  3. 'Wie' is used for one or more persons.
 Voornaamwoord ((Pronoun))Voorbeeld ((Example))
Bijvoeglijk en zelfstandig gebruik ((Adjectival and nominal use))welk(e)Welk e-mailadres heb je gebruikt? ((Which e-mail address did you use?))
wat voor (een)Wat voor pakket is dit? ((What kind of package is this?))
Zelfstandig gebruik ((Nominal use))wieWie gaat naar het postkantoor? ((Who is going to the post office?))
watWat staat er in de brief? ((What is in the letter?))

 

Exceptions!

  1. Which do you use for het-woorden.
  2. Which do you use for de-words.

Exercise 1: Vragende voornaamwoorden (wie, wat, welk(e))

Instruction: Fill in the correct word.

Show translation Show answers

Wat, Wie, Welk, wat, Welke

1.
... pakket moet ik naar het postkantoor brengen?
(Which parcel should I take to the post office?)
2.
... staat er in die brief van de verzender?
(What is in that letter from the sender?)
3.
... is er precies verstuurd in dat bericht?
(What exactly was sent in that message?)
4.
... postzegel hoort bij deze brief?
(Which stamp belongs to this letter?)
5.
Ik weet niet ... ik moet antwoorden op die e-mail.
(I don't know how to respond to that email.)
6.
... is de ontvanger van dit pakket?
(Who is the recipient of this package?)
7.
... heeft deze e-mail gisteren ontvangen?
(Who received this email yesterday?)
8.
... brief moet ik eerst beantwoorden?
(Which letter should I answer first?)

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct sentence where the interrogative pronoun is used correctly. Pay attention to whether it refers to people, things, or choices, and follow the rules for 'wie', 'wat', and 'welk(e)'.

1.
'Welk' is incorrect because it is used for choices between things, not for people.
'Wat' is incorrect because we are asking about a person, not a thing or an action.
2.
'Wat' is incorrect because this concerns a choice between items, not an indefinite thing or action.
'Wie' is incorrect because we are not referring to a person.
3.
'Wie' is incorrect because we are not asking about people.
'Welk' is incorrect because there is no choice between multiple things in this context.
4.
'Welk' is incorrect because 'afdeling' is a common gender noun, so you use 'welke'.
'Wat' is incorrect because here we are asking about a specific choice (department), not about a thing or action.

Exercise 3: Rewrite the phrases

Instruction: Rewrite the sentences as a proper question using the correct interrogative pronoun: who, what, which (singular) or which (plural).

Show/Hide translation Show/Hide hints
  1. Hint Hint (Wie) Je ziet een onbekende man bij de receptie. Je wilt weten wie hij is.
    ⇒ _______________________________________________ Example
    Wie is die man bij de receptie?
    (Who is the man at the reception?)
  2. Je collega vertelt over een probleem. Je wilt weten wat het probleem is.
    ⇒ _______________________________________________ Example
    Wat is het probleem?
    (What is the problem?)
  3. Hint Hint (Welk) Je vriendin heeft een nieuw abonnement. Je wilt weten welk abonnement zij heeft.
    ⇒ _______________________________________________ Example
    Welk abonnement heb jij?
    (Which subscription does she have?)
  4. Hint Hint (Welk) In de kast staan twee pakketten. Je wilt weten naar welk pakket de brief verwijst.
    ⇒ _______________________________________________ Example
    Naar welk pakket verwijst de brief?
    (Which package does the letter refer to?)
  5. De docent praat met een persoon in de gang. Je wilt weten wie die persoon is.
    ⇒ _______________________________________________ Example
    Wie is die persoon in de gang?
    (Who is that person in the hallway?)
  6. Hint Hint (Welk) Op tafel liggen drie formulieren. Je wilt weten welk formulier je moet invullen.
    ⇒ _______________________________________________ Example
    Welk formulier moet ik invullen?
    (Which form do I need to fill in?)

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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, 08/01/2026 05:18