Archive:Introduction to Dutch

2007-06-23T09:01:43Z

61.213.136.154: /* Pronouns */ Added hen and added a note on it.

==Alphabet==
The Dutch alphabet consists of the standard 26 Greek letters. (A through Z) 
But when using barbarisms or neologisms it is not uncommon to use foreign accents.
* '''Ü'''berhaupt (German)
* Pr'''ê'''t a porter (French)
* Pat'''é''' (French)
* Tr'''è'''ve (French

Besides these foreign words the French ''accent aigut'' is also used to emphasise a sound or distinguish between two similar words.
The ''accent aigut'' is primarily used on the e in the word ''een'' to distinguish between; 
een = a / an 
één = one

Dutch also uses the dieresis to indicate a syllable break. For example in the word knieën. In this case the dieresis indicates the syllable structure of this word is knie-en, and not kni-een, a non-existing word that would have a different pronunciation.

The Dutch language has several diphtones (sounds made by combining letters) 
AU / OU ; sounds like ow in the English word ''N'''ow''''' 
OE ; sounds like ou the English word ''Y'''ou''''' 
EU ; non-existent in English 
IJ / EI ; non-existent in English 
UI ; non-existent in English 

==Numbers==

1 één, 2 twee, 3 drie, 4 vier, 5 vijf, 6 zes, 7 zeven, 8 acht, 9 negen, 10 tien, 11 elf, 12 twaalf, 13 dertien, 14 veertien, 15 '''vijf'''tien, 16 '''zes'''tien, 17 '''zeven'''tien, 18 '''acht'''tien, 19 '''negen'''tien. 

Starting from 20, counting always takes place by adding the numbers one through nine ''before'' the decimal and adding '''''en'''''. 
20 twintig, 21 '''een'''''en''twintig, 22 '''twee'''''en''twintig, 23 '''drie'''''en''twintig, 24 '''vier'''''en''twintig, 25 '''vijf'''''en''twintig etc. 
30 dertig, 40 veertig, 50 vijftig, 60 zestig, 70 zeventig, 80 tachtig, 90 negentig, 100 honderd, 200 '''twee'''honderd, 300 '''drie'''honderd etc.

1000 duizend, 2000 '''twee'''duizend, 3000 '''drie'''duizend etc. 10.000 '''tien'''duizend, 100.000 '''honderd'''duizend, 1.000.000 miljoen, 1.000.000.000 miljard, 1.000.000.000.000 biljoen.

{| border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=5
| eerste
| first
| zesde
| sixth
|-
| tweede
| second
| zevende
| seventh
|-
| derde
| third
| achtste
| eighth
|-
| vierde
| fourth
| negende
| ninth
|-
| vijfde
| fifth
| tiende
| tenth
|}
[[Category:Language]]
[[Category:Introductions]]

==Pronouns==

{| border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=5
| ik
| I
|-
| jij/je
| you (singular)
|-
| hij
| he
|-
| zij
| she

|-
| wij/we
| we
|-
| jullie
| you (plural)
|-
| zij
| they
|}
[[Category:Language]]
[[Category:Introductions]]

{| border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=5
| mij/me
| me
|-
| jou/je
| you (singular)
|-
| hem/'m
| him
|-
| haar/d'r
| her

|-
| ons
| us
|-
| jullie
| you (plural)
|-
| hen/hun
| them
|}
[[Category:Language]]
[[Category:Introductions]]

Note: When the Dutch forms come in pairs the one to the left is the stressed and official form and the one to the right the unstressed and less official form. The forms 'm and d'r are spoken forms that shouldn't be used in written form outside chat rooms. The difference between the use of hen and hun is slowly fading, though the official use of hun is only as a possesive adjective instead of a personal pronoun.

==Articles==

{| border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=5
| De
| The (male / female)
|-
| Het
| The (sexless)
|-
| Een
| A / an
|}

==Regular verbs==
{| border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=5
|'''Present continuous'''
|-
| '''Leren''' (= Learn)
| '''Lopen''' (= Walking)
|-
|Ik leer
|Ik loop
|-
|Jij leer''t''
|Jij loop''t''
|-
|Hij / zij / het leer''t''
|Hij / zij / het loopt
|-
|Wij leren
|Wij lopen
|-
|Zij leren
|Zij lopen
|-
|Jullie leren
|Jullie lopen
|}

==Irregular verbs==
{| border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=5
|'''Present continuous'''
|-
|'''Zijn''' (= being)
|-
| Ik ben
| I am
|-
| Jij bent
| You are (singular)
|-
| Hij / zij/ het is
| He / she / it is
|-
| Wij zijn
| We are
|-
| Jullie zijn
| You are (plural)
|-
| Zij zijn
| They are
|}

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Archive:Introduction to Dutch