Language/Dutch/Grammar/Negation

Dutch Grammar - Negation

Hi Dutch learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will be discussing the basics of negation in Dutch. Negation is an important part of any language, and it is essential to understand how to use it correctly in order to communicate effectively. We will look at the different ways to express negation in Dutch, as well as some examples of how to use them. So let's get started!

Negation in Dutch

Negation in Dutch is expressed in a few different ways. The most common way is by using the word niet (not). This is used to negate verbs, adjectives, and adverbs. For example:

Dutch	Pronunciation	English Translation
Ik ben niet moe	/ɪk bɛn nit moː/	I am not tired
Het is niet koud	/ɦɛt ɪs nit kʌut/	It is not cold
Ze spreekt niet snel	/zə sprɛkt nit snɛl/	She does not speak quickly
Hij loopt niet hard	/ɦɛi lɔpt nit ɦɑrt/	He does not run fast

Another way to express negation in Dutch is by using the word geen (no). This is used to negate nouns and pronouns. For example:

Dutch	Pronunciation	English Translation
Ik heb geen hond	/ɪk ɦɛb xɛn ɦɔnt/	I do not have a dog
Zij heeft geen auto	/zɛi ɦɛft xɛn ɑuto/	She does not have a car
Wij hebben geen tijd	/vɛi ɦɛbən xɛn tɛi/	We do not have time
Jullie hebben geen geld	/jʏli ɦɛbən xɛn ɣɛlt/	You do not have money

Finally, there is the word niets (nothing). This is used to negate a sentence or phrase. For example:

Dutch	Pronunciation	English Translation
Ik heb niets gezegd	/ɪk ɦɛb nitʃ xəzɛxt/	I said nothing
Zij heeft niets gedaan	/zɛi ɦɛft nitʃ ɣədaːn/	She did nothing
Wij hebben niets gezien	/vɛi ɦɛbən nitʃ xəziːn/	We saw nothing
Jullie hebben niets gehoord	/jʏli ɦɛbən nitʃ xəɦoːrt/	You heard nothing

It is important to note that the word niets can also be used to negate a verb, adjective, or adverb. For example:

Dutch	Pronunciation	English Translation
Ik ben niets vergeten	/ɪk bɛn nitʃ vərɣətən/	I have forgotten nothing
Het is niets leuk	/ɦɛt ɪs nitʃ løk/	It is not fun
Ze spreekt niets snel	/zə sprɛkt nitʃ snɛl/	She does not speak quickly
Hij loopt niets hard	/ɦɛi lɔpt nitʃ ɦɑrt/	He does not run fast

It is also important to note that the word niets can be used to negate a sentence or phrase that contains a verb, adjective, or adverb. For example:

Dutch	Pronunciation	English Translation
Ik heb niets leuks gezegd	/ɪk ɦɛb nitʃ løks xəzɛxt/	I said nothing fun
Zij heeft niets interessants gedaan	/zɛi ɦɛft nitʃ ɪntərɛsɑnts ɣədaːn/	She did nothing interesting
Wij hebben niets moois gezien	/vɛi ɦɛbən nitʃ moːs xəziːn/	We saw nothing beautiful
Jullie hebben niets interessants gehoord	/jʏli ɦɛbən nitʃ ɪntərɛsɑnts xəɦoːrt/	You heard nothing interesting

Now that you know the basics of negation in Dutch, it's time to practice!

Practice

To improve your Dutch Grammar, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!

Try to create your own sentences using the words niet, geen, and niets. Here are some examples to get you started:

• Ik heb geen auto.
• Zij heeft niets gezegd.
• Wij hebben niets gezien.
• Jullie hebben geen geld.

Once you have created your own sentences, try to find a native speaker on the Polyglot Club website to practice with. Good luck!

---

➡ If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.
➡ Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎

Related Lessons

• How to use “to speak” in Dutch
• The Dative Case in Dutch
• Prepositions
• Definite Articles in Dutch
• Plural
• The Accusative Case in Dutch
• Conditional Mood
• Possessive Case in Dutch
• The Nominative Case in Dutch