Learn when to omit articles in Dutch, including plurals, personal names, geographical names, fixed expressions, months, uncountable nouns, professions, and nationalities. This lesson covers essential grammar points for A2 learners to improve natural language use, highlighting differences with English usage and providing practical example sentences.
| Gebruik (Use) | Voorbeelden (Examples) |
|---|---|
| Meervoud (Plural) | Daar lopen kinderen. (There are children walking.) |
| Namen van personen (Names of people) | Zijn naam is Piet Jansen. (His name is Piet Jansen.) |
| Namen van landen, eilanden, provincies, steden en dorpen (Names of countries, islands, provinces, cities and villages) | Ik woon in Amsterdam. (I live in Amsterdam.) |
| Vaste uitdrukkingen (Fixed expressions) |
op straat (on the street) |
| Maanden en dagen (Months and days) | In juli ga ik op vakantie. (In July I am going on holiday.) |
| Niet-telbare zelfstandige naamwoorden (Uncountable nouns) | Zij drinkt water. (She drinks water.) |
| Beroepen (Professions) | Mijn vader is agent. (My father is an officer.) |
| Nationaliteiten zonder lidwoord (Nationalities without article) | John is Engelsman. (John is Englishman.) |
Exercise 1: Wanneer geen artikel gebruiken
Instruction: Fill in the correct word.
de, een, /
1.
Ik zie ... pet op de grond liggen.
(I see a cap lying on the ground.)
2.
Hij pakt ... handtas en gaat naar de winkel.
(He takes the handbag and goes to the shop.)
3.
Daar lopen ... toeristen met rugzakken.
(There are tourists with backpacks walking there.)
4.
Ze draagt ... bikini naar het zwembad.
(She is wearing a bikini to the swimming pool.)
5.
Ik neem mijn koffer mee naar ... Amsterdam.
(I am taking my suitcase to Amsterdam.)
6.
In ... juli ga ik op vakantie naar Spanje.
(In July, I am going on holiday to Spain.)
7.
Hij pakt ... handdoek uit zijn rugzak.
(He takes the towel out of his backpack.)
8.
Elke ochtend drink ik koffie met ... suiker.
(Every morning I drink coffee with sugar.)
Exercise 2: Multiple Choice
Instruction: Choose the correct sentence without an article according to Dutch rules.
1.
You do not use 'a' with plurals like 'clothes'.
For plurals, an article is not needed here; 'the' is incorrect here.
2.
For occupations you do not use an article; 'the' is wrong here.
For occupations as a function you usually don’t use an article.
3.
Countries usually do not have an article in Dutch.
Months like July are used without an article.
4.
If 'water' is meant generally, you do not use an article.
'Water' is uncountable and does not have an article here.
