Questions & Answers about De jongen is nerveus.
Why is it just nerveus and not nerveuze?
Because nerveus is used here after the verb to describe the noun. In Dutch, adjectives only get an extra -e ending when they come directly before the noun they describe. When they come after the verb like this (as a predicative adjective), they always stay in their basic, dictionary form.
How can I say "The boy is a bit nervous" using the words from this lesson?
You can put een beetje (a bit / a little) right before the adjective: De jongen is een beetje nerveus. You could also use other modifiers from this lesson in that exact same spot, such as heel or erg for "very", or te for "too".
How do I pronounce the eu in nerveus?
The Dutch eu sound doesn't exist in English. It sounds a bit like the vowel in "hurt" or "burn", but you need to round your lips tightly. It is the exact same vowel sound you hear in the common word leuk (fun/nice).
I see de is used for "the". Is jongen always a de-word?
Yes! Jongen takes de. As a handy rule of thumb, almost all Dutch words that identify people (like mother, father, baker, student) are de-words. The main exception you have learned is het meisje (the girl), because all words ending in -je are diminutives, which always take het.
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