Ik heb een tas.
English: I have a bag.
- Language
- Dutch
- Level
- A0
- Unit
- Voornaamwoorden, lidwoorden en verwijswoorden
- Practice types
- 0
What this grammar point covers
Articles in Dutch are small words before nouns. 'Een' is for non-specific items, 'de' and 'het' are definite articles for specific nouns.
When to use it
Use 'een' for one non-specific item and 'de' or 'het' for a known or specific item.
Key forms
- een + noun (indefinite)
- de + noun (definite, common gender)
- het + noun (definite, neuter gender)
Examples
Zij is een artiest.
English: She is an artist.
De tas ligt op de tafel.
English: The bag is on the table.
Hij wil een kaartje.
English: He wants a ticket.
Tips
- Dutch does not use 'an'; only 'een' for indefinite articles.
- Practice with common nouns and learn which use 'de' or 'het'.
- Articles are frequent and important for natural Dutch.
Exceptions and edge cases
- Some fixed expressions do not use articles: thuis zijn (be at home), naar school gaan (go to school).