Wij kiezen noch de dagopvang noch de gastouder.

Questions & Answers about Wij kiezen noch de dagopvang noch de gastouder.

What does noch ... noch mean in this sentence?

It means neither ... nor.

So Wij kiezen noch de dagopvang noch de gastouder means that both options are rejected. Dutch uses noch ... noch in much the same way English uses neither ... nor.

Do I need niet somewhere in the sentence too?

No. With noch ... noch, the negative meaning is already built in.

So this is correct: Wij kiezen noch de dagopvang noch de gastouder.

But something like Wij kiezen niet noch ... would be wrong.

Is noch ... noch common in everyday Dutch?

It is correct Dutch, but it sounds a bit formal or written.

In everyday speech, many people would say something like:

We kiezen niet voor de dagopvang en ook niet voor een gastouder.

So noch ... noch is good to know, but it is not always the most conversational choice.

Why is it wij and not we?

Both mean we.

  • we is the usual unstressed form in everyday Dutch
  • wij is the fuller form and can sound more emphatic, contrastive, or slightly more formal

So Wij kiezen ... can suggest a bit of emphasis, as in we are the ones making that choice. In normal conversation, We kiezen ... would also be very natural.

Why is the verb kiezen?

Because the subject is wij.

The present tense of kiezen goes like this:

  • ik kies
  • jij kiest
  • hij/zij kiest
  • wij kiezen
  • jullie kiezen
  • zij kiezen

So wij kiezen is the correct form.

Do Dutch speakers also say kiezen voor here?

Yes, very often.

Dutch can use kiezen directly with an object, but with options, systems, or life choices, kiezen voor is very common. So many speakers would also say:

Wij kiezen noch voor de dagopvang noch voor de gastouder.

Or, in more everyday Dutch:

We kiezen niet voor de dagopvang en ook niet voor een gastouder.

Why is there de before both dagopvang and gastouder?

Because both are de-words, and in this sentence they are presented as two identifiable options.

Dutch often keeps the article when talking about known alternatives:

  • de dagopvang
  • de gastouder

That can feel different from English, which is often freer with articles in this kind of sentence.

Could I also say een gastouder instead of de gastouder?

Yes, depending on what you mean.

  • de gastouder can sound like a specific childminder, or the childminder option already under discussion
  • een gastouder means a childminder / any childminder

So if you are talking more generally, een gastouder may sound more natural, especially in a sentence like:

We kiezen niet voor de dagopvang en ook niet voor een gastouder.

Is noch the same as nog?

No.

  • noch here means nor
  • nog usually means still, yet, or another/more

So they are different words with different meanings.

What kind of words are dagopvang and gastouder?

They are compound nouns, which is very common in Dutch.

  • dagopvang = dag
    • opvang
  • gastouder = gast
    • ouder

In Dutch compounds, the last part usually determines the grammatical gender/article of the whole word. That is why both are de-words.

Is there a more natural everyday way to say the same thing?

Yes. A very natural spoken version would be:

We kiezen niet voor de dagopvang en ook niet voor een gastouder.

If the two options are already clear from the context, you could also say:

We kiezen geen van beide.

AI Language TutorTry it ↗
Your avatar
What's the best way to learn Dutch grammar?
Dutch grammar becomes intuitive with practice. Focus on understanding the core patterns first — how sentences are structured, how verbs change form, and how words relate to each other. Our course breaks these concepts into small lessons so you can build understanding step by step.

Sign up free — start using our AI language tutor

Start learning Dutch

Master Dutch — from Wij kiezen noch de dagopvang noch de gastouder to fluency

All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.

  • Infinitely deep — unlimited vocabulary and grammar
  • Fast-paced — build complex sentences from the start
  • Unforgettable — efficient spaced repetition system
  • AI tutor to answer your grammar questions