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Questions & Answers about De fles is leeg.
Why does leeg not get an -e ending in De fles is leeg?
Because leeg here is a predicative adjective (it follows the linking verb is). In Dutch, adjectives used predicatively never take the -e ending. Only attributive adjectives (those placed directly before a noun) get inflected.
Why is the article de used with fles and not het?
Dutch nouns are either common gender (de-words) or neuter (het-words). fles is a common-gender noun, so it takes de. There are some patterns (e.g. many monosyllabic nouns are common), but usually you learn the article together with each new noun or check a dictionary.
Could you say Een fles is leeg instead of De fles is leeg?
Yes. Een fles is leeg means A bottle is empty, talking about any unspecified bottle. You use de for a specific bottle (“the bottle is empty”) and een for a general one (“a bottle is empty”).
What’s the word‐order rule in De fles is leeg, and why is is in second position?
Dutch follows the V2 (verb-second) rule: the finite verb (is) must be the second element in a main clause. Here De fles is the first element (subject), is is second, and leeg follows.
If I want to say empty bottle as a noun phrase, how do I change leeg?
Use leeg attributively before the noun and add -e: lege fles. That gives you “empty bottle” (as an adjective-noun combination).
How do I pronounce fles and leeg?
• fles = [flɛs], the e sounds like the e in English “bed.”
• leeg = [leːɣ], the ee is a long vowel like “ay” in “say,” and the final g is a soft Dutch g (a bit like the Scottish “loch”).
Can adjectives ever remain uninflected after verbs like zijn?
Yes. Any adjective used predicatively after zijn, worden, blijven, etc., stays in its base form (no -e). So you get De deur is open, Hij blijft ziek, Het huis wordt schoon.
Can I drop the article and just say Fles is leeg?
Not in standard Dutch. You normally need the article (de fles is leeg). Omitting it is only acceptable in headlines, labels, or very telegraphic/colloquial speech.
How can I add emphasis to leeg if the bottle is completely empty?
Insert an adverb like heel, erg or helemaal before the adjective:
• De fles is heel leeg.
• De fles is helemaal leeg.
Each option intensifies the “emptiness” of the bottle.