Cannabis Ruderalis

thcscience_admin
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Iblardi (talk | contribs)
Extended confirmed users
4,868 edits
Bombshell (talk | contribs)
470 edits
revert to last version by Scavenger, to many incorrect changes
Line 4: Line 4:
'''Archaic Dutch declension''' was the [[declension]]al system of the [[Dutch language]] as it was prescribed the Dutch by Dutch grammarians in the 19th century. It was never spoken by Dutch people, but was required as a formality in most forms of writing. It was generally unpopular, not only for being an arbitrary, enforced system of grammar but moreover, especially during the Nazi Era, for deriving its grammatical case system from High German. The whole system was disavowed and annulled by the Taalunie (Dutch Language Union) in the early 1950s as a bad and regrettable mistake in prescriptive linguistics. During this period, Dutch writing [[marker (linguistics)|marked]] [[noun]]s, [[pronoun]]s, [[grammatical article|article]]s, and [[adjective]]s to distinguish [[grammatical case|case]], [[grammatical number|number]], and [[grammatical gender|gender]].
'''Archaic Dutch declension''' was the [[declension]]al system of the [[Dutch language]] as it was prescribed the Dutch by Dutch grammarians in the 19th century. It was never spoken by Dutch people, but was required as a formality in most forms of writing. It was generally unpopular, not only for being an arbitrary, enforced system of grammar but moreover, especially during the Nazi Era, for deriving its grammatical case system from High German. The whole system was disavowed and annulled by the Taalunie (Dutch Language Union) in the early 1950s as a bad and regrettable mistake in prescriptive linguistics. During this period, Dutch writing [[marker (linguistics)|marked]] [[noun]]s, [[pronoun]]s, [[grammatical article|article]]s, and [[adjective]]s to distinguish [[grammatical case|case]], [[grammatical number|number]], and [[grammatical gender|gender]].


'''Dutch''' writing, distinguished between four cases—[[nominative case|nominative]], [[genitive case|genitive]], [[dative case|dative]], and [[accusative case|accusative]] (sometimes also the [[locative]] existed); and three [[grammatical gender]]s—feminine, masculine, and neuter. Nouns could also be either [[Grammatical number|singular]] or [[plural]]. By this time in spoken language however, only common and neuter gender and singular and plural nouns were actually used and these were no longer subject to further inflexion.
'''Dutch''' writing, distinguished between four cases—[[nominative case|nominative]], [[genitive case|genitive]], [[dative case|dative]], and [[accusative case|accusative]] (sometimes also the [[locative]] existed); and three [[grammatical gender]]s—feminine, masculine, and neuter. Nouns could also be either [[singular]] or [[plural]]. By this time in spoken language however, only the [[nominative case|nominative]] case, common and neuter gender and singular and plural nouns were actually used.


==Usage of the Dutch case system==
==Usage of the Dutch casesystem==
Since the late 17th century, in nouns, only the uninflected form (morphologically equal to the [[nominative]]) was still used, with a limited adjectival or possessive form of the [[genitive]] also still being productive. In Standard Dutch, unless they are proper names, clauses in which complements are brought to the head are considered archaic. Thus "Jans auto" (John's car), where the complement as head is a proper name is productive and in common usage. But a clause such as "des dages eind" (the day's end), where the complement is not a proper name and hence requires gender, case and number agreement is considered ungrammatical unless one is invoking an extreme archaism. Technically speaking the [[dative]] case is still required after the preposition "te" (to). However this preposition itself has become unproductive, and only results in dative constructions where it is being used with fixed expressions, such as "ten slotte" (finally), "te allen tijde" [http://taaladvies.net/taal/advies/vraag/783/]. Nowadays, the prepostion "te" is only used productively in relation to proper place names. For example, "Het Rijksmuseum te Amsterdam" (The national museum in Amsterdam). The accusative case was left for objects of transitive verbs and objects of all prepositions, bar "te". However, as distinctions between the grammatical cases were only weakly felt among speakers of Dutch, and as the feminine and neuter declensions were identical in the nominative and accusative, while the masculine declension was identical for the accusative and dative, endless confusion reigned.
Since the late 17th century only the [[nominative]] was still used, with a limited adjectival or possessive form of the [[genitive]] also still being productive. In Standard Dutch, unless they are proper names, clauses in which complements are brought to the head are considered archaic. Thus "Jans auto" (John's car), where the complement as head is a proper name is productive and in common usage. But a clause such as "des dages eind" (the day's end), where the complement is not a proper name and hence requires gender, case and number agreement is considered ungrammatical unless one is invoking an extreme archaism. Technically speaking the [[dative]] case is still required after the preposition "te" (to). However this preposition itself has become unproductive, and only results in dative constructions where it is being used with fixed expressions, such as "ten slotte" (finally), "te allen tijde" [http://taaladvies.net/taal/advies/vraag/783/]. Nowadays, the prepostion "te" is only used productively in relation to proper place names. For example, "Het Rijksmuseum te Amsterdam" (The national museum in Amsterdam). The accusative case was left for objects of transitive verbs and objects of all prepositions, bar "te". However, as Dutch people had no feeling for case, and as the feminine and neuter declensions were identical in the nominative and accusative, while the masculine declension was identical for the accusative and dative, endless confusion reigned. To this day Dutch people cringe when they hear the phrase "vierde naamval" (accusative case).




===Nominative===
===Nominative===
The following [[sentence element]]s are always in the [[nominative]]:
The nominative (''eerste naamval'') is the most frequent case in [[Dutch language|Dutch]], normally following [[sentence element]]s are allways in the [[nominative]]:
*The [[subject]]: '''Ik''' ga naar school ('''I''' go to school)
*The [[subject]]: '''Ik''' ga naar school ('''I''' go to school)
*The [[attribute]]: Peter is '''piloot''' (Peter is '''a pilot''')
*The [[attribute]]: Peter is '''piloot''' (Peter is '''a pilot''')
*The [[direct object]] (only [[pronoun]]s demand the [[accusative]] case): Anja schildert '''de muur''' (Anja paints '''the wall''')
⚫
*The [[indirect object]] (only [[pronoun]]s demand the [[dative]] case): Joop geeft '''het meisje''' een ijsje (Joop gives an ice-cream '''to the girl''')
⚫
*All other [[object]]s are allways in the [[nominative]] case: '''Deze maandag''' is hij niet naar school gegaan ('''This Monday''' he didn't go to school)
⚫
*The nominative is required after all prepositions, except for the preposition '''te''', fixed expressions and some prepositions with a figurative meaning (only pronouns demand the accusative case): aan '''de boom''' (on '''the tree'''), door '''het huis''' (through '''the house''')


===Genitive===
===Genitive===
The genitive (''tweede naamval'') was used in the following cases:
The genitive (''tweede naamval'') is used in following cases:
*As a [[genitive|possessive]]: ''''s mans''' hoed ('''the man's''' hat) (''archaic''); '''Peters''' vriend ('''Peter's''' friend) (''common'')
*As a [[genitive|possesive]]: ''''s mans hoed''' ('''the man's''' hat), '''Peters''' vriend ( a friend of '''Peter's''')
*As a generalising [[attribute]]: '''Zoon des mensen''' (Son of Man) (''archaic, biblical'')
*As a generalising [[attribute]]: '''Zoon des mensen''' (Son of man)
*As an adverbial complement: het rijk '''der natuur''' (the realm '''of nature''') (''archaic'')
*As an adverbial complement: het rijk '''der natuur''' (the riches '''of nature''')
*As an [[adverbial genitive]]: ''''s Maandags''' studeert ze aardrijkskunde (she studies geography on '''Mondays''') (''"fossilized" genitive, common'')
*As an [[adverbial genitive]]: ''''s Maandags''' studeert ze aardrijkskunde (she studies geography '''Mondays''')


A possessive genitive can be replaced by the preposition '''van''' + nominative case (i.e. a prepositional phrase):
A possesive genetive can be replaced by the preposition '''van''' + nominative case (unless the genitive is regarding a person's name) (i.e. a prepositional phrase):
*de hoed '''van de man''' (''common'')
*de hoed '''van de man'''
*de/een vriend '''van Peter''' (Peter's friend / a friend of Peter's) (''common'')
*"de vriend '''van Peter'''" --> wrong
The (possessive) genitives of the personal pronouns are normally replaced by the possessive pronouns or by the preposition '''van''' + accusative case of the personal pronoun
The (possesive) genitives of the personal pronouns are normally replaced by the possesive pronouns
*"een vriend '''mijner'''"-->wrong
*'''mijn''' vriend, een vriend '''van mij''' ('''my''' friend, a friend '''of mine''') (''common'')
*Één '''hunner''' kon ontsnappen (''archaic'')
*'''mijn''' vriend ('''my''' friend)
*Één '''van hen''' kon ontsnappen (One '''of them''' was able to escape) (''common'')
*Één '''hunner''' kon ontsnappen-->archaic
*Een '''van hen''' kon ontsnappen (One '''of them''' was able to escape)
*Onfermt u '''mijner''' (Have mercy on me) (''fixed expression; archaic, biblical'')
*Onfermt u '''mijner''' (Have mercy on me, fixed expression)


===Dative===
===Dative===
The dative (''derde naamval'') is used in the following situations:
The dative (''derde naamval'') is used in the following cases:
⚫
* As the indirect object: Joop geeft het meisje een ijsje (Joop gives an ice-cream to the girl)
⚫
- Pronouns are inflected: Hij gaf '''hun''' het boek (He gave '''them''' the book)
*After the preposition '''te''' (personal pronouns demand the [[locative]] case): '''ter plekke''' ('''at the place'''), '''ten einde''' ('''at the end''') (These are always fixed expressions, and never felt or productibe uses of the dative case)
*After the preposition '''te''' (personal pronouns demand the [[locative]] case): '''ter plekke''' ('''at the place'''), '''ten einde''' ('''at the end''') (These are always fixed expressions, and never felt or productibe uses of the dative case)
⚫
*As the indirect object of pronouns: Hij gaf '''hun''' het boek (He gave '''them''' the book)
*After prepositions with a figurative meaning: in '''den beginne''' (in '''the beginning''')
*After prepositions with a figurative meaning: in '''den beginne''' (in '''the beginning''')


===Accusative===
===Accusative===
The accusative (''vierde naamval'') is used in the following cases:
The accusative (''vierde naamval'') is used in the following cases:
*As the [[direct object]]: Anja schildert '''de muur''' (Anja paints '''the wall''')
*As the direct object of pronouns: Gij sloegt '''mij''' (You hit '''me''')
- Pronouns are inflected: Gij sloegt '''mij''' (You hit '''me''')
*As a pronoun follows a preposition other than '''te''': door '''mij''' (by '''me'''), bij '''hen''' (at their place)
⚫
*The accusative is required after all prepositions, except for the preposition '''te''', fixed expressions (such as '''in genen dele''' (in no way)) and some prepositions with a figurative meaning (only pronouns demand the accusative case): aan '''de boom''' (on '''the tree'''), door '''het huis''' (through '''the house''')
- Use with pronouns (all prepositions other than '''te'''): door '''mij''' (by '''me'''), bij '''hen''' (at their place)
⚫
*In [[adverbial phrase|adverbial phrases]]: {{fact}} '''Deze maandag''' is hij niet naar school gegaan ('''This Monday''' he didn't go to school)


===Vocative===
===Vocative===
Line 209: Line 210:




The articles een, ene, eens and enen can be shortened to 'n, 'ne, 'ns and 'nen: (in modern Dutch, only the first one, '''n'', is in use, and is generally considered a colloquial form)
The articles een, ene, eens and enen are often shortened to 'n, 'ne, 'ns and 'nen:


*een paard --> 'n paard (a horse) (NEU)
*een paard --> 'n paard (a horse) (NEU)
Line 216: Line 217:
*enen koning --> 'nen koning (a king) (MAS)
*enen koning --> 'nen koning (a king) (MAS)


The normal form of the nominative masculine singular is '''een'''. In certain varieties of non-Standard Dutch such as in [[Belgium]] however, normally the form '''ene''' is used. (Note that in Standard Dutch writing the [[numeral pronoun]] '''ene''' can be used in conjunction with an article when one whishes to stress that it is only concerning one thing/person: ''die ene man'', ''dat ene kind'' (i.e. not another one); in that case, one often writes '''éne''' to stress this fact.)
The normal form of the nominative masculine singular is '''een'''. In vertain varieties of non-Standard Dutch such as in[[Belgium]] however, normally the form '''ene''' is used. In Standar Dutch writing the form '''ene''' is only used when one whishes to stress that it is only concerning one thing/person. Often one writes '''éne''' to stress this fact. An [[Diacritic|accent]] is used to stress the singular in the other articles ''één'', ''éne'', ''ééns'', ''éner'', ''énen''.


Only the [[nominative]] case and the [[genitive]] case are still used, although the use of the genitive seems to be a little archaic. Furthermore the [[dative]] and the [[accusative]] are only used in fixed expressions and after prepositions with a figurative meaning.
Only the [[nominative]] case and the [[genitive]] case are still used, although the use of the genitive seems to be a little archaic. Furthermore the [[dative]] and the [[accusative]] are only used in fixed expressions and after prepositions with a figurative meaning.
Line 285: Line 286:
== Nouns<ref>http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verbuiging_van_het_zelfstandig_naamwoord</ref> ==
== Nouns<ref>http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verbuiging_van_het_zelfstandig_naamwoord</ref> ==


In [[Dutch language|Dutch]] [[noun]]s are inflected in some cases. Most Dutch masculine and neuter nouns have four forms, e.g. hui'''s''', hui'''ze''', hui'''zes''', hui'''zen'''. These nouns are called '''strong nouns''' (''sterke zelfstandige naamwoorden''). Feminine and plural nouns have three forms over four cases: vrouw, vrouwe, vrouwen. These are '''feminine nouns''' (''vrouwelijke zelfstandige naamwoorden'') (with the exception of female names, these are strong). Certain masculine nouns have three forms, e.g. de mens, den mens, den mense, des mensen (plural de mensen, den mensen, der mensen). These nouns are called '''weak nouns''' (''zwakke substantieven''). A single neuter noun is properly classed as weak. This is the noun "hart" (heart). It is declined as follows: het hart (SING NOM ACC) den harte (SING DAT) des harten (SING GEN); de harten (PLU NOM ACC) den harten (PLU DAT) der harten (PLU GEN).
In [[Dutch language|Dutch]] [[noun]]s are inflected in some cases. Most Dutch masculine and neuter nouns have four forms, e.g. hui'''s''', hui'''ze''', hui'''zes''', hui'''zen'''. These nouns are called '''strong nouns''' (''sterke zelfstandige naamwoorden''). Feminine and plural nouns have three forms over four cases: vrouw, vrouwe, vrouwen. These are '''feminine nouns''' (''vrouwelijke zelfstandige naamwoorden'') (with the exception of female names, these are strong). Certain masculine nouns have three forms, e.g. de mens, den mens, den mense, des mensen (plural de mensen, den mensen, der mensen). These nouns are called '''weak nouns''' (''zwakke substantieven''). A single neuter noun is properly classed as weak. This is the noun "hart" (heart). It is declined as follows: het hart (SING NOM ACC) den garte (SING DAT) des harten (SING GEN); de harten (PLU NOM ACC) den harten (PLU DAT) der harten (PLU GEN).


It must be kept in mind though, that due to the latency of the Dutch case system, its disappearance in modern times and its arbitrary enforcement in recent times, may nouns in Dutch are of uncertain gender. To this extent one will come across fixed expressions such as "te zijner tijd" (declined for the singular, dative, feminine) alongside "destijds" (declined for the singular, genitive, masculine/neuter). As "tijd" in modern Dutch is a common gender noun, and case is not anyway felt, this poses no problem. A Dutch speaker simply knows these expressions by heart without doing any overt or latent grammatical analysis upon them.
It must be kept in mind though, that due to the latency of the Dutch case system, its disappearance in modern times and its arbitrary enforcement in recent times, may nouns in Dutch are of uncertain gender. To this extent one will come across fixed expressions such as "te zijner tijd" (declined for the singular, dative, feminine) alongside "destijds" (declined for the singular, genitive, masculine/neuter). As "tijd" in modern Dutch is a common gender noun, and case is not anyway felt, this poses no problem. A Dutch speaker simply knows these expressions by heart without doing any overt or latent grammatical analysis upon them.
Line 689: Line 690:
|}
|}


*The declension after certain [[pronouns]] that are declined as the definite article, is the same as the declension after the definite article.
*The declension after certain [[pronouns]] that are declined as the definite article, is the same as the declension after the definite article


*Only the [[nominative]], the [[genitive]] and the [[dative]] after the [[preposition]] ''te'' are still used, although the genitive is some what archaic. The [[dative]] and [[accusative]] are also used in fixed expressions and after prepositions with a figurative meaning.
*Only the [[nominative]], the [[genitive]] and the [[dative]] after the [[preposition]] ''te'' are still used, although the genitive is some what archaic. The [[dative]] and [[accusative]] are also used in fixed expressions and after prepositions with a figurative meaning.
Line 697: Line 698:
*This is true for all fabric names: they never have an ending: e.g. de platina plaat (the platina plate), de linoleum vloerbedekking (the linoleum floor).
*This is true for all fabric names: they never have an ending: e.g. de platina plaat (the platina plate), de linoleum vloerbedekking (the linoleum floor).


*There exists a distinction between the forms ''een grote man'' (which is the common form) and ''een groot man'' and likewise between ''een arme man'' (common) and ''een arm man''. The last forms are used in respectively a more figurative and a more generalising way of speech:
*There exists a distinction between the forms ''het groot kind'' en ''het grote kind'' (nom./acc. n. sg.)
**''het groot kind'' is used in a generalizing way of speech: ''Gij zijt echt belachelijk. Groot kind!'' (You are really ridiculous. Big child!)
**''Hij is een grote man'' (He is a big (i.e. tall) man) as compared to ''Hij is een groot man'' (He is a great man, i.e. 'great' in a special, non-literal sense).
**''het grote kind'' is the usual form and is always used if there are more than one things: ''Het grote en het kleine kind'' (The big and the small child)
**''Hij is een arme man'' in comparison to ''Hij is een arm (or: armlastig) man'' (both meaning: he is a poor man). In this case, the second form has a more general and a more archaising sound to it; the archaic adjective ''armlastig(e)'' (poor), for instance, could not be used in the first example.
*It should be noted, however, that this difference, especially in the last example, is a very subtle one.


=== The adjective precedes a noun and is itself preceded by an indefinite article ===
=== The adjective precedes a noun and is itself preceded by an indefinite article ===
Line 896: Line 896:
*This is true for all fabric names: they never have an ending: e.g. het platina (the platina), het linoleum (the linoleum).
*This is true for all fabric names: they never have an ending: e.g. het platina (the platina), het linoleum (the linoleum).


Caution: sometimes adjectives are not perceived as adjectives, but simply as nouns: e.g. nicknames, surnames, etc.
Caution: sometimes adjectives are not perceived as adjectives, but simply as nouns: e.g. nicknames, surnames,...


* ''Kleines'' pet werd door de klas gesmeten. (Kleine's (=''Little's'') hat was thrown through the classroom) (''Kleine'' = nickname)
* De ''Kleines'' pet werd door de klas gesmeten. (Kleine's (=''Little's'') hat was thrown through the classroom) (''Kleine'' = nickname)
* De ''De Grotes'' waren weer eens te laat. (The De Grotes (The Greats) were late again) (''De Grote'' = surname)
* De ''De Grotes'' waren weeral 'ns te laat. (The De Grotes (The Greats) weren't on time) (''De Grote'' = surname)
<br>
<br>
{|border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="4"
{|border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="4"
Line 972: Line 972:
* ''oud - ouder - oudst'' (old - elder - eldest)
* ''oud - ouder - oudst'' (old - elder - eldest)


However there are some exceptions to this rule (so-called irregular forms):
However there are some exceptions to this rule:
* ''goed - beter - best'' (good/well - better - best, adjective and adverb)
* ''goed - beter - best'' (good/well - better - best, adjective and adverb)
* ''veel - meer - meest'' (much/many - more - most, adjective and adverb)
* ''veel - meer - meest'' (much/many - more - most, adjective and adverb)
Line 980: Line 980:
If an adjective's or adverb's root ends on an ''s'', ''z'', ''x'', ''sh'' or ''sch'', no s is added for the superlative:
If an adjective's or adverb's root ends on an ''s'', ''z'', ''x'', ''sh'' or ''sch'', no s is added for the superlative:
* ''precies - preciezer - preciest'' (precize - more precize - most precize)
* ''precies - preciezer - preciest'' (precize - more precize - most precize)
* ''archaïsch - archaïscher - archaïscht'' (arhaic - more archaic - most archaic)


Sometimes words are splitted into two parts:
Sometimes words are splitted into two parts:
* ''dichtbevolkt - dichter bevolkt - dichtstbevolkt'' (populated - more populated - most populated)
* ''dichtbevolkt - dichter bevolkt - dichtstbevolkt'' (populated - more populated - most populated)


Normally the conjunction ''dan'' is used after the comparative, some people use ''als'' (however, this is colloquial usage; ''als'' is considered to be incorrect and is not used in written language).
Normally the conjunction ''dan'' is used after the comparative, some people use ''als'' (however there are people who consider ''als'' to be incorrect).


*Ik ben rijker ''dan'' hij. (I am richer than he)
*Ik ben rijker ''dan'' hij. (I am richer than he)
*Ik ben rijker ''als'' hij. (I am richer than he) (incorrect usage)
*Ik ben rijker ''als'' hij. (I am richer than he)


Note: the constituent after ''dan'' or ''als'' is in the same case as the refferent: ik (nom.) --> hij (nom.); mij(acc.) --> jou (acc.)
Note: the constituent after ''dan'' or ''als'' is in the same case as the refferent: ik (nom.) --> hij (nom.); mij(acc.) --> jou (acc.)


*Hij sloeg mij harder dan jou. (He beat me harder than (he beat) you)
*Hij sloeg mij harder als jou. (He beat me harder than (he beat) you)
*Hij sloeg mij harder dan jij. (He beat me harder than you (beat me))
*Hij sloeg mij harder als jij. (He beat me harder than you (beat me))


Using ''meer'' (more) en ''meest'' (most): some adjectives do not have normal degrees of comparison, in these cases ''meer'' (comparative) en ''meest'' (superlative) are used. There are also mixed forms:
Using ''meer'' (more) en ''meest'' (most): some adjectives do not have normal degrees of comparison, in these cases ''meer'' (comparative) en ''meest'' (superlative) are used:


*bereid - meer bereid - meest bereid (prepared - more prepared - most prepared)
*bereid - meer bereid - meest bereid (prepared - more prepared - most prepared)
*archaïsch - archaïscher - meest archaïsch (archaic - more archaic - most archaic)<ref>http://vrttaal.net/taaldatabanken_master/spellen_schrijven/a-az/st-a0117.shtml</ref>


It is considered incorrect to use ''meer'' en ''meest'' if the degrees of comparison exist:
It is considered incorrect to use ''meer'' en ''meest'' if the degrees of comparison exist:
Line 1,533: Line 1,533:
=== Interrogative pronoun ===
=== Interrogative pronoun ===


Dutch has 2 interrogative pronouns: '''wie/wat''' and '''welk(e)''' (the adjective form).
Dutch has 2 interrogativepronouns: wie and welk(e).
For the declension of '''wie''', see the relative pronoun article; for the declension of '''welk(e)''', see declension of the adjective preceding a noun that is not preceded by an article.
For the declension of wie, see the relative pronoun
article,
For the declension of welk(e), see declension of the adjective preceding a noun, that is not preceded by an article


=== Reflexive pronoun ===
=== Reflexive pronoun ===
Line 1,581: Line 1,583:
=== Reciprocal pronoun ===
=== Reciprocal pronoun ===


Dutch has three reciprocal pronouns: elkaar, elkander and mekaar. The reciprocal pronoun does not have a [[nominative]] and a [[Grammatical number|singular]].
Dutch has three reciprocal pronouns: elkaar, elkander and mekaar. The reciprocal pronoun does not have a [[nominative]] and a [[singular]].


{|border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="4"
{|border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="4"
Line 1,611: Line 1,613:


[[Category:Dutch language]]
[[Category:Dutch language]]

==References==
{{refs}}

Revision as of 21:34, 11 April 2007

Part of a series on
Dutch grammar
Dutch verbs
Dutch nouns
Dutch orthography
Dutch phonology

Archaic Dutch declension was the declensional system of the Dutch language as it was prescribed the Dutch by Dutch grammarians in the 19th century. It was never spoken by Dutch people, but was required as a formality in most forms of writing. It was generally unpopular, not only for being an arbitrary, enforced system of grammar but moreover, especially during the Nazi Era, for deriving its grammatical case system from High German. The whole system was disavowed and annulled by the Taalunie (Dutch Language Union) in the early 1950s as a bad and regrettable mistake in prescriptive linguistics. During this period, Dutch writing marked nouns, pronouns, articles, and adjectives to distinguish case, number, and gender.

Dutch writing, distinguished between four cases—nominative, genitive, dative, and accusative (sometimes also the locative existed); and three grammatical genders—feminine, masculine, and neuter. Nouns could also be either singular or plural. By this time in spoken language however, only the nominative case, common and neuter gender and singular and plural nouns were actually used.

Usage of the Dutch casesystem

Since the late 17th century only the nominative was still used, with a limited adjectival or possessive form of the genitive also still being productive. In Standard Dutch, unless they are proper names, clauses in which complements are brought to the head are considered archaic. Thus "Jans auto" (John's car), where the complement as head is a proper name is productive and in common usage. But a clause such as "des dages eind" (the day's end), where the complement is not a proper name and hence requires gender, case and number agreement is considered ungrammatical unless one is invoking an extreme archaism. Technically speaking the dative case is still required after the preposition "te" (to). However this preposition itself has become unproductive, and only results in dative constructions where it is being used with fixed expressions, such as "ten slotte" (finally), "te allen tijde" [1]. Nowadays, the prepostion "te" is only used productively in relation to proper place names. For example, "Het Rijksmuseum te Amsterdam" (The national museum in Amsterdam). The accusative case was left for objects of transitive verbs and objects of all prepositions, bar "te". However, as Dutch people had no feeling for case, and as the feminine and neuter declensions were identical in the nominative and accusative, while the masculine declension was identical for the accusative and dative, endless confusion reigned. To this day Dutch people cringe when they hear the phrase "vierde naamval" (accusative case).


Nominative

The nominative (eerste naamval) is the most frequent case in Dutch, normally following sentence elements are allways in the nominative:

  • The subject: Ik ga naar school (I go to school)
  • The attribute: Peter is piloot (Peter is a pilot)
  • The direct object (only pronouns demand the accusative case): Anja schildert de muur (Anja paints the wall)
  • The indirect object (only pronouns demand the dative case): Joop geeft het meisje een ijsje (Joop gives an ice-cream to the girl)
  • All other objects are allways in the nominative case: Deze maandag is hij niet naar school gegaan (This Monday he didn't go to school)
  • The nominative is required after all prepositions, except for the preposition te, fixed expressions and some prepositions with a figurative meaning (only pronouns demand the accusative case): aan de boom (on the tree), door het huis (through the house)

Genitive

The genitive (tweede naamval) is used in following cases:

  • As a possesive: 's mans hoed (the man's hat), Peters vriend ( a friend of Peter's)
  • As a generalising attribute: Zoon des mensen (Son of man)
  • As an adverbial complement: het rijk der natuur (the riches of nature)
  • As an adverbial genitive: 's Maandags studeert ze aardrijkskunde (she studies geography Mondays)

A possesive genetive can be replaced by the preposition van + nominative case (unless the genitive is regarding a person's name) (i.e. a prepositional phrase):

  • de hoed van de man
  • "de vriend van Peter" --> wrong

The (possesive) genitives of the personal pronouns are normally replaced by the possesive pronouns

  • "een vriend mijner"-->wrong
  • mijn vriend (my friend)
  • Één hunner kon ontsnappen-->archaic
  • Een van hen kon ontsnappen (One of them was able to escape)
  • Onfermt u mijner (Have mercy on me, fixed expression)

Dative

The dative (derde naamval) is used in the following cases:

  • After the preposition te (personal pronouns demand the locative case): ter plekke (at the place), ten einde (at the end) (These are always fixed expressions, and never felt or productibe uses of the dative case)
  • As the indirect object of pronouns: Hij gaf hun het boek (He gave them the book)
  • After prepositions with a figurative meaning: in den beginne (in the beginning)

Accusative

The accusative (vierde naamval) is used in the following cases:

  • As the direct object of pronouns: Gij sloegt mij (You hit me)
  • As a pronoun follows a preposition other than te: door mij (by me), bij hen (at their place)

Vocative

One should not use the vocative case (vijfde naamval) in Dutch; it is so rarely used that it is always more usual to use the nominative:

  • Lieve kind, ween niet. (vocative)
  • Better: Lief kind, ween niet. (Sweet child, don't cry) (nominative)

(The vocative of adjectives allways ends on -e, for all nouns and pronouns it is the same as the nominative, so it is rather a simplification of the nominative)

Locative

There exists a special locative (zevende naamval) form of the personal and the possesive pronoun, which should be used after the preposition te (instead of the dative case) and between the construction van ... wege or om ... wil (which are seldomly used), this is perceived as being extremely archaic, this construction is, in spken Dutch, always replaced by bij + accusative case

  • te mijnent (at my place)
  • "te mij" (dative case) --> wrong
  • bij mij (accusative case) (at my place)
  • van mijnent wege (from me)

Articles[1]

Definite Articles

Singular
  Masculin Feminine Neuter
Nominative de de het
Genitive des der des
Dative den der den
Accusative den de het
Plural
  Masculin Feminine Neuter
Nominative de de de
Genitive der der der
Dative den den den
Accusative de de de

The articles des and het are often shortened to 's and 't:

  • des morgens --> 's morgens (in the morning)
  • het paard --> 't paard (the horse)

Only the nominative case and the genitive case are still used, although the use of the genitive has become archaic, except where the complement is a proper name. The dative can (and must) only be used after the preposition te (at), the article contracts with this proposition: te + den --> ten, te + der --> ter. Furthermore the dative as taking case is only ever used in fixed expressions and after prepositions with a figurative meaning. [2]

  • te der plaatse --> ter plaatse (at the place)
  • te den tijde --> ten tijde (at the time)
  • in den beginne (in the beginning)

The accusative is only used in fixed expressions and after prepositions with a figurative meaning.[3]

  • op den duur (eventually)
  • in de toekomst (towards the future)

Indefinite articles

Singular
  Masculin Feminine Neuter
Nominative een/ene een een
Genitive eens ener (eener) eens
Dative enen ener (eener) enen (eenen)
Accusative enen (eenen) een een

Because Dutch had many spelling reforms, some forms have different spellings, the modern forms are written with double e when the syllable is closed and with single e when the syllable is open, in older spelling versions (the ones between parentheses), double e was allways used.

The indefinite article has no plural as such, but "vele" (many) maybe taken as its plural, in which case it is declined as follows:

Plural
  Masculin Feminine Neuter
Nominative vele vele vele
Genitive veler veler veler
Dative velen velen velen
Accusative vele vele vele


The articles een, ene, eens and enen are often shortened to 'n, 'ne, 'ns and 'nen:

  • een paard --> 'n paard (a horse) (NEU)
  • een koning --> 'ne koning (a king) (MAS)
  • eens konings --> 'ns konings (a king's) (MAS)
  • enen koning --> 'nen koning (a king) (MAS)

The normal form of the nominative masculine singular is een. In vertain varieties of non-Standard Dutch such as inBelgium however, normally the form ene is used. In Standar Dutch writing the form ene is only used when one whishes to stress that it is only concerning one thing/person. Often one writes éne to stress this fact. An accent is used to stress the singular in the other articles één, éne, ééns, éner, énen.

Only the nominative case and the genitive case are still used, although the use of the genitive seems to be a little archaic. Furthermore the dative and the accusative are only used in fixed expressions and after prepositions with a figurative meaning.

Indefinite Article (as Adjectival Noun)

Singular
  Masculin Feminine Neuter
Nominative de ene de ene het ene
Genitive des eens der ene des eens
Dative den enen der ene den enen
Accusative den enen de ene het ene
Plural
  Masculin Feminine Neuter
Nominative degenen degenen degenen
Genitive dergenen dergenen dergenen
Dative dengenen dengenen dengenen
Accusative degenen degenen degenen

If the indefinite article is used as an adjectival noun, it must be preceded by the definite article, its nominal form is "de ene" and it declines and inflects as according to the usual rules. It always needs to be put in a contrast: de ene(n) versus de andere(n) (the one versus the other). When the indefinite article as adjectival noun is pluralized (the ones) (these ones), its nominal form is "degene" [or "diegene" (those ones) when contrasting demonstrative] and declines and inflects otherwise according to the usual rules.

Nouns[4]

In Dutch nouns are inflected in some cases. Most Dutch masculine and neuter nouns have four forms, e.g. huis, huize, huizes, huizen. These nouns are called strong nouns (sterke zelfstandige naamwoorden). Feminine and plural nouns have three forms over four cases: vrouw, vrouwe, vrouwen. These are feminine nouns (vrouwelijke zelfstandige naamwoorden) (with the exception of female names, these are strong). Certain masculine nouns have three forms, e.g. de mens, den mens, den mense, des mensen (plural de mensen, den mensen, der mensen). These nouns are called weak nouns (zwakke substantieven). A single neuter noun is properly classed as weak. This is the noun "hart" (heart). It is declined as follows: het hart (SING NOM ACC) den garte (SING DAT) des harten (SING GEN); de harten (PLU NOM ACC) den harten (PLU DAT) der harten (PLU GEN).

It must be kept in mind though, that due to the latency of the Dutch case system, its disappearance in modern times and its arbitrary enforcement in recent times, may nouns in Dutch are of uncertain gender. To this extent one will come across fixed expressions such as "te zijner tijd" (declined for the singular, dative, feminine) alongside "destijds" (declined for the singular, genitive, masculine/neuter). As "tijd" in modern Dutch is a common gender noun, and case is not anyway felt, this poses no problem. A Dutch speaker simply knows these expressions by heart without doing any overt or latent grammatical analysis upon them.

Strong nouns

het huis (the house)

Singular
Nominative het huis
Genitive des huizes
Dative den huize
Accusative het huis
Plural
Nominative de huizen
Genitive der huizen
Dative den huizen
Accusative de huizen

The form huis is used in the nominative and accusative singular, the form huizes in the genitive singular, the form huize in the dative singular and the form huizen in the plural.

Nowadays only the nominative and the genitive are frequently used. The dative is only used after the preposition te and in some fixed expressions. The accusative is only used in fixed expressions.

Formation of the Four Standard Forms

  • nom.-acc. sing.: root of the noun, caution: at the end of a Dutch word -z changes into -s and -v changes into -f (there are only a few exceptions):


man --> man- --> de man (the man)
huis --> huiz- --> het huis (the house)

  • gen. sing.: masculine and neuter nouns get root+(e)s. Caution: female names are also strong nouns! If the noun ends on a clear vowel that is written as one letter, than an apostrophe is included. If the noun ends on an s-sound (-s,-x,-z,-sh or -sch), then the ending is just an apostrophe:


man --> man- --> des mans/des mannes (the man's)
huis --> huiz- --> des huizes (the house's)
Helga --> Helga- --> Helga's (Helga's)
Ann --> Ann- --> Anns (Ann's)
baby --> baby- --> des baby's (the baby's)
bureau --> bureau- --> des bureaus (the desk's)
Cortez --> Cortez- --> Cortez' (Cortez')

  • dat. sing. (this rule is also true for feminine nouns): short nouns normally have root+e, long nouns root.


huis --> huiz- --> den huize (the house)
tijd --> tijd- --> den tijde (the time)
overstaan --> overstaan- --> den overstaan (on the other end)
voorbereiding --> voorbereiding --> der voorbereiding (the preparation)

  • plural (these rule is also true for feminine nouns): there are 9 possible endings: -en, -s, -'s, -eren, -n, -ën, -¨n (-ën is used as the last syllabe (of the singular) is stressed), -¨n if the last syllabe is not stressed), -lieden, -lui (if the singular ends on -man). If needed the last consonant is doubled. Some nouns have more than one plural.


man --> man- --> de mannen (the man)
hotel --> hotel- --> de hotels (the hotels)
baby --> baby- --> de baby's (the babies)
volk --> volk- --> de volkeren/de volken (the peoples)
weide --> weide- --> de weiden (the prairies)
kopie --> kopie- --> de kopieën (the copies)
provincie --> provincie- --> de provinciën/ de provincies (the provinces)
brandweerman --> brandweerman- --> de brandweerlieden/ de brandweerlui (the firemen)

  • Nouns that come from other languages still have their particular endings

het museum --> de musea (the musea)
de garage --> de garages (the garages)
de graffito --> de graffiti (the graffiti)
de collega --> de collegae (the colleges)

Feminine nouns

de vrouw (the woman)

Singular
Nominative de vrouw
Genitive der vrouw
Dative der vrouwe
Accusative de vrouw
Plural
Nominative de vrouwen
Genitive der vrouwen
Dative den/der vrouwen
Accusative de vrouwen

Caution: female names are strong nouns!

Formation of the Three Standard Forms

  • nom.-acc. sing.: see strong declension
  • gen. sing.: the gen.sing. is identical to the nom.-acc. sing. (the form des vrouws, is only used as attribute).


vrouw --> vrouw- --> der vrouw (the woman)
Agressie is niet des vrouws. (Aggression is not a property of women, genitive used as an attribute)

  • dat. sing.: see strong declension
  • plural: see strong declension

Some nouns change their gender in the dative singular:

  • het oor (nom. neuter sing.) --> der ore (dat. feminine sing.) (the ear)
  • het hart (nom. neuter sing.) --> der harte (dat. feminine sing.) (the heart)
  • de gunst (nom. masculine sing.) --> der gunste (dat. feminine sing.) (the favour)

Weak nouns

de mens (the human)

Singular
Nominative de mens
Genitive des mensen
Dative den mensen
Accusative den mensen
Plural
Nominative de mensen
Genitive der mensen
Dative den mensen
Accusative de mensen

List of weak nouns: de mens (des mensen) (the human), de graaf (des graven) (the count), de prins (des prinsen) (the prince), de hertog (des hertogen) (the count), de heer (des heren) (the lord),...

Formation of the Two Standard Forms

  • nom.sing.: root, if the root ends on -z or -v, then it changes into -s or -f:


mens --> mens- --> de mens (the man)
graaf --> graav- --> de graaf (the count)

  • all other forms: root + en


mens --> mens- --> des mensen (the man's)
graaf --> graav- --> des graven (the count's)

Irregular nouns

Some nouns do not use one conjugation type, but multiple. The most frequent of these are het hart (the heart), het oor (the ear), het uur (the hour),de gunst (the favour), de tijd (the time) en de wereld (the world)

Singular
Nominative het hart (n.) het oor (n.) het uur (n.) de gunst (m.) de tijd (m./f.) de wereld (m.)
Genitive des harten (m.) des oors (n.) der ure (f.) der gunste (f.) des tijds (m.)/der tijd (f.) des werelds (m.)/der wereld (f.)
Dative der harte (f.) der ore (f.) der ure (f.) der gunste (f.) den tijde (m.)/der tijd (f.) den werelde (m.)
Accusative het hart (n.) het oor (n.) het uur (n.) de gunst (m.) de tijd (m./f.) de wereld (m.)
Plural
Nominative de harten (n.) de oren (n.) de uren (n.) de gunsten (m.) de tijden (m./f.) de werelden (m.)
Genitive der harten (n.) der oren (n.) der uren (n.) der gunsten (m.) der tijden (m./f.) der werelden (m.)
Dative den harten (n.) den oren (n.) den uren (n.) den gunsten (m.) den tijden (m./f.) den werelden (m.)
Accusative de harten (n.) de oren (n.) de uren (n.) de gunsten (m.) de tijden (m./f.) de werelden (m.)

Diminutives[5][6]

The diminutive is formed by adding -je to the root of a noun. This suffix can changes into -pje, -tje, -etje or -kje because of phonetic reasons. All dimutives are neuter.

Regular forms of the diminutive:

  • mamaatje (ma-ma-tje) (mom)
  • hondje (hond-je) (dog)
  • koetje (koe-tje) (cow)
  • slofje (slof-je) (shoe)
  • stokje (stok-je) (stick)
  • schooltje (school-tje) (school)
  • boompje (boom-pje) (tree)
  • kommetje (kom-me-tje) (plate)
  • boontje (boon-tje) (bean)
  • bonnetje (bon-ne-tje) (ticket)
  • mapje (map-je) (book)
  • muurtje (muur-tje) (wall)
  • voetje (voet-je) (foot)
  • koninkje (koning-kje) (king)

In Belgium usually the ending -ke is used. Because of phonetic reasons it can change into -eke or -ske:

  • mamake (ma-ma-ke) (mom)
  • hondeke (honde-ke) (dog)
  • koeke (koe-ke) (cow)
  • slofke (slof-ke) (shoe)
  • stokske (stok-ske) (stick)
  • schoolke (school-ke) (school)
  • boomke (boom-ke) (tree)
  • kommeke (kom-me-ke) (plate)
  • boneke (boone-ke) (bean)
  • bonneke (bon-ne-ke) (ticket)
  • mappeke (mappe-ke) (book)
  • muurke (muur-ke) (wall)
  • voeteke (voete-ke) (foot)
  • koningske (koning-ske) (king)

Adjectives[7]

In Dutch, adjectives are sometimes inflected. There are five different possibilities:

The adjective is attributive

In this case the adjective is not inflected:

  • De kast is mooi. (The closet is beautiful)
  • De man wordt groot. (The man is becoming big)

The adjective precedes a noun and is itself preceded by a definite article

Singular
  Masculine Feminine Neuter
Nominative de grote man de grote vrouw het grote/groot kind
Genitive des groten mans der grote vrouw des groten kinds
Dative den groten manne der grote vrouwe den groten kinde
Accusative den groten man de grote vrouw het grote/groot kind
Plural
  Masculine Feminine Neuter
Nominative de grote mannen de grote vrouwen de grote kinderen
Genitive der grote mannen der grote vrouwen der grote kinderen
Dative den groten mannen den/der grote vrouwen den groten kinderen
Accusative de grote mannen de grote vrouwen de grote kinderen
  • The declension after certain pronouns that are declined as the definite article, is the same as the declension after the definite article
  • Adjectives with a root on -en (e.g. houten, koperen) always end on -en: e.g. de houten pop (the wooden doll), de koperen klink (the copper doorknob).
  • This is true for all fabric names: they never have an ending: e.g. de platina plaat (the platina plate), de linoleum vloerbedekking (the linoleum floor).
  • There exists a distinction between the forms het groot kind en het grote kind (nom./acc. n. sg.)
    • het groot kind is used in a generalizing way of speech: Gij zijt echt belachelijk. Groot kind! (You are really ridiculous. Big child!)
    • het grote kind is the usual form and is always used if there are more than one things: Het grote en het kleine kind (The big and the small child)

The adjective precedes a noun and is itself preceded by an indefinite article

Singular
  Masculine Feminine Neuter
Nominative een grote man een grote vrouw een groot kind
Genitive eens groten mans ener grote vrouw eens groten kinds
Dative enen groten manne ener grote vrouwe enen groten kinde
Accusative enen groten man een grote vrouw een groot kind
  • The indefinite article does not have a plural
  • The declension after certain pronouns that are declined as the indefinite article, is the same as the declension after the indefinite article
  • Adjectives with a root on -en (e.g. houten, koperen) always end on -en: e.g. een houten pop (a wooden doll), een koperen klink (a copper doorknob).
  • This is true for all fabric names: they never have an ending: e.g. een platina plaat (a platina plate), een linoleum vloerbedekking (a linoleum floor).

The adjective precedes a noun, but is not preceded by any article

Singular
  Masculine Feminine Neuter
Nominative grote man grote vrouw groot kind
Genitive groten mans groter vrouw groten kinds
Dative groten manne groter vrouwe groten kinde
Accusative groten man grote vrouw groot kind
Vocative grote man grote vrouw groot kind (grote kind)
Plural
  Masculine Feminine Neuter
Nominative grote mannen grote vrouwen grote kinderen
Genitive groter mannen groter vrouwen groter kinderen
Dative groten mannen groten/groter vrouwen groten kinderen
Accusative grote mannen grote vrouwen grote kinderen
Vocative grote mannen grote vrouwen grote kinderen
  • The adjective is now (with a few exceptions) inflected as a definite article
  • There exists a special vocative form for the nom./acc. neuter sg.: Lieve kind (Lovely child). However this form is not widely accepted. One should use the nominative form instead.
  • Adjectives with a root on -en (e.g. houten, koperen) always end on -en: e.g. houten pop (wooden doll), koperen klink (copper doorknob).
  • This is true for all fabric names: they never have an ending: e.g. platina plaat (platina plate), linoleum vloerbedekking (linoleum floor).

The adjective is used as a noun

Singular
  Masculine Feminine Neuter
Nominative de grote de grote het grote
Genitive des groots der grote des groots
Dative den grote der grote den grote
Accusative den grote de grote het grote
Plural
  Masculine Feminine Neuter
Nominative de groten de groten de grote
Genitive der groten der groten der grote
Dative den groten den/der groten den grote
Accusative de groten de groten de grote
  • The adjective is now inflected as a noun
  • Fabric names with a root on -en (e.g. houten, koperen) always end on -en: e.g. de houten (the wood), de koperen (the copper). Other adjectives are declined: e.g. volwassen (mature) --> een volwassene, de volwassenen
  • This is true for all fabric names: they never have an ending: e.g. het platina (the platina), het linoleum (the linoleum).

Caution: sometimes adjectives are not perceived as adjectives, but simply as nouns: e.g. nicknames, surnames,...

  • De Kleines pet werd door de klas gesmeten. (Kleine's (=Little's) hat was thrown through the classroom) (Kleine = nickname)
  • De De Grotes waren weeral 'ns te laat. (The De Grotes (The Greats) weren't on time) (De Grote = surname)


Singular
Nominative Kleine
Genitive Kleines
Dative Kleine
Accusative Kleine


Singular
Nominative de De Grote
Genitive des De Grotes
Dative den De Grote
Accusative den De Grote
Plural
Nominative de De Grotes/De Groten
Genitive der De Grotes/De Groten
Dative den De Grotes/De Groten
Accusative de de De Grotes/De Groten


Caution: sometimes an adjective, that is used as a noun, is not perceived as a noun itself, it behaves as if it were followed by a (silent) noun:

  • De kleine leerlingen moeten vooraan komen zitten, de grote (leerlingen) mogen achteraan plaatsnemen. (The small students should be in front, the large (students) can be in the back of the class)

Degrees of Comparison[8]

The degrees of comparison are forms of an adjective or an adverb. In Dutch there are three forms:

  • the stellende trap (the positive) (groot (great)), the normal form of the adjective or adverb
  • the vergrotende trap (the comparative) (groter (greater)) and
  • the overtreffende trap (the superlative) (grootst (greatest))

Normally the degrees of comparison are formed by adding -er (comparative) and -st (superlative) to the adjective's or adverb's root. If the adjective's or adverb's root ends on an r the comparative will end on -der,e.g. raar - raarder (strange - more strange), ver - verder (far - further).

Examples

  • groot - groter - grootst (great - greater - greatest)
  • belangrijk - belangrijker - belangrijkst (important - more important - most important)
  • oud - ouder - oudst (old - elder - eldest)

However there are some exceptions to this rule:

  • goed - beter - best (good/well - better - best, adjective and adverb)
  • veel - meer - meest (much/many - more - most, adjective and adverb)
  • weinig - minder - minst (few - less -least, adjective and adverb)
  • graag - liever - liefst (good/well - better - best, adverb)

If an adjective's or adverb's root ends on an s, z, x, sh or sch, no s is added for the superlative:

  • precies - preciezer - preciest (precize - more precize - most precize)
  • archaïsch - archaïscher - archaïscht (arhaic - more archaic - most archaic)

Sometimes words are splitted into two parts:

  • dichtbevolkt - dichter bevolkt - dichtstbevolkt (populated - more populated - most populated)

Normally the conjunction dan is used after the comparative, some people use als (however there are people who consider als to be incorrect).

  • Ik ben rijker dan hij. (I am richer than he)
  • Ik ben rijker als hij. (I am richer than he)

Note: the constituent after dan or als is in the same case as the refferent: ik (nom.) --> hij (nom.); mij(acc.) --> jou (acc.)

  • Hij sloeg mij harder als jou. (He beat me harder than (he beat) you)
  • Hij sloeg mij harder als jij. (He beat me harder than you (beat me))

Using meer (more) en meest (most): some adjectives do not have normal degrees of comparison, in these cases meer (comparative) en meest (superlative) are used:

  • bereid - meer bereid - meest bereid (prepared - more prepared - most prepared)

It is considered incorrect to use meer en meest if the degrees of comparison exist:

  • meer mooi (incorrect) (correction: mooier = more beautiful)

Pronouns[9]

Dutch has 9 different pronouns:

Demonstrative pronoun

The accusative and dative are archaic, they are only used in fixed axpressions as ‘van dien aard’ (of that kind), ‘met alle gevolgen van dien’ (with those consequences), et cetera. The genitive is only used sporadically, mostly in fixed expressions as ‘wat dies meer zij’(whatever it be) and ‘in dier voege’ (in that way). There are 8 different demonstrative pronouns in Dutch: deze, die, gene, gindse, zo'n, zo een, zulke en zulk een.

If something is close: deze

Singular
  Masculine Feminine Neuter
Nominative deze deze dit
Genitive dezes dezer dezes
Dative dezen dezer dit
Accusative dezen deze dit
Plural
  Masculine Feminine Neuter
Nominative deze deze deze
Genitive dezer dezer dezer
Dative dezen dezen/dezer dezen
Accusative deze deze deze

If something is further: die, gene (archaic) of gindse (archaic)

Singular
  Masculine Feminine Neuter
Nominative die die dat
Genitive dies/diens dier dies/diens
Dative dien dier dien
Accusative dien die dit
Plural
  Masculine Feminine Neuter
Nominative die die die
Genitive dier dier dier
Dative dien dien/dier dien
Accusative die die die

Gene,gindse and zulke are inflected as an adjective that precedes a noun, but is not preceded by any article.

Zo'n, zo een and zulk are inflected as the indefinite article.

Relative pronoun

Dutch has two different relative pronouns: die and wie. The die-form is the regular vorm, the wie-form is only used when the antecedent is missing. The words waar, waarmee, etc. are no pronouns but adverbs.

The declension of die

Singular
  Masculine Feminine Neuter
Nominative die die dat
Genitive wiens wier wiens
Dative dien dier dien
Accusative dien die dit
Plural
  Masculine Feminine Neuter
Nominative die die die
Genitive wier wier wier
Dative dien dien/dier dien
Accusative die die die

The declension of wie:

Singular
  Masculine Feminine Neuter
Nominative wie wie wat
Genitive wiens wier wiens
Dative wien wier wien
Accusative wien wie wat
Plural
  Masculine Feminine Neuter
Nominative wie wie wie
Genitive wier wier wier
Dative wien wien/wier wien
Accusative wie wie wie

Possessive pronoun

Dutch has 7 different possessive pronouns, of these some posses stressed and unstressed forms: mijn (m'n) (1 sing.), jouw (je) (2 sing.), uw (2 sing. en plural polite), zijn (z'n)(3 sing. m. and n.), haar (d'r) (3 sing. f.), ons (1 plural), jullie (2 plural), hun (3 plural). Nowadays the possessive pronoun is not inflected if it is used as an adjective. In the past it was inflected as the indefinite article. If it is used as a noun, it is inflected as an adjective which is used as a noun. The possessive pronoun still has, if used as a noun, a distinct form of the locative case: mijnent, jouwent, uwent, zijnent, harent, onzent, jullieënt, hunnent. In the locative, the possessive pronoun is alwys preceded by the preposition te.

Because the indefinite article does not have a plural, while the possessive pronoun does, there will be given a declesion of mijn. The roots of the possessive pronouns are: mijn- (m'n-), jouw- (je-), uw- (Uw-), zijn- (z'n-), haar- (d'r-), onz-, jullie- and hun. The regular spelling rules need to be used, e.g. onz becomes ons, julliee becomes jullieë, haaren becomes haren, huner becomes hunner, etc.

Declension of the possessive pronoun used as an adjective


Singular
  Masculine Feminine Neuter
Nominative mijn/mijne mijn mijn
Genitive mijns mijner mijns
Dative mijnen mijner mijnen
Accusative mijnen mijn mijn
Plural
  Masculine Feminine Neuter
Nominative mijn(e) mijn(e) mijn(e)
Genitive mijner mijner mijner
Dative mijnen mijnen mijnen
Accusative mijn(e) mijn(e) mijn(e)


Declension of the possessive pronoun used as a noun


Singular
  Masculine Feminine Neuter
Nominative de mijne de mijne het mijne
Genitive des mijns der mijne des mijns
Dative den mijne der mijne den mijne
Accusative den mijne de mijne het mijne
Locative den mijnent der mijnent den mijnent
Plural
  Masculine Feminine Neuter
Nominative de mijnen de mijnen de mijne
Genitive der mijner der mijner der mijner
Dative den mijnen den mijnen/der mijner den mijnen
Accusative de mijnen de mijnen de mijne
Locative den mijnent den mijnent den mijnent

Indefinite pronoun

Dutch has 4 indefinite pronouns: iemand, iets, niemand en niets

Singular
  iemand niemand iets niets
Nominative iemand niemand iets niets
Genitive iemands niemands iets' niets'
Dative iemand niemand iets niets
Accusative iemand niemand iets niets

Personal Pronoun

The personal pronoun is one of the few pronouns that have a complete declension and all forms are still used in modern Dutch.

Singular
  1 2 3
Nominative ik ('k) jij (je), gij (ge), u (U) hij, zij, het
Genitive mijner jouwer, uwer (Uwer) zijner, harer, zijner
Dative mij (me) jou (je), u (U) hem, haar, het
Accusative mij (me) jou (je), u (U) hem, haar, het
Locative mijnent jouwent, uwent (uwent) zijnent, harent, zijnent
Plural
  1 2 3
Nominative wij (we) jullie, gij (ge), u (U) zij (ze)
Genitive onzer julliër, uwer (Uwer) hunner
Dative ons jullie, u (U) hun
Accusative ons jullie, u (U) hen
Locative onzent jullieënt, uwent (Uwent) hunnent

The genitive of the personal pronoun is usually replaced by the possessive pronoun.

Exclamative pronoun

Dutch has exclamative pronouns: wie, wat een, welk (een), zo'n and zulk(e).

For the declension of wie, see the relative pronoun, for the declension of wat een, welk een, zo'n and zulk een, see declension of the indefinite article, for the declension of welk(e) and zulk(e), see declension of the adjective preceding a noun, that is not preceded by an article

Interrogative pronoun

Dutch has 2 interrogativepronouns: wie and welk(e). For the declension of wie, see the relative pronoun article, For the declension of welk(e), see declension of the adjective preceding a noun, that is not preceded by an article

Reflexive pronoun

The reflexive pronoun is always accusative or dative:

Singular
  1 2 3
Dative mij(zelf)/me(zelf) je(zelf), zich(zelf), u(zelf) zich(zelf)
Accusative mij(zelf)/me(zelf) je(zelf), zich(zelf), u(zelf) zich(zelf)
Plural
  1 2 3
Dative ons(zelf) je(zelf), zich(zelf), u(zelf) zich(zelf)
Accusative ons(zelf) je(zelf), zich(zelf), u(zelf) zich(zelf)

Reciprocal pronoun

Dutch has three reciprocal pronouns: elkaar, elkander and mekaar. The reciprocal pronoun does not have a nominative and a singular.

Plural
  elkaar elkander mekaar
Genitive elkaars elkanders mekaars
Dative elkaar elkander mekaar
Accusative elkaar elkander mekaar
  1. ^ http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verbuiging_van_het_lidwoord
  2. ^ http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Datief
  3. ^ http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accusatief
  4. ^ http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verbuiging_van_het_zelfstandig_naamwoord
  5. ^ http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vormen_van_verkleinwoord_in_het_Nederlands
  6. ^ http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verkleinwoord
  7. ^ http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verbuiging_van_het_bijvoeglijk_naamwoord
  8. ^ http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trappen_van_vergelijking
  9. ^ http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verbuiging_van_het_voornaamwoord
  10. ^ http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aanwijzend_voornaamwoord
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Archaic_Dutch_declension&diff=prev&oldid=122055280

Leave a Reply