Learn Hardcore Dutch: Elk meisje draagt een oranje jas.

Elk translates to every or each in English. It functions as a determiner modifying meisje (girl). Because meisje is a neuter noun (a het word), the form remains elk. If the noun were of common gender (a de word), you would typically use elke instead.

Why is the verb written as draagt instead of draag?

The verb draagt is the third-person singular conjugation of dragen (to wear). In Dutch, when the subject is singular—as with meisje in this sentence—the verb takes the -t ending, resulting in draagt. This follows standard subject–verb agreement rules.

How does the noun’s gender affect the form of adjectives and determiners in phrases like elk meisje?

Dutch nouns are classified as common (de-words) or neuter (het-words). Since meisje is a neuter noun, determiners like elk do not take an additional -e. In contrast, with a de-word in an indefinite phrase, you often see an -e ending (e.g., elke jongen, where jongen is common gender). This gender distinction is key to choosing the correct form.

Why does the color adjective oranje appear without an -e ending even though it modifies jas?

While adjectives in Dutch are typically inflected—with an -e ending—when they appear before common gender nouns in definite contexts, many color adjectives (including oranje) are treated as invariable in many cases. In this sentence, even though jas is a de-word, oranje remains in its base form, which is standard usage for several color adjectives.

What is the overall sentence structure or word order in Elk meisje draagt een oranje jas?

The sentence follows the basic Subject–Verb–Object (SVO) order: Elk meisje is the subject, draagt is the verb, and een oranje jas is the object. Within the object, een is the indefinite article, and oranje is the adjective describing jas (jacket). This clear structure helps illustrate how Dutch sentences are built.