Iemand heeft de deur open gelaten.
English: Someone left the door open.
- Language
- Dutch
- Level
- B1
- Unit
- Voornaamwoorden
- Practice types
- 0
What this grammar point covers
Indefinite pronouns are words in Dutch that refer to people or things in a general, non-specific way. They do not name a specific person or object.
When to use it
Use indefinite pronouns in Dutch when you want to talk about someone or something in a general sense, without being specific. They are useful when you do not know or do not want to say exactly who or what you mean.
Key forms
- iets
- niets
- iemand
- niemand
- alles
- men
- wat
- enige
- elk(e)
- sommige
Examples
Heb je iets nodig?
English: Do you need something?
Niemand weet het antwoord.
English: No one knows the answer.
Alles is klaar voor het feest.
English: Everything is ready for the party.
Sommige mensen houden van koffie.
English: Some people like coffee.
Tips
- Remember that some indefinite pronouns (like 'iets', 'niets') are used for things, and others (like 'iemand', 'niemand') for people.
- Many indefinite pronouns do not change form for gender or number.
- Do not use 'de' or 'het' with these pronouns.
Exceptions and edge cases
- ‘Wat’ can mean ‘something’ in some contexts, but also has other meanings. Pay attention to context.
- ‘Men’ is a formal pronoun and is not used often in spoken Dutch.