Breakdown of Zoekt u uw collega?
u
you (formal)
zoeken
to look for
de collega
the colleague
uw
your (formal)
Questions & Answers about Zoekt u uw collega?
Why do we use uw here instead of jouw or je?
Uw is the formal word for "your". Because the sentence uses the formal "you" (u) as the subject, the possessive word must match it. If you were talking to a friend, you would use the informal version: Zoek je je collega?
The English translation says "looking for", but there is no word for "for" in the Dutch sentence. Why?
The Dutch verb zoeken translates entirely to "to look for" or "to search". You do not need a separate preposition. Adding a word like voor here is a common mistake for English speakers, but it is incorrect in Dutch.
Wait, doesn't the verb drop the -t when asking a question?
It only drops the -t when the subject is the informal jij or je (for example, zoek je?). When you use the formal u, the verb keeps its -t ending, even in questions: zoekt u?
Does this sentence change if I am formally addressing multiple people?
No, it stays exactly the same! In Dutch, u (you) and uw (your) are used for formal situations regardless of whether you are talking to one person or a group of people.
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