Subject pronouns with stressed/unstressed forms and formality
Can use Dutch subject pronouns correctly
Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?
Ik ben Sophie en jij bent Daan.
I am Sophie and you are Daan.
Ze werkt in Amsterdam en hij woont in Utrecht.
She works in Amsterdam and he lives in Utrecht.
Kunt u mij helpen, alstublieft?
Can you help me, please?
Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?
Dutch has stressed and unstressed forms for most pronouns. Use the stressed form for emphasis, the unstressed form in normal speech.
Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises
Practice ExercisesConfusing stressed/unstressed forms and jij/u formality.
Using jij when u is required or vice versa
Use u with strangers, older people, and in formal settings. Use jij/je with friends, family, and peers.
Using stressed form where unstressed is natural
Use short forms (je, ze, we) in normal speech. Use full forms (jij, zij, wij) only for emphasis or contrast.
Ik ben Sophie en jij bent Daan.
I am Sophie and you are Daan.
'Jij' is the stressed form of 'you' (informal). Used here for contrast: I vs. you.
Ze werkt in Amsterdam en hij woont in Utrecht.
She works in Amsterdam and he lives in Utrecht.
'Ze' is the unstressed form of 'zij' (she). In casual speech, Dutch almost always uses the short forms.
Kunt u mij helpen, alstublieft?
Can you help me, please?
'U' is the formal 'you', used with strangers and in polite situations. 'Alstublieft' (please) also uses the 'u' form.
Practice in course
Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises