De werkwoorden hebben en zijn
Exam relevant: This topic is covered in the Inburgeringsexamen. You're building the foundation now — A2 is the target level.
Hebben is one of the most important verbs in Dutch. It is used for possession, age, and many common expressions.
| Pronoun | Conjugation | English |
|---|---|---|
| ik | I have | |
| jij / je | you have (informal) | |
| u | hebt / heeft | you have (formal) |
| hij / zij / het | he / she / it has | |
| wij / we | we have | |
| jullie | you have (plural) | |
| zij / ze | they have |
Note: "u hebt" and "u heeft" are both correct. "U heeft" is more common in speech.
Zijn is the Dutch equivalent of "to be". It is completely irregular and is used to describe identity, location, nationality, and states of being.
| Pronoun | Conjugation | English |
|---|---|---|
| ik | I am | |
| jij / je | you are (informal) | |
| u | bent / is | you are (formal) |
| hij / zij / het | he / she / it is | |
| wij / we | we are | |
| jullie | you are (plural) | |
| zij / ze | they are |
Note: "ben jij?" (NOT "bent jij?") because of the inversion rule.
Ik heb een hond.
I have a dog.
Possession
Zij heeft twee kinderen.
She has two children.
Possession
Wij hebben een groot huis.
We have a big house.
Heb jij een pen?
Do you have a pen?
Inversion: -t drops
Ik heb honger.
I am hungry.
Literally: I have hunger
Hij heeft dorst.
He is thirsty.
Literally: He has thirst
Zij heeft gelijk.
She is right.
Literally: She has right
Ik heb het druk.
I am busy.
Literally: I have it busy
Ik ben student.
I am a student.
Identity (no article needed)
Hij is Nederlands.
He is Dutch.
Nationality
Wij zijn op kantoor.
We are at the office.
Location
Het is koud vandaag.
It is cold today.
State / weather
Ben jij klaar?
Are you ready?
Inversion: -t drops
Ik ben 30 jaar oud.
I am 30 years old.
Age uses zijn in Dutch
| Dutch Expression | English Meaning | Literal Translation |
|---|---|---|
| honger hebben | to be hungry | to have hunger |
| dorst hebben | to be thirsty | to have thirst |
| gelijk hebben | to be right | to have right |
| het druk hebben | to be busy | to have it busy |
| haast hebben | to be in a hurry | to have hurry |
| zin hebben (in) | to feel like | to have desire (in) |
| het koud/warm hebben | to be cold/warm (person) | to have it cold/warm |
Scenario: Talking about your job and workplace
Ik heb een vergadering om tien uur.
I have a meeting at ten o'clock.
Zij is de manager.
She is the manager.
Wij zijn collega's.
We are colleagues.
Heb je het rapport?
Do you have the report?
De directeur is op vakantie.
The director is on vacation.
Ik heb het druk vandaag.
I am busy today.
When "jij/je" comes after the verb, the -t drops. This is a fundamental rule in Dutch.
Same inversion rule: "jij bent" becomes "ben jij?" The -t always drops after inversion with jij/je.
Age uses "zijn" (to be) in Dutch, just like in English: "Ik ben 25 jaar oud."
Dutch uses "hebben" (to have) for hunger, thirst, and similar sensations, unlike English.