Questions & Answers about Zij kijken nu een film.
How do we know zij means "they" and not "she" here?
The verb tells us! Zij can mean "she" or "they". Because the verb kijken is in its plural form (the infinitive), we know the subject must be plural ("they"). If it were "she", the verb would be singular: zij kijkt.
Why is the verb kijken exactly the same as the dictionary form?
That is the rule for regular verbs in the present tense. For plural subjects like wij (we), jullie (you plural), and zij (they), you simply use the whole infinitive (the dictionary form) of the verb without changing it.
The English translation says "are watching". Where is the word for "are"?
Dutch doesn't use a continuous "-ing" form with the verb "to be" like English does. Zij kijken translates to both "they watch" and "they are watching". You don't need to add an extra word for "are".
Why does nu (now) come before een film?
Dutch word order is strict about time! Words that tell you when something happens (like nu) usually come right after the verb and before the object (een film). In English, we often put "now" at the very end, but Dutch prefers it earlier.
Does kijken mean "to watch" or "to look"?
It can mean both! Its literal meaning is "to look", but when talking about screens, TV, or movies, Dutch uses kijken exactly like the English verb "to watch".
Learn Zij kijken nu een film 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