Dutch grammar: aanwijzende voornaamwoorden

What this grammar point covers

Aanwijzende voornaamwoorden are words like 'this', 'that', 'these', and 'those' in Dutch. They point to specific people or things.

When to use it

Use these words to point to or talk about specific objects or people. You use 'dit' and 'deze' for things that are close, and 'dat' and 'die' for things that are further away. The choice depends on the gender and number of the noun.

Key forms

• 'dit' (this, for singular 'het'-words)
• 'deze' (this, for singular 'de'-words and all plurals)
• 'dat' (that, for singular 'het'-words)
• 'die' (that, for singular 'de'-words and all plurals)

Examples

Tips

• Remember: use 'dit' and 'dat' with 'het'-words (neuter nouns), and 'deze' and 'die' with 'de'-words (common gender) and all plurals.
• For plural nouns, always use 'deze' (these) and 'die' (those), never 'dit' or 'dat'.
• Check if the noun is a 'de'-word or 'het'-word to choose the right form.

Exceptions and edge cases

• Some nouns may not follow the usual 'de' or 'het' rules, so check the article if you are unsure.