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Exam relevant: This topic is covered in the Inburgeringsexamen. You're building the foundation now — A2 is the target level.
Dutch has two types of questions: open questions (with a question word) and yes/no questions (without a question word). Both types require inversion (verb before subject).
| Dutch | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| wie | who | Wie is dat? |
| wat | what | Wat doe je? |
| waar | where | Waar woon je? |
| wanneer | when | Wanneer kom je? |
| waarom | why | Waarom ben je laat? |
| hoe | how | Hoe gaat het? |
| welke / welk | which | Welke kleur wil je? |
| hoeveel | how many / how much | Hoeveel kost het? |
"Welke" is used with de-woorden and plural nouns; "welk" is used with het-woorden.
Question word + Verb + Subject + Rest of the sentence. The verb is always in the second position, right after the question word.
Wat doe je?
What do you do?
Question word + verb + subject
Waar woon je?
Where do you live?
Wanneer begint de vergadering?
When does the meeting start?
Waarom ben je laat?
Why are you late?
Hoe heet u?
What is your name? (formal)
Literally: How are you called?
Wie is de manager?
Who is the manager?
Hoeveel collega's heb je?
How many colleagues do you have?
Welke taal spreek je?
Which language do you speak?
Verb + Subject + Rest of the sentence. Yes/no questions start directly with the verb.
Werk je morgen?
Do you work tomorrow?
Verb first, -t drops with je
Spreekt u Nederlands?
Do you speak Dutch? (formal)
Heb je een pen?
Do you have a pen?
-t drops with je
Is hij ziek?
Is he sick?
Komen jullie ook?
Are you (plural) coming too?
Ben jij de nieuwe collega?
Are you the new colleague?
-t drops with jij
| Type | Position 1 | Position 2 | Position 3 | Rest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Statement | Subject | Verb | Rest | |
| Open question | Question word | Verb | Subject | Rest |
| Yes/No question | Verb | Subject | Rest |
The verb is always in position 2 for statements and open questions, and position 1 for yes/no questions.
Scenario: Asking questions during a job interview and at the office
Waar werk je?
Where do you work?
Wanneer begint de vergadering?
When does the meeting start?
Wat is uw functie?
What is your position? (formal)
Hoe laat is de pauze?
What time is the break?
"Hoe laat" = what time
Wie is mijn leidinggevende?
Who is my supervisor?
Waar is de kantine?
Where is the canteen?
In questions, the verb must come directly after the question word (V2 rule): "Waar werk je?"
Verb must be in second position and the -t drops with je after inversion: "Wat doe je?"
Yes/no questions require inversion (verb first): "Werk je morgen?"
"Taal" is a de-woord, so use "welke" (not "welk"). "Welk" is only for het-woorden.