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### The Suffix *-schap*

In Dutch, you can turn nouns or adjectives into abstract concepts by adding the suffix *-schap*. This suffix is a direct cousin of the English suffixes "-ship" (as in "friendship") and "-hood" (as in "brotherhood"). It is widely used to describe states of being, roles, and collective groups.

### Civic Duties and Roles

You will frequently see *-schap* used to describe official or professional roles, as well as concepts related to society.

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### Relationships and Alliances

The suffix is also essential for describing interpersonal bonds and formal partnerships. 

**Grammar note:** Nouns ending in *-schap* can take either *de* or *het*. While many are *het* words, several very common ones take *de*. Always learn the article together with the new word.

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### Collectives, Kinship, and Emotions

Finally, *-schap* can represent a collective group of people, a sense of belonging, or an emotional state.

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Abstract nouns (-schap)

adjective

adverb

conjunction

determiner

determiner/pronoun

interjection

noun

numeral

particle

preposition

pronoun

sentence

verb

Singular pronouns and 'to be' (ik ben, hij is)

The formal 'you' (u bent)

Definite articles (de, het)

Plural pronouns and 'to be' (wij zijn)

The verb 'to have' (hebben)

Basic word order

Numbers 1 to 10 (een, twee, drie)

Verb stems and the 'I' form (ik werk)

Long vowels in verb stems (maken, ik maak)

Short vowels in verb stems (zitten, ik zit)

Present tense singular (-t)

Present tense plural (-en)

Yes/no questions

Question words (wie, wat, waar)

Noun negation (geen)

Plural nouns (-en)

Plural nouns (-s)

Diminutives (-je)

Adjective modifiers (heel, erg, te)

Verb negation (niet)

Singular possessives (mijn, jouw, zijn, haar)

Plural and formal possessives (ons/onze, jullie, hun, uw)

This and these (deze, dit)

That and those (die, dat)

Asking which (welke, welk)

Numbers 11 to 20 (elf, twaalf, dertien...)

Tens and compound numbers (dertig, veertig...)

Ordinal numbers 1st to 10th (eerste, tweede...)

Telling time: hours and half hours (uur, half)

Telling time: quarters (kwart over, kwart voor)

Question words (hoeveel, waarom)

Irregular verbs (doen, gaan, staan, zien, komen)

Adjective endings (+e)

Adjectives with 'het' words

Prepositions of place (uit, bij)

Subject-verb inversion

Time before place

Modal verbs (willen, kunnen)

Modal verbs (moeten, mogen)

The verb bracket

Separable prefix verbs

The imperative mood (kom, luister)

Singular object pronouns (mij, jou, hem, haar)

Plural and formal object pronouns (ons, jullie, hen, u)

Reflexive verbs and pronouns (zich, me, je)

Position of negation (niet)

The present perfect tense with regular verbs (hebben gewerkt)

The present perfect tense with motion verbs (zijn gegaan)

Irregular past participles (gezien, gedaan)

The present continuous (zijn aan het)

There is / there are (er is, er zijn)

Unstressed there (er)

And, but, or (en, maar, of)

Because (want)

Months of the year

Prepositions of time (om, van ... tot)

Greetings and politeness

Conversational glue

Prepositions with days (op)

Prepositions with seasons (in)

Genitive of time ('s morgens, 's nachts)

Adverbs of frequency (altijd, vaak)

The future tense (gaan)

The future tense (zullen)

Separable verbs with auxiliary verbs

Apostrophe plurals ('-s)

Irregular plurals (-eren)

Complex diminutives (-pje, -etje, -kje)

Possessive 's (Jan's, vaders)

Indefinite pronouns (iets, niemand, alles)

Indefinite subject pronoun (je)

Reciprocal pronoun (elkaar)

Comparative adjectives (-er dan)

Comparatives with spelling change (-der)

Superlative adjectives (-st)

Irregular comparisons (beter, meer, minder)

Expressing preference (graag, liever, het liefst)

Equality comparisons (even ... als)

Fixed prepositions

That clauses (dat)

Because clauses (omdat)

If and when clauses (als)

Inversion after clauses

Separable verbs in clauses

Negation in clauses (niet)

Past tense of to be (was / waren)

Past tense of to have (had / hadden)

Question	Answer
the citizenship	het burgerschap
There is a course on citizenship.	Er is een cursus over burgerschap.
the leadership	het leiderschap
We should promote active citizenship and good leadership.	We zouden actief burgerschap en goed leiderschap moeten bevorderen.
the friendship	de vriendschap
Their long friendship is very special.	Hun lange vriendschap is heel bijzonder.
That friendship unfortunately threatens to disappear.	Die vriendschap dreigt helaas te verdwijnen.
The new leadership is appreciated by the team.	Het nieuwe leiderschap wordt door het team gewaardeerd.
the partnership	het partnerschap
This partnership promises to be very successful.	Dit partnerschap belooft erg succesvol te worden.
They officially confirmed the partnership yesterday.	Zij hebben het partnerschap gisteren officieel bevestigd.
the alliance	het bondgenootschap
The alliance is signed by the king.	Het bondgenootschap wordt door de koning ondertekend.
This alliance is important for safety.	Dit bondgenootschap is belangrijk voor de veiligheid.
the company (companionship, group)	het gezelschap
I really enjoy your company.	Ik geniet erg van jouw gezelschap.
There is always good company at this party.	Er is altijd goed gezelschap op dit feest.
the kinship	de verwantschap
There is a clear kinship between these languages.	Er is een duidelijke verwantschap tussen deze talen.
She feels a deep kinship with nature.	Zij voelt een diepe verwantschap met de natuur.
the brotherhood	de broederschap
The group forms a strong brotherhood.	De groep vormt een sterke broederschap.
You should defend the brotherhood.	Jullie zouden de broederschap moeten verdedigen.
the joy	de blijdschap
She cried of joy when she read the letter.	Ze huilde van blijdschap toen ze de brief las.
We share the joy over your success.	Wij delen de blijdschap over jouw succes.
the ownership	het eigenaarschap
The team should show more ownership.	Het team zou meer eigenaarschap moeten tonen.
The ownership of this project is clear.	Het eigenaarschap van dit project is duidelijk.

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