Het is heel koud vandaag.
English: It is very cold today.
- Language
- Dutch
- Level
- B1
- Unit
- Bijwoorden
- Practice types
- 0
What this grammar point covers
Degree adverbs (bijwoorden van graad) in Dutch are words that describe how much or to what extent something happens or is true. They help you express intensity or degree.
When to use it
Use degree adverbs in Dutch to say how strong, weak, or intense something is. They are often used with adjectives, other adverbs, or verbs to give more information about the level or amount.
Key forms
- heel
- erg
- zeer
- tamelijk
- behoorlijk
- een beetje
- vrij
- te
Examples
Ik ben een beetje moe.
English: I am a little tired.
Zij spreekt erg snel.
English: She speaks very fast.
Dit boek is tamelijk interessant.
English: This book is quite interesting.
De kamer is te klein.
English: The room is too small.
Tips
- Degree adverbs usually come before the adjective or adverb they describe.
- Do not use 'te' for positive things; it often means 'too much' in a negative way.
- Some adverbs (like 'heel' and 'erg') cannot be used with all adjectives. Pay attention to combinations.
Exceptions and edge cases
- Some adjectives do not combine well with certain degree adverbs. For example, 'heel' is not used with 'mooi' as often as 'erg mooi'.