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Ik ben trots op jou.

Ik ben trots op jou.
I am proud of you.
FromLesson 49inHardcore Dutch
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Breakdown of Ik ben trots op jou.

ik
I
zijn
to be
jou
you
trots
proud
op
of

Questions & Answers about Ik ben trots op jou.

Why does Dutch use op with trots?

Because trots selects the preposition op. It’s a fixed pattern: trots op (iemand/iets). It parallels English “proud of,” but Dutch picks a different preposition.

  • Other common patterns: boos op (angry at a person), boos over (angry about a thing), gek op (crazy about/fond of), verliefd op (in love with), jaloers op (jealous of), blij met (happy with).
Why is it jou and not jij or je?

After a preposition like op, you need the object form. Jou is the stressed object pronoun; jij is a subject pronoun; je is the unstressed form that can act as subject or object.

  • Subject: Jij bent mijn zoon.
  • Object after a preposition: Ik ben trots op jou.
  • Unstressed/neutral: Ik ben trots op je.
What’s the difference between jou and jouw?
  • jou = object form of “you” (after prepositions or as direct object): Ik ben trots op jou.
  • jouw = possessive “your”: Ik ben trots op jouw werk.
    They’re pronounced the same but used differently.
When should I say op je instead of op jou?

Use op je for a neutral, unstressed “you.” Use op jou to emphasize or contrast.

  • Neutral: Ik ben trots op je.
  • Emphatic/contrast: Ik ben trots op jou (…niet op je broer).
How do I say this formally or to more than one person?
  • Formal singular: Ik ben trots op u.
  • Informal plural: Ik ben trots op jullie.
  • Formal plural is also u: Ik ben trots op u.
    Note: jullie is both subject and object; it doesn’t change form.
Can I move op jou to the front for emphasis?

Yes. Dutch allows fronting for emphasis, with the finite verb in second position:

  • Op jou ben ik trots.
    You can also make a yes/no question or an exclamative:
  • Ben ik trots op jou?
  • Ben ik trots op jou!
Can I use er with this, like “I’m proud of it”?

Yes, when referring back to a thing or whole idea, use the pronominal adverb: er … op.

  • Je hebt je diploma gehaald. Ik ben er trots op.
  • Or: Daar ben ik trots op.
    Don’t use er for people. For people, use pronouns: op hem/haar/je/jullie/u (Ik ben trots op je), not “Ik ben er trots op jou.”
Why doesn’t trots have an -e here?

Because it’s a predicative adjective after a linking verb (zijn). Predicative adjectives don’t take the -e: Ik ben trots; zij is blij.

  • Attributive (before a noun) normally takes -e: een trotse vader.
  • Common exception: with an indefinite het-word, the -e drops: een trots kind.
Is trots an adjective or a noun?

Both exist. In this sentence it’s an adjective (predicate): Ik ben trots (op jou).
There’s also the noun trots (pride): Met trots presenteer ik dit project; Dit stadion is de trots van de stad.

How do I negate this?

Use niet: Ik ben niet trots op jou.
Use geen only to negate a noun phrase with an implied article (e.g., Dat is geen probleem), not an adjective after zijn.

How do I say “very/so/super proud of you”?

Common intensifiers:

  • heel/erg/enorm/ontzettend: Ik ben heel trots op je.
  • Colloquial: hartstikke/super: Ik ben supertrots op je.
    You can also write zo or stressed zó: Ik ben zó trots op je.
How do I change the tense?
  • Past: Ik was trots op je.
  • Present perfect: Ik ben (heel) trots op je geweest.
  • Future: Ik zal trots op je zijn.
  • Conditional: Ik zou trots op je zijn (als…).
Any quick pronunciation tips?
  • Ik: short i, like “ik.”
  • ben: as in English “Ben.”
  • trots: short o (like “not”), pronounce the final ts clearly.
  • op: short o again.
  • jou: “yow,” rhymes with “now.”
    Natural stress often falls on jou if you mean “you in particular.”
Can I drop words in casual speech?

Yes, in informal contexts people often use ellipses:

  • Trots op je!
  • Ben zo trots op je!
    In full, standard sentences you keep the subject and verb: Ik ben trots op je.
Is fier op also correct?

Yes, fier (op) is common in Belgian Dutch: Ik ben fier op jou.
In the Netherlands, trots (op) is the standard, and fier sounds literary or regional.

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