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Skip to 0 minutes and 8 secondsAdjectives, we will discuss a few frequently used adjectives in Dutch, as well as rules when to add the extra -e.

Skip to 0 minutes and 19 secondsFirst some adjectives, "leuk", "lekker", "mooi", "goed", "groot", "nieuw". Here are some examples from the dialogues. [DUTCH SPOKEN] Een leuk plan. [DUTCH SPOKEN] Het is lekker weer, he? [DUTCH SPOKEN] Een mooi stadion. [DUTCH SPOKEN] Een goed idee. [DUTCH SPOKEN] Heel groot.

Skip to 0 minutes and 47 secondsSometimes we had an extra -e, but sometimes we don't. First a situation when we don't. When the adjective is not immediately followed by a noun, we don't add this extra -e. Look at the examples. [DUTCH SPOKEN] Het stadion is groot. [DUTCH SPOKEN] De woonkamer is zonnig. [DUTCH SPOKEN] De bergen zijn hoog.

Skip to 1 minute and 10 secondsWhen the adjective is followed by a noun, an extra E is added. But there is always an exception. When the adjective precedes a DE-word, an E is always added. It is [DUTCH � de leuke baan], a DE-word, and [DUTCH � een leuke baan]. When the adjective precedes a HET-woord, and HET is used, an extra E is added. It is [DUTCH � het leuke plan], a HET-woord

Skip to 1 minute and 43 secondsbut when the adjective precedes a HET-word and HET is not used for example the indefinite article EEN is used instead, no extra E is added. So it is [DUTCH � een leuk plan] The rule is a singular indefinite HET-woord generates an adjective without an E.

Skip to 2 minutes and 6 secondsHere is another example. [DUTCH � Dat is een goed idee. Het idee], so a HET-word. With an adjective [DUTCH, het goede idee], because a definite article HET is used, but [DUTCH � een goed idee], because the indefinite article [DUTCH � een] is used. Since plurals always have the article DE, the adjective with a noun in plural use always gets an extra E, in definite and in indefinite form. It doesn'�t matter. So it is [DUTCH � de kleine kinderen, de mooie parken, en de leuke foto'�s.]

Skip to 2 minutes and 48 secondsHere are some more examples with HET-words and an adjective. [DUTCH � mijn huis, het andere huis, een ander huis, [DUTCH het weekend, het eerste weekend, Fijn weekend!]

Watch and read: adjectives

In the next steps, you will learn the basics of Dutch grammar. In our view, grammar is a practical tool for structuring the ideas and thoughts you want to express. Grammar is not a goal in itself, but it can be a great help.

You can watch a video with a teacher explaining and reading the examples, and / or you can read the text on this grammatical subject. Choose what feels best for you. In this course, you will only learn about the basic principles and rules. If you want to know more, you can find links to some other Dutch grammar websites in the ‘See also’ section under the text.


Here are some adjectives you heard or read in the dialogues.

Het is een leuke baan. It is a nice job.
Het is lekker weer. It is nice weather.
Een mooi stadion. A beautiful stadium.
Een goed idee. A good idea.
Heel groot. Very big.
Volgende maand. Next month.

Form of the adjective

In some cases, an -e is added to an adjective.

When the adjective is not followed by a noun, when it is used independently, no -e is added.

Het stadion is mooi. The stadium is beautiful.
Het weer is lekker. The weather is nice.

When the adjective is followed by a noun, the main rule is: an -e is added.

Het is een leuke baan. It is a nice job
Volgende maand. Next month

In one case no -e is added: when the noun is a singular, indefinite het-woord.

For example

Het idee

het goede idee een goed idee

Het stadion

het mooie stadion een mooi stadion

So, when the noun is a de-woord, an -e is always added.

De pizza

de lekkere pizza een lekkere pizza

De baan

de leuke baan een leuke baan

Practise with Quizlet

Would you like to practise Dutch grammar? Please visit our grammar section on adjectives on Quizlet (if you prefer Quizlet to open in a separate window, click the CTRL key while clicking the link).


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Introduction to Dutch

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