De man leest een boek.
English: The man reads a book.
- Language
- Dutch
- Level
- A1
- Unit
- Zelfstandige naamwoorden en lidwoorden
- Practice types
- 0
What this grammar point covers
In Dutch, 'lidwoorden' are words used before nouns to indicate if you are talking about something specific or something in general. There are definite and indefinite articles.
When to use it
Use 'de' or 'het' when you talk about a specific thing or person (the). Use 'een' when you talk about something non-specific (a or an). The choice between 'de' and 'het' depends on the gender of the noun.
Key forms
- 'de' (definite article, common gender)
- 'het' (definite article, neuter gender)
- 'een' (indefinite article, for all genders)
Examples
Het huis is groot.
English: The house is big.
Een hond loopt in de tuin.
English: A dog walks in the garden.
De appel is rood.
English: The apple is red.
Het kind speelt.
English: The child plays.
Tips
- Most singular nouns use 'de', but some use 'het'. You need to learn which nouns use which article.
- 'Een' is never used with plurals.
- Plurals always use 'de'.
Exceptions and edge cases
- Some words for people (like 'meisje' - girl) use 'het' because they end with '-je'.
- Some nouns have irregular gender, so the article may not be predictable.