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Subject Pronouns in Dutch Posted by on Feb 7, 2010 in Dutch Language

In Dutch there are two forms of subject pronouns: the regular pronoun and the pronoun for emphasis. In English we tend to use our tone of voice to show the emphasis, but in Dutch you can use your tone of voice plus an emphasized subject pronoun to make such a distinction.

The regular subject pronouns with a regular present tense verb are as follows:

First person singular:

Ik werk: I work

Second person singular:

Je werkt : You work

U werkt : You (formal) work

Third person singular:

Hij werkt : He works

Ze werkt : She works

Het werkt : It works

First person plural:

We werken : We work

Second person plural:

Jullie werken : You all work

Third person plural:

Ze werken : They work

In Dutch we can also use the subject pronouns to show a contrast.

Nee, ik ga niet naar het feestje, maar zij gaat naar het feestje.

-No, I am not going to the party, but she is going to the party.

Emphasized subject pronouns do not exist for all subject pronouns. Pay careful attention to which emphasized subject pronouns match the regular subject pronoun:

Second person singular:

Je werkt : Jij werkt

Third person singular:

Ze werkt : Zij werkt

First person plural:

We werken : Wij werken

Third person plural:

Ze werken : Zij werken

Here are a few more examples:

1. Ik heb een nieuwe fiets gekocht met mijn vakantiegeld. Zij heeft haar vakantiegeld gespaard.

-I have bought a new bicycle with my vacation money. She has saved her vacation money.

2. Wie heeft het laatst koekje opgegeten?

-Who ate the last cookie?

Sorry, hoor. Wij hebben alle koekjes opgegeten.

-Sorry. We ate all the cookies.

3. Hij vond de film interesant, maar zij vond de film saai.

-He found the film interesting, but she found the film boring.

Here are a few questions. Try to answer them with an emphasized subject pronoun.

Met wie wil je op vakantie gaan?

Komt hij uit Frankrijk?

Willen jullie iets drinken?

Weet je wie vlakbij het park woont?

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