Language/Dutch/Grammar/Reflexive-and-Possessive-Pronouns

Dutch Grammar → Prepositions and Pronouns → Reflexive and Possessive Pronouns

Welcome to the "Complete 0 to A1 Dutch Course"! In this lesson, we will be learning about reflexive and possessive pronouns in Dutch. These pronouns play an important role in the Dutch language, and are essential for effective communication. By the end of this lesson, you will be able to use reflexive and possessive pronouns correctly and with confidence.

Reflexive Pronouns

Reflexive pronouns are used when the subject and object of a sentence are the same person. In English, reflexive pronouns are words like "myself," "yourself," and "himself." In Dutch, reflexive pronouns are formed by adding the suffix "-zelf" to the personal pronoun. Here is a table with some examples:

Dutch	Pronunciation	English
ikzelf	eek-zelf	myself
jijzelf	yai-zelf	yourself (singular)
hijzelf	hay-zelf	himself
zijzelf	zay-zelf	herself
zichzelf	zikh-zelf	himself/herself/themselves
wijzelf	vy-zelf	ourselves
jullie zelf	yul-ie-zelf	yourselves (plural)
zichzelf	zikh-zelf	themselves

Here are some examples of reflexive pronouns in use:

• Ik kleed mezelf aan. (I dress myself.)
• Hij wast zichzelf. (He washes himself.)
• Zij snijdt zichzelf vaak. (She often cuts herself.)

Possessive Pronouns

Possessive pronouns are used to indicate ownership or possession. In English, possessive pronouns are words like "mine," "yours," and "theirs." In Dutch, the possessive pronouns are formed by adding the suffix "-e" to the end of the personal pronoun. Here is a table with some examples:

Dutch	Pronunciation	English
mijn	main	my
jouw	yow	your (singular)
zijn	zain	his
haar	haar	her
zijn/hun	zain/hun	his/her/their
onze	on-zuh	our
jullie	yul-ie	your (plural)
hun	hun	their

Here are some examples of possessive pronouns in use:

• Dit is mijn boek. (This is my book.)
• Is dat jullie hond? (Is that your dog?)
• Zijn auto is rood. (His car is red.)

It's important to note that Dutch possessive pronouns agree in gender and number with the object being possessed. Thus, "mijn boek" (my book) becomes "mijn tafel" (my table) when referring to a feminine object.

Reflexive Possessive Pronouns

Reflexive possessive pronouns combine the reflexive and possessive forms in Dutch. They are formed by adding the reflexive "-zelf" suffix to the possessive pronoun. Here is a table with some examples:

Dutch	Pronunciation	English
mezelf	meh-zelf	myself
jezelf	yeh-zelf	yourself (singular)
zichzelf	zikh-zelf	himself/herself/themselves
onszelf	onz-zelf	ourselves
julliezelf	yul-ie-zelf	yourselves (plural)
zichzelf	zikh-zelf	themselves

Here are some examples of reflexive possessive pronouns in use:

• Ik was mijn eigen was. (I wash my own clothes.)
• We koken ons eigen eten. (We cook our own food.)
• Jullie moeten jullie eigen huiswerk maken. (You (plural) must do your own homework.)

Tips and Tricks

• Unlike in English, Dutch reflexive pronouns are always used, even when the subject and the object are different people.
• When using the plural "hun" as a possessive pronoun, it is often replaced with "hun eigen" (their own) to avoid confusion with the plural personal pronoun "hun."

Sources

• Dutch Grammar • Reflexive pronouns
• Dutch Possessive Adjectives and Pronouns - Language Advisor
• Dutch Grammar • Possessive pronouns
• Dutch grammar - Wikipedia

Table of Contents - Dutch Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Alphabet and Pronunciation

• Vowels and Consonants
• Accent Marks and Stress

  ---

Nouns and Articles

• Gender and Articles
• Plural and Diminutives

  ---

Verbs and Conjugation

• Present Tense and Regular Verbs
• Irregular Verbs
• Modal Verbs

  ---

Adjectives and Adverbs

• Comparison of Adjectives and Adverbs
• Order of Adjectives and Adverbs

  ---

Prepositions and Pronouns

• Prepositions of Place and Time
• Reflexive and Possessive Pronouns

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Family

• Family Members
• Family Life and Relationships

  ---

Food and Drinks

• Food and Ingredients
• Drinks and Beverages

  ---

Travel

• Means of Transport
• Travel Destinations

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Work and Jobs

• Professions and Occupations
• Job Applications and Interviews

  ---

The Netherlands

• Geography and Landmarks
• History and Traditions

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Dutch Customs

• Greetings and Etiquette
• Holidays and Celebrations

Related Lessons

• The Accusative Case in Dutch
• Cardinal Numbers in Dutch
• Modal Verbs
• Prepositions of Place and Time
• Gender and Articles
• Greetings in Dutch
• How to Use Be
• Future Tense
• Give your Opinion
• Prepositions