Language/Dutch/Grammar/Order-of-Adjectives-and-Adverbs

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◀️ Comparison of Adjectives and Adverbs — Previous Lesson Next Lesson — Prepositions of Place and Time ▶️

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Dutch → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Adjectives and Adverbs → Order of Adjectives and Adverbs

Introduction[edit | edit source]

In this lesson, we will delve into the order of adjectives and adverbs in Dutch. Understanding the correct word order is crucial for constructing meaningful and grammatically accurate sentences. By the end of this lesson, you will have a solid grasp of how to arrange adjectives and adverbs in Dutch sentences. We will explore various examples and exercises to reinforce your understanding. So, let's get started!

The Order of Adjectives[edit | edit source]

When using multiple adjectives to describe a noun in Dutch, it is important to follow a specific order. This order ensures that the sentence flows smoothly and sounds natural to native speakers. The general order of adjectives in Dutch is as follows:

1. Quantity 2. Opinion 3. Size 4. Age 5. Shape 6. Color 7. Origin 8. Material 9. Purpose

Let's take a closer look at each of these categories with examples:

Quantity[edit | edit source]

The quantity of an object or the number of things can be expressed using adjectives such as "veel" (many), "weinig" (few), or "enkele" (some).

Examples:

Dutch Pronunciation English
veel appels /feːl ˈɑpəls/ many apples
weinig tijd /ˈʋeːnəx tɛit/ few time
enkele boeken /ˈɛŋkələ ˈbukən/ some books

Opinion[edit | edit source]

Opinion adjectives express the speaker's thoughts, feelings, or judgment about something. These adjectives describe the quality, value, or attitude towards a noun.

Examples:

Dutch Pronunciation English
mooie bloemen /ˈmoːiə ˈblumən/ beautiful flowers
interessante film /ˌɪntərɛˈsɑntə ˈfɪlm/ interesting film
lekkere taart /ˈlɛkərə taːrt/ delicious cake

Size[edit | edit source]

Size adjectives describe the physical dimensions of a noun, such as "groot" (big), "klein" (small), or "lange" (long).

Examples:

Dutch Pronunciation English
grote tafel /ˈɣroːtə ˈtaːfəl/ big table
kleine auto /ˈklɛi̯nə ˈaʊ̯toː/ small car
lange weg /ˈlɑŋə ʋɛx/ long road

Age[edit | edit source]

Age adjectives indicate the age of a noun or how long it has existed. Common examples include "oude" (old), "jonge" (young), or "nieuwe" (new).

Examples:

Dutch Pronunciation English
oude stad /ˈʌdə stɑt/ old city
jonge hond /ˈjɔŋə ˈɦɔnt/ young dog
nieuwe telefoon /ˈniʋə ˈteːləˌfoːn/ new phone

Shape[edit | edit source]

Shape adjectives describe the physical form or shape of a noun. Examples include "ronde" (round), "vierkante" (square), or "rechthoekige" (rectangular).

Examples:

Dutch Pronunciation English
ronde tafel /ˈrɔndə ˈtaːfəl/ round table
vierkante doos /ˈviːrkɑntə ˈdus/ square box
rechthoekige spiegel /ˈrɛxtˌɦukəɣə ˈspixəl/ rectangular mirror

Color[edit | edit source]

Color adjectives specify the color of a noun. Common examples include "rode" (red), "blauwe" (blue), or "gele" (yellow).

Examples:

Dutch Pronunciation English
rode jurk /ˈroːdə ˈjʏrək/ red dress
blauwe lucht /ˈblʌu̯ə ˈlʏxt/ blue sky
gele bloem /ˈɣeːlə ˈblum/ yellow flower

Origin[edit | edit source]

Origin adjectives indicate the geographic or cultural origin of a noun. Examples include "Nederlandse" (Dutch), "Amerikaanse" (American), or "Franse" (French).

Examples:

Dutch Pronunciation English
Nederlandse kaas /ˈneːdərlɑntsə kaːs/ Dutch cheese
Amerikaanse auto /ˈaːməˌriːkɑnsə ˈaʊ̯toː/ American car
Franse wijn /ˈfrɑnsə ʋɛin/ French wine

Material[edit | edit source]

Material adjectives describe the substance or material from which a noun is made. Examples include "houten" (wooden), "plastic" (plastic), or "gouden" (golden).

Examples:

Dutch Pronunciation English
houten tafel /ˈɦʌutə ˈtaːfəl/ wooden table
plastic beker /ˈplɑstɪk ˈbeːkər/ plastic cup
gouden ring /ˈɣʌudə ˈrɪŋ/ golden ring

Purpose[edit | edit source]

Purpose adjectives describe the intended or specific use of a noun. Examples include "eetbare" (edible), "wandelende" (walking), or "speelgoed" (toy).

Examples:

Dutch Pronunciation English
eetbare paddenstoel /ˈeːtbɑrə ˈpɑdə(n)ˌstul/ edible mushroom
wandelende tak /ˈʋɑndələndə tɑk/ walking stick
speelgoed auto /ˈspeːlɣut ˈaʊ̯toː/ toy car

The Order of Adverbs[edit | edit source]

Similar to adjectives, adverbs in Dutch also follow a specific order when used together in a sentence. The general order of adverbs in Dutch is as follows:

1. Manner 2. Place 3. Time 4. Frequency 5. Degree

Let's take a closer look at each of these categories with examples:

Manner[edit | edit source]

Manner adverbs describe how an action is performed or the way something happens. Examples include "langzaam" (slowly), "goed" (well), or "hard" (hard).

Examples:

Dutch Pronunciation English
langzaam lopen /ˈlɑŋˌzaːm ˈloːpə(n)/ walk slowly
goed zingen /ˈɣut ˈzɪŋə(n)/ sing well
hard werken /ˈɦɑrt ˈʋɛrkə(n)/ work hard

Place[edit | edit source]

Place adverbs indicate where an action takes place or the location of something. Examples include "thuis" (at home), "hier" (here), or "ergens" (somewhere).

Examples:

Dutch Pronunciation English
thuis blijven /ˈtɦœy̯s ˈblɛi̯ʋə(n)/ stay at home
hier wonen /ˈɦiːr ˈʋoːnə(n)/ live here
ergens gaan /ˈɛrɣə(n)s ɣaːn/ go somewhere

Time[edit | edit source]

Time adverbs indicate when an action takes place or the frequency of an action. Examples include "nu" (now), "morgen" (tomorrow), or "soms" (sometimes).

Examples:

Dutch Pronunciation English
nu eten /ˈny ˈeːtə(n)/ eat now
morgen werken /ˈmɔrɣə(n) ˈʋɛrkə(n)/ work tomorrow
soms lezen /ˈsɔms ˈleːzə(n)/ sometimes read

Frequency[edit | edit source]

Frequency adverbs describe how often an action occurs. Examples include "altijd" (always), "nooit" (never), or "vaak" (often).

Examples:

Dutch Pronunciation English
altijd lachen /ˈɑlˌtɛit ˈlɑxə(n)/ always laugh
nooit opgeven /ˈnuːt ˈɔpɣeːʋə(n)/ never give up
vaak sporten /ˈvaːk ˈspɔrtə(n)/ often exercise

Degree[edit | edit source]

Degree adverbs describe the intensity or extent of an action. Examples include "heel" (very), "erg" (very), or "een beetje" (a bit).

Examples:

Dutch Pronunciation English
heel blij /ˈɦeːl ˈblɛi̯/ very happy
erg moe /ˈɛrx ˈmuː/ very tired
een beetje warm /ˈeːn ˈbeːtjə ˈʋɑrm/ a bit warm

Cultural Insights[edit | edit source]

The order of adjectives and adverbs in Dutch is influenced by the language's historical development and cultural norms. While the specific order may seem arbitrary, it has been established over time to ensure clear communication and to maintain the flow of the language. Understanding and following this order will help you sound more natural and fluent when speaking Dutch.

An interesting cultural fact about adjectives and adverbs in Dutch is that the language tends to make frequent use of compound words. This means that rather than using multiple adjectives or adverbs, Dutch often combines them into a single word. For example, instead of saying "very beautiful," a Dutch speaker might use the word "prachtig" which combines the meanings of "very" and "beautiful" into one word.

Practice Exercises[edit | edit source]

Now that we have covered the order of adjectives and adverbs in Dutch, it's time to put your knowledge into practice. Complete the following exercises to reinforce your understanding:

Exercise 1: Adjective Order 1. Translate the following phrases into Dutch while maintaining the correct order of adjectives: 

  a. "A small blue car" -> "Een kleine blauwe auto"
  b. "An old wooden house" -> "Een oud houten huis"
  c. "A delicious Italian pizza" -> "Een lekkere Italiaanse pizza"

2. Rearrange the adjectives in the following phrases to match the correct order in Dutch: 

  a. "Een mooie nieuwe fiets" -> "Een nieuwe mooie fiets"
  b. "Een grote rode ballon" -> "Een rode grote ballon"
  c. "Een oude ronde tafel" -> "Een ronde oude tafel"

Exercise 2: Adverb Order 1. Translate the following phrases into Dutch while maintaining the correct order of adverbs: 

  a. "She sings beautifully" -> "Ze zingt prachtig"
  b. "He works hard" -> "Hij werkt hard"
  c. "They always arrive late" -> "Ze komen altijd laat"

2. Rearrange the adverbs in the following phrases to match the correct order in Dutch: 

  a. "Hij eet nu snel" -> "Hij eet snel nu"
  b. "Ze slaapt altijd goed" -> "Ze slaapt goed altijd"
  c. "Ik kom morgen wel" -> "Ik kom wel morgen"

Solutions[edit | edit source]

Exercise 1: Adjective Order 1. a. "Een kleine blauwe auto" 

  b. "Een oud houten huis"
  c. "Een lekkere Italiaanse pizza"

2. a. "Een mooie nieuwe fiets" 

  b. "Een grote rode ballon"
  c. "Een oude ronde tafel"

Exercise 2: Adverb Order 1. a. "Ze zingt prachtig" 

  b. "Hij werkt hard"
  c. "Ze komen altijd laat"

2. a. "Hij eet snel nu" 

  b. "Ze slaapt goed altijd"
  c. "Ik kom wel morgen"

Conclusion[edit | edit source]

Congratulations! You have successfully learned the order of adjectives and adverbs in Dutch. By understanding and applying this knowledge, you will be able to construct more accurate and natural-sounding sentences. Keep practicing and incorporating these concepts into your Dutch language skills. Well done!

Table of Contents - Dutch Course - 0 to A1[edit source]


Alphabet and Pronunciation


Nouns and Articles


Verbs and Conjugation


Adjectives and Adverbs


Prepositions and Pronouns


Family


Food and Drinks


Travel


Work and Jobs


The Netherlands


Dutch Customs


Sources[edit | edit source]


Other Lessons[edit | edit source]



◀️ Comparison of Adjectives and Adverbs — Previous Lesson Next Lesson — Prepositions of Place and Time ▶️

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