Questions & Answers about Zij zijn ook samen.
How do we know Zij means "they" and not "she" here?
We can tell by looking at the verb! The verb is zijn (are), which is the plural form. If the sentence was about "she", it would use the singular verb form: Zij is (She is).
Could I say Ze zijn ook samen instead?
Yes! Zij and ze both mean "they". Zij is the stressed form, used when you want to emphasize who is together. Ze is the unstressed form that Dutch speakers use in everyday speech when no special emphasis is needed.
The verb here is zijn (are). Isn't zijn also the dictionary form of the verb "to be"?
Yes, it is! In Dutch, the present tense plural verb forms (for wij, jullie, and zij) are exactly the same as the infinitive (the dictionary form) of the verb. So zijn means both "to be" and "are".
Learn Zij zijn ook samen and more in Dutch
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
- ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
- ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free