Breakdown of In het Nederlands zeggen we 'ons huis', omdat 'huis' een het-woord is.
zijn
to be
wij
we
in
in
het huis
the house
omdat
because
zeggen
to say
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Questions & Answers about In het Nederlands zeggen we 'ons huis', omdat 'huis' een het-woord is.
What does het-woord mean in this context?
In Dutch, het-woord refers to a noun that is neuter in gender and thus takes het as its definite article. Since huis is neuter, it is classified as a het-woord.
Why do we say ons huis instead of onze huis?
We say ons huis because the possessive form used with neuter singular nouns (het-woorden) is ons. The form onze is used with common gender singular nouns (or de-woorden) and all plural nouns.
How do I know which possessive adjective form to use in Dutch?
The choice depends on the noun’s gender. For neuter singular nouns (het-woorden), use ons. For common gender singular nouns (de-woorden) and plural nouns, use onze. Learning the gender of each noun is key to selecting the correct form.
What is the difference between de-woorden and het-woorden?
Dutch nouns are divided into two groups: • De-woorden are common gender nouns that take the definite article de. • Het-woorden are neuter nouns that take the definite article het. This classification affects articles, adjectives, and possessive forms used with the noun.
How can I become more comfortable identifying het-woorden when learning Dutch?
Building familiarity with noun genders takes practice. Use dictionaries that indicate gender, pay attention to patterns (for instance, many diminutives are het-woorden), and practice with exercises and real-life context. Over time, recognizing het-woorden will become more intuitive.