Dutch adjectives change their form depending on the noun they describe. This is called adjectival inflection or adjective agreement. While it might seem complicated at first, the rule boils down to one simple question: does the adjective get an extra -e or not? This guide explains every scenario with clear examples.
Dutch adjective agreement is much simpler than in German or French. There are really only two forms: with -e and without. Once you know the three situations where you don't add -e, everything else gets the ending!
📐 The Basic Rule
When an adjective comes before a noun (attributive position), it usually gets the ending -e. There is one important exception: het-words in singular with the indefinite article een (or no article).
The One Exception — No -e Added When:
The noun is: (1) a het-word + (2) singular + (3) preceded by een or no article
All three conditions must be true at the same time. If any one of them is false → add -e.
📊 Complete Overview Table
| Context | de-word | het-word |
|---|---|---|
| Definite article (de/het) | de grote man de mooie vrouw |
het grote huis het mooie kind |
| Indefinite article (een) | een grote man een mooie vrouw |
een groot huis ⚠️ een mooi kind ⚠️ |
| No article | grote mannen mooie vrouwen |
groot water ⚠️ (mooi weer) |
| Plural (always de) | grote mannen / grote huizen / mooie kinderen | |
⚠️ = the only case where you do NOT add -e
🗣️ Predicative Adjectives (After the Verb)
When the adjective comes after the verb zijn (to be) or similar linking verbs, it never gets -e:
📋 Common Adjectives: Both Forms
| Base form | With -e | English |
|---|---|---|
| groot | grote | big / large |
| klein | kleine | small / little |
| mooi | mooie | beautiful / nice |
| oud | oude | old |
| nieuw | nieuwe | new |
| goed | goede | good |
| slecht | slechte | bad |
| lang | lange | long / tall |
| kort | korte | short |
| lief | lieve | sweet / dear |
| rood | rode | red |
| blauw | blauwe | blue |
| wit | witte | white (double t!) |
| zwart | zwarte | black |
The same spelling rules that apply to plurals apply when adding -e:
wit → witte (short vowel: double the t)
lief → lieve (f → v before a vowel ending)
grijs → grijze (s → z before a vowel ending)
📐 Special Cases: Uninflected Adjectives
A handful of adjectives are always used without -e, even in positions that normally require it:
| Adjective | Note |
|---|---|
| rechter / linker | right/left — always uninflected: de rechter hand |
| eigen | own — always uninflected: mijn eigen huis |
| Colour adjectives from material names | een gouden ring (a golden ring) — gets -en not -e |
✏️ Practice: Add -e or Not?
- een ___ auto (groot / de auto) → grote (de-word + een → add -e)
- een ___ huis (groot / het huis) → groot (het-word + een → NO -e!)
- het ___ kind (klein) → kleine (het-word + het = definite → add -e)
- ___ kinderen (klein) → kleine (plural → always add -e)
- De auto is ___ (groot) → groot (predicative → never -e)
🔗 Continue Learning
- 👉 De vs Het — essential for knowing which adjective rule applies
- 👉 Comparatives & Superlatives — groter, grootst
- 👉 Dutch Plurals — plurals always use -e adjectives
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