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Understanding Dutch Subject Pronouns and Basic Verbs

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Dutch Subject Pronouns Overview

Subject pronouns in Dutch function similarly to those in English, replacing nouns to indicate who is performing the action in a sentence. Here's an overview of the Dutch subject pronouns:

  • ik

    I

  • je/jij

    You (singular informal)

  • hij

    He

  • zij

    She

  • wij

    We

  • jullie

    You (plural)

  • zij

    They

Using Subject Pronouns in Sentences

In Dutch, subject pronouns are used to start sentences just like in English. Let's look at some examples:

  • Ik ga naar de winkel.

    I am going to the store.

  • Zij leest een boek.

    She reads a book.

Introduction to Basic Verbs

Verbs in the present tense in Dutch are often quite regular. Here are some common verbs:

  • zijn

    to be

  • hebben

    to have

  • gaan

    to go

  • lezen

    to read

Conjugating Basic Verbs

Conjugating verbs in Dutch requires changing the verb form to match the subject pronoun. Let's take 'zijn' (to be) as an example:

  • ik ben

    I am

  • jij bent

    You are

  • hij/zij is

    He/She is

  • wij zijn

    We are

  • jullie zijn

    You are (plural)

  • zij zijn

    They are

Practice with Verbs

Practice makes perfect! Try forming sentences using different subject pronouns and the following verbs in Dutch: "lopen" (to walk) and "eten" (to eat). For example:

  • Ik loop naar school.

    I walk to school.

  • Zij eten lunch.

    They eat lunch.

Further Reading

This is a part of Pronuncia’s guide to Dutch

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Understanding Dutch Subject Pronouns and Basic Verbs - Pronuncia