In the dutch language how do you know when to use 'De' or 'Het?

Question

I'm soo confused when writting letters and mails it really looks like i'm bad at the language

Please help

Answer 1

Hi,

There are rules for using "de" or "het".

First of all, most words are "de".

You can always find in a dictionary whether to use "de" or "het": "het" words are called "neutral" or "onzijdig", indicated with an "n" or an "o" in your dictionary.

Here are some rules that might help you:

- Always "de" for plural: • de appels, de jassen

- Always "de" for professions and for people: • de bakker, de schilder , de broer, de tante

- Always "de" for vegetables, fruits, trees and plants: • de bloemkool, de citroen, de eik

- Always "de" for names of mountains and rivers:• de Etna, de Maas

- Always "de" for words ending on -ing, -ie,- ij, -heid, -teit,-a, -nis, -st, -schap, -de, -te, -iek, -ica, -theek, -iteit, -tuur, -stuur, -sis, -xis, -tis, -ade, -ide, -ode, -ude, -age, -ine, -se, -ea: • de samenleving, de spatie, de vrijheid, de kwaliteit, de agenda, de kennis, de winst, de blijdschap, de liefde, de crisis, de alinea

- Always "het" for a diminutive: • het kindje

- Always "het" for words sonsisting of two syllables and starting with be-, ge-, ver-, ont-: • het begrip, het gedrag, het verlies, het ontzag

- Always "het" for languages:• het Russisch

- Always "het" for names of metals: het ijzer, het koper

- Always "het" for words ending on -isme, -ment:• het Boedhisme, het moment

- Always "het" for words derived from verbs:
• het slapen

There are exceptions to some of these rules but I think they might help you.

I'm a native speaker and I teach Dutch as a foreign language

Answer 2

Bedankt Karlijn! I learned something, I didn't think there were rules of any kind. I thought it was all random and you just had to memorize them. This will at least help me to guess better when I'm not sure which one to use...

Answer 3

It's like many other languages -- you have to grit your teeth and learn it, word by word! http://www.geocities.com/stevenedw/dehet.html