Teaching guidelines +/- 15 minutes

Learn the basics of Dutch main clauses and yes/no questions. This lesson covers the sentence structure for statements and simple yes/no questions, with examples like 'Ik kom uit Engeland' and 'Woon je in Utrecht?'. Understand the difference in word order between statements and questions, and get practical tips on forming and using these sentences in everyday conversation.
  1. A main clause follows the order: subject - verb - rest
  2. A yes/no question begins with the verb, followed by the subject. The other parts of the sentence remain in their place.
ZinstypeVoorbeeld
HoofdzinIk kom uit Engeland.
Ik woon nu in Utrecht.
Jan leest een boek in zijn kamer.
Ja/nee-vraagWoon je in Utrecht?
Krijg je morgen bezoek?
Zijn je ouders daar op vakantie?
Schijnt de zon deze week?

Exercise 1: Hoofdzinnen en ja/nee-vragen

Instruction: Fill in the correct word.

Show translation Show answers

kom, Woon, Zijn, woon

1.
... je in Amsterdam?
(Do you live in Amsterdam?)
2.
Ik ... nu in Rotterdam.
(I now live in Rotterdam.)
3.
... je ouders op vakantie?
(Are your parents on holiday?)
4.
Ik ... uit Nederland.
(I come from the Netherlands.)

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct solution

1. ___ jij in Amsterdam?

(___ you live in Amsterdam?)

2. ___ jij je telefoonnummer aan mij?

(___ you give me your phone number?)

3. ___ jij vaak e-mails?

(___ you often receive emails?)

4. ___ jouw postcode 1234 AB?

(___ your postcode 1234 AB?)

5. ___ de man en de vrouw thuis?

(___ the man and the woman at home?)

6. ___ jij uit Utrecht?

(___ you come from Utrecht?)

Main Clauses and Yes/No Questions in Dutch

This lesson introduces two fundamental sentence structures in Dutch: the main clause (hoofdzin) and the yes/no question (ja/nee-vraag). Understanding these will help you form clear statements and simple questions essential for everyday communication.

Main Clauses

Main clauses in Dutch usually follow the word order: subject - verb - other elements. Examples include sentences like "Ik kom uit Engeland." and "Jan leest een boek in zijn kamer." These sentences make straightforward statements about facts or actions.

Yes/No Questions

Yes/no questions always expect an answer of "yes" or "no." Unlike statements, these questions begin with the verb followed by the subject, keeping the rest of the sentence in its place. For example, "Woon je in Utrecht?" and "Zijn je ouders daar op vakantie?" Learning this inversion is key to asking clear and correct yes/no questions in Dutch.

Key Points

  • Word order for main clauses: Subject - Verb - Rest.
  • Word order for yes/no questions: Verb - Subject - Rest.
  • Answers to yes/no questions: Always "ja" (yes) or "nee" (no).

Comparing Dutch and English Questions

In English, yes/no questions typically start with an auxiliary verb like "do," "does," or "is," for example, "Do you live in Utrecht?" Whereas in Dutch, the question begins directly with the main verb: "Woon je in Utrecht?" Additionally, Dutch does not use auxiliary verbs in simple yes/no questions as English does.

Useful Dutch question words and phrases include:

  • Woon – live
  • Is – is
  • Zijn – are
  • Krijg – get/receive

Familiarizing yourself with these basics will form a strong foundation for constructing sentences and asking questions in Dutch.

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Kato De Paepe

Business and languages

KdG University of Applied Sciences and Arts Antwerp

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Last Updated:

Friday, 27/06/2025 08:59