Chapter 4: Personal Pronouns (Subject)

Introduction: Who is Doing What?

Personal pronouns are essential shortcut words we use to refer to people or things without constantly repeating their names. Subject pronouns, specifically, tell us who or what is performing the action of a verb. For example, instead of saying "Peter reads a book," we can say "He reads a book." This chapter covers the Dutch subject pronouns.

The Dutch Subject Pronouns

Here is a list of the basic subject pronouns in Dutch:

ik = I
Example: Ik leer Nederlands. (I am learning Dutch.)

jij / je = you (singular, informal)
Usage: Used when talking to one person you know well, someone your age, or in casual situations.
je is the unstressed, common form. jij is used for emphasis (e.g., when contrasting with someone else).
Example (neutral): Kom je morgen? (Are you coming tomorrow?)
Example (emphasis): Ik ga niet, maar ga jij? (I'm not going, but are you going?)

u = you (singular or plural, formal)
Usage: This is the polite form. Use it when addressing:
One person you don't know well.
An older person.
Someone in a position of authority (e.g., police officer, doctor, teacher).
In formal business settings.
Sometimes used for plural 'you' in very formal contexts, although jullie is more common for plural.
Example: Spreekt u Engels? (Do you speak English? - formal)
Example: Kunt u mij helpen? (Can you help me? - formal)

hij = he
Usage: Refers to a male person.
Example: Hij werkt in Amsterdam. (He works in Amsterdam.)

zij / ze = she
Usage: Refers to a female person.
ze is the unstressed, common form. zij is used for emphasis.
Example (neutral): Ze leest een krant. (She is reading a newspaper.)
Example (emphasis): Hij niet, maar zij wel. (Not him, but she does.)

het = it
Usage: Refers to neuter nouns (words that use 'het' as their article, like het huis - the house, het boek - the book). Also used in impersonal expressions.
Example (referring to 'het boek'): Het is interessant. (It is interesting.)
Example (impersonal): Het regent. (It is raining.)

wij / we = we
Usage: Refers to 'I' and one or more other people.
we is the unstressed, common form. wij is used for emphasis.
Example (neutral): We gaan naar de bioscoop. (We are going to the cinema.)
Example (emphasis): Zij blijven thuis, maar wij gaan uit. (They are staying home, but we are going out.)

jullie = you (plural, informal)
Usage: Used when talking to two or more people you would address individually as je.
Example: Hebben jullie honger? (Are you guys hungry?)
Example: Wat doen jullie vanavond? (What are you (plural) doing tonight?)

zij / ze = they
Usage: Refers to multiple people or multiple things (that aren't 'het' nouns).
ze is the unstressed, common form. zij is used for emphasis.
Example (neutral): Ze wonen in Utrecht. (They live in Utrecht.)
Example (emphasis): Niet wij, maar zij hebben gewonnen. (Not us, but they won.)

Key Points to Remember

je vs. u: The biggest hurdle for English speakers. Always consider formality when choosing between je (informal singular 'you') and u (formal 'you'). When in doubt, u is generally safer with strangers or elders.
Stressed vs. Unstressed: The shorter forms (je, ze, we) are more common in everyday speech. Use the longer forms (jij, zij, wij) when you want to specifically emphasize the pronoun.
zij/ze: Can mean 'she' OR 'they'. The context and the verb conjugation will usually make the meaning clear.

Ze loopt. (She walks.) - Singular verb
Ze lopen. (They walk.) - Plural verb

het: Only use 'it' for neuter nouns or impersonal phrases. For plural things, use ze (they).

Mastering these subject pronouns is fundamental, as they appear in almost every sentence.