Questions & Answers about De man heeft zeven schapen.
Why is the plural spelled schapen with one 'a' when the singular is schaap?
When we add the -en ending to schaap, the word splits into syllables like this: scha-pen. The first syllable now ends in a vowel, making it an "open" syllable. In Dutch spelling rules, a single vowel at the end of a syllable is automatically pronounced long, so we drop the second 'a' because it's no longer needed.
In English, "sheep" can be singular or plural. Is it the same in Dutch?
No, Dutch differentiates them! Unlike the English word, the Dutch word follows normal plural rules. One sheep is een schaap, and multiple sheep are schapen.
Why does the sentence use heeft instead of hebben?
Hebben (to have) is the infinitive, or dictionary form, of the verb. Because the subject is de man (equivalent to "he"), you must use the "he/she/it" form of the verb. For this irregular verb, that form is heeft.
How do I pronounce the sch- at the beginning of schapen?
Don't be tricked by the English translation! The Dutch sch is not pronounced like the English "sh". It is pronounced as a sharp 's' sound immediately followed by the raspy, throat-clearing Dutch 'g' sound.
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