Dutch negation
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'Niet' (not) and 'geen' (no), these two words indicate that the Dutch sentence is negative. However, these translations differ on the sentence. In Dutch the verb 'to do' is not necessary to make the sentence negative, unlike in English.
When to use 'geen'?
- For a negating a noun, that would have needed 'een' (a/an) when it was not a negative sentence.
- For nouns that are plural and uncountable that did not have an article in front.
| Situation | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Noun (that needed 'een') | Ik heb geen auto. | I have no car. |
| Noun (plural/uncountable) | Ik heb vandaag geen lessen. | I do not have classes today. |
When to use 'niet'?
- For elements that are not nouns, such as verbs, adjectives, thoughts.
- For nouns that are followed by a definite article or possessive pronoun.
| Situation | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Not nouns | Ik loop niet. | I do not walk. |
| Nouns followed by definite article or possessive pronoun | Dat is niet mijn glas. | That is not my glass. |
The placement of 'niet' depends on what you are trying to negate.
- When negating something particular 'niet' has to be right before it.
- Or where the time, place or manner is usually put.
Other negations
| Negation | Translation | Examples | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| niet meer / geen...meer | no(t) ... anymore no(t) ... longer |
|
|
| nog niet / nog geen | no(t) ... yet |
|
|
| nooit | never |
|
|
| niets | nothing |
|
|
| noch...noch | neither... nor... |
|
|
Pay attention,' geen meer' is always separated by a name whereas 'niet meer' is never separated.
Train your skills by doing the exercises below!
Exercises
Exercise Dutch negation 1
Fill in 'niet' or 'geen'.
Remember:
Use 'niet':
- For elements that are not nouns, such as verbs, adjectives, thoughts.
- For nouns that are followed by a definite article or possessive pronoun.
Use 'geen':
- For a negating a noun, that would have needed 'een' (a/an) when it was not a negative sentence.
- For nouns that are plural and uncountable that did not have an article in front.
Is dat jouw huis? - Dat is mijn huis. (Is that your house? - (That is not my house.)
Ik heb huiswerk vandaag. (I do not have homework today.)
Zij gaan naar het feestje. (They do not go to the party.)
Ik heb huisdieren. (I do not have pets.)
De trein komt meer. (The train does not come anymore.)
De supermarkt had vers fruit meer. (The supermarket did not have fresh fruit anymore.)
Zij studeren in Utrecht. (They do not study in Utrecht.)
Zij heeft geleerd voor de toets. (She did not study for the exam.)
Hij wilde geld betalen voor de tickets. (He did not want to pay for the tickets.)
Ik heb daar aan gedacht. (I had not thought of that.)
Exercise Dutch negation 2
Fill in 'niet' or 'geen'.
Remember:
Use 'niet':
- For elements that are not nouns, such as verbs, adjectives, thoughts.
- For nouns that are followed by a definite article or possessive pronoun.
Use 'geen':
- For a negating a noun, that would have needed 'een' (a/an) when it was not a negative sentence.
- For nouns that are plural and uncountable that did not have an article in front.
Hij kon gister slapen. (He was not able to sleep yesterday.)
Ik weet wat ik later wil worden. (I do not know what I want to be when I am older.)
Dat is paard, dat is een hond. (That is not a horse, that is a dog.)
Hij rijdt met de auto naar zijn werk. (He does not drive by car to work.)
Zij heeft tijd om naar de bioscoop te gaan. (She does not have time to go to the cinema.)
Jullie hebben sleutels. (You do not have keys.)
Wij willen afspraak maken bij de tandarts. (We do not want to make an appointment at the dentist.)
Mijn moeder praat meer met haar. (My mother does not talk with her anymore.)
Ik heb ervaring met het spelen van piano. (I do not have experience with playing piano.)
De leerlingen hoeven morgen naar school te gaan. (The students do not have to go to school tomorrow.)
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Lessons for beginners to advanced learners (B2 to C1), with a methodical and structured approach
Exercises that fit your work and life in the Netherlands
Focus on building confidence and keeping your self-respect, as you find your place as a new resident
Long-term collaboration, aimed at lasting progress and making the most of your new country
In my lessons, you’ll not only learn the language but also how to communicate your unique value and fully use the opportunities in your new home. This way, you’ll get to know the Netherlands better and make your own special contribution!
Ready to improve your Dutch? Contact me and let’s explore the possibilities!
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My lessons are student-centred and usually take place on Skype. I treat every student as an individual and tailor my lessons to meet their goals. I use a variety of text books and free online resources including exercises, articles and videos. I usually give out a little homework at the end of each lesson to reinforce what we have done together.
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Whatever you need, I’m here to help. I see it as my job to make you feel safe, build your confidence and make your lessons enjoyable. I look forward to hearing from you and to helping you on your path to speaking better English. Book your first lesson now and let’s get started.
P. S.
I learn English with Corinne for a long time enough to credit her with the required qualities to be a good teacher. She is a brilliant listener. She can adapt her teaching style on the fly, depending on the student's needs. The learning materials are varied: news articles, grammar exercises, video, ... Finally, Corinne makes recommendations for books, movies, and series which are a good fit for my current level.
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My lessons are adapted to your level and due to my job and experience I have acces to teaching methodes to learn you the basics of the Dutch language or to improve your level. I can help you to improve your level of writing and speaking or help you learn your first words and phrases.
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