De and het

[Nostromo]

Het helpt ook geen donder wanneer de NT2 examen 'schrijven' geen nadruk plaatst op (of misschien 'aan') het gebruik van 'de' of 'het'.

[Wim]

Het helpt ook geen donder wanneer de NT2 examen 'schrijven' geen nadruk plaatst op (of misschien 'aan') het gebruik van 'de' of 'het'.

Hallo Nostromo,

Los van je harde woorden heb je gelijk. Het examen NT-2 legt inderdaad geen nadruk op gebruik van het juiste lidwoord, maar weglaten van 'de' of 'het' op een plaats waar het zou moeten staan, is wel fout.

Als je serieus schrijft (voor zaken bijvoorbeeld), is correct gebruik van de lidwoorden essentieel. Een zakenbrief waarin 'de' en 'het' door elkaar gehaald worden, neemt niemand serieus. Goed gebruik van de lidwoorden is niet moeilijk, maar kost misschien veel tijd: in elk goed woordenboek kun je vinden welke woorden de-woorden en welke woorden het-woorden zijn.

Met vriendelijke groeten,
Wim

[Cru_Girl]

Hello,
I am new here, as you might be able to tell...I am here because my dutch is very poor. I know quite a few words but my sentance structure leaves alot to be desired. The only sentance I have ever managed to construct correctly was a self-insult =[ I looked through some forums but I still can't even work out the difference between 'het' and 'de'. Why is it 'het hert', not 'de hert'? Any help would be appreicaitated alot <3

[edit by Bieneke: I moved your post to the subforum "nouns & articles"]

[Bieneke]

Hi Cru_Girl,

Welkom op het forum!

Your question had already been addressed some time ago in this topic (to which I have moved your message).

We say 'het hert' because het is a neuter noun. See also http://www.dutchgrammar.com/en/?n=NounsAndArticles/03.

Groetjes,

[aeckersand]

I'm also learning Dutch but I still have a big problem with the articles. I don't care that much if I say het stoel or de stoel. People will understand that anyway but when you refer to the object it starts to get more difficult to interpret. 'deze' or 'dit', 'die' or 'dat'.

Anyway, to help myself I created a web site to practise the articles. You are welcome to try it out

http://www.perfectmylanguage.com

[Bieneke]

Mooi werk, Ackersand!
Good job, Ackersand!

[izzy]

When do you use "het" and when do you use "de" in front of Dutch nouns?


Edit by Bieneke: I merged this thread with the existing thread "De or het".

[Joke]

Hoi Izzy,
There are hardly any rules, but there are some guidelines:
http://www.dutchgrammar.com/en/?n=NounsAndArticles.03
Unfortunately, most of the time, you'll just have to learn them by heart...
Joke

[EricJen]

Hoi,
ik ben Jenny, i want to ask on how can i know if the word is masculine, feminine or nueter. its hard for me to find the difference.
hoping for your answers.
Dank u wel!
Jenny


Edit by Bieneke: I merged this thread with the existing thread "De or het".

[Marco]

Hey Jen!

I don't think you should worry about the difference between masculine and feminine, as not even we Dutchies know that difference. As for the difference between masc/fem and neuter; you will just have to learn those from the top of your head! I'd say, learn the noun together with the definite article.

Two rules of thumb:

nouns ending in -heid are 'de'-nouns,
and so are nouns ending in ing.

Succes!

[dirkmath]

Dutchies from the north indeed don't know the difference, but Belgians and Dutchies from the south do know the difference between masculine and feminine nouns.

[ThOmmy]

Also, most nouns ending on -e are feminine ('de'), all ''smalified'' nouns (i.e huis -> huisje, house -> 'small house') are always neuter ('het')
Last, all plural nouns get ('de') aswell

[hannover2007]

Actually, the articles are also problem for me. While I was learning German Grammar, I had had the same problems. I have a just one question about the articles : So, how german or dutch people know the articles of whole words and how can they keep of which words get which article in their memory?

If someone can help me, I will be glad so much. Otherwise really I will not success this language, really it is too hard to know all the word's articles, and the articles are being my nightmare!!!!  If I decide to learn another language, I will choose a language that has no like this stupid articles problem.

I am really  getting bored here more.

If I dusturbed you, I beg your pardon.

All my best wishes to all members of our website.

see ya!

[Quetzal]

Actually, the articles are also problem for me. While I was learning German Grammar, I had had the same problems. I have a just one question about the articles : So, how german or dutch people know the articles of whole words and how can they keep of which words get which article in their memory?

If someone can help me, I will be glad so much. Otherwise really I will not success this language, really it is too hard to know all the word's articles, and the articles are being my nightmare!!!!  If I decide to learn another language, I will choose a language that has no like this stupid articles problem.

I am really  getting bored here more.

If I dusturbed you, I beg your pardon.

All my best wishes to all members of our website.

see ya!

I'm afraid most European languages, unlike Turkish, have words of different genders and hence often with different articles.

And yes, we learn the gender (or at least which article to use) when learning the word. There are certain rules, but for the most part you just have to learn them by heart.

[hannover2007]

Dear Quetzal,
your answer is very simple and that answer shows you are not dutch instructor, but you endeavored so much about this subject. Hence I congrulate you.  I think I can get the best answer by Bieneke (Site Administrator). She is the BEST DUTCH TEACHER until I saw in this form.
Love,