The Dutch adjective -e ending
How and when a Dutch adjective adds -e before a noun (de grote hond, het grote huis, grote huizen), and how the spelling changes.
De grote hond (the big dog), het grote huis (the big house), and grote huizen (big houses) all use grote, the adjective that describes the noun. The noun and the word before it determine whether groot (big) changes to grote.
How do you choose the form with -e?
The rule below applies to regular adjectives that have a separate -e form. Use that form before a singular noun that takes de (the) and before a plural noun. Use it before a definite singular noun that takes het (the). Adjectives without a separate -e form keep their existing form.
A degree word before the adjective follows a separate pattern. Both een heel mooie dag and een hele mooie dag are standard; see heel, erg, zeer and te for that variation.
- Position: use this pattern only when the adjective stands directly before its noun.
- Plural noun: if the adjective has an -e form, use that form.
- Singular de-word (a noun that takes de): use the adjective's -e form.
- Singular het-word (a noun that takes het): use the -e form only when the noun is definite.
A singular het-word is definite after het, dit (this), or dat (that). A possessive also makes it definite: mijn oude huis (my old house). Compare the definite het grote huis (the big house) with indefinite een groot huis (a big house). The indefinite pattern has its own page.
| Noun type | Definite singular | With een (a or an) | Definite plural |
|---|---|---|---|
| de-word: hond (dog) | de grote hond (the big dog) | een grote hond (a big dog) | de grote honden (the big dogs) |
| het-word: huis (house) | het grote huis (the big house) | een groot huis (a big house) | de grote huizen (the big houses) |
How does the spelling change before -e?
Groot becomes grote, but wit becomes witte. Adding -e creates another syllable, so Dutch spelling may change to keep the original vowel sound.
| Pattern | Change before -e | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| No spelling adjustment | Add -e. | nieuw → nieuwe (new), leuk → leuke (nice), oud → oude (old) |
| Long vowel: aa, ee, oo, or uu before one final consonant | Write one vowel in the new open syllable. See open and closed syllables. | groot → grote (big), rood → rode (red), duur → dure (expensive) |
| Short stressed vowel before one final consonant | Double the consonant to keep the vowel short. | wit → witte (white), dik → dikke (thick), dun → dunne (thin) |
| Some adjectives ending in f or s | Change f to v or s to z in this group. Other adjectives keep final f or s; check the f/v and s/z rule or a dictionary. | lief → lieve (sweet), vies → vieze (dirty), boos → boze (angry) |
| Adjective already ending in unstressed -e | Keep the same form. | oranje bloemen (orange flowers), een roze jas (a pink coat) |
Where does a regular adjective stay in its basic form?
De hond is groot. (The dog is big.) uses groot after the verb. The regular adjective stays in its basic form in the two situations below.
- After a linking verb such as zijn (to be): De hond is groot. (The dog is big.) Het huis is nieuw. (The house is new.)
- Before an indefinite singular het-word: een groot huis (a big house), geen goed plan (not a good plan), warm water (warm water). See the full no-e rule for the words that make a het-word indefinite.
Mistake to avoid: een does not decide the ending
Een witte auto (a white car) has -e. Een wit huis (a white house) uses the basic form. Auto is a de-word, while huis is a het-word. Check the noun instead of treating een as the signal.
- Complete the sentence: *Ik zie ___ hond.* (I see a ___ dog.) Use *groot* (big).
- *een grote*
- *een groot*
- *een groter*
- *de groot*
*Hond* is a de-word, so the adjective takes *-e* after *een* (a or an): *Ik zie een grote hond.* (I see a big dog.)
- Which option completes *Ik eet ___ appel.* (I am eating the ___ apple.) Use *rood* (red).
- *de rode*
- *de roode*
- *de rodde*
- *de rood*
The first syllable of *rode* is open. One *o* keeps the vowel long: *Ik eet de rode appel.* (I am eating the red apple.)
- Complete the sentence: *Dat zijn ___ boeken.* (Those are nice books.) Use *leuk* (nice).
- *leuk*
- *leuke*
- *leuker*
- *leukste*
A regular adjective with an *-e* form uses it before a plural noun: *Dat zijn leuke boeken.* (Those are nice books.)
- Why does *Het huis is groot.* (The house is big.) use *groot* without *-e*?
- because *huis* is a het-word
- because the adjective follows *is* instead of standing before the noun
- because *groot* has a long vowel
- because the sentence is singular
Here *groot* follows the linking verb *is* (is). An adjective after a linking verb uses its basic form.
- Which sentence means 'I have a white car'?
- *Ik heb een wit auto.*
- *Ik heb een witte auto.*
- *Ik heb een wite auto.*
- *Ik heb een witt auto.*
*Auto* is a de-word, so *wit* takes *-e*. The short vowel is followed by one final consonant, so the *t* doubles: *Ik heb een witte auto.* (I have a white car.)
Test yourself
Question 1 of 5
Complete the sentence: Ik zie ___ hond. (I see a ___ dog.) Use groot (big).