Niet and geen in Dutch
June 23, 2023 at 10:29 pm,
1 comment
Ah, "niet" and "geen" – two little words in Dutch that can sometimes confuse us.
"Niet" is often used to negate verbs or actions. It indicates the absence or denial of something. For example:
- "Ik ga niet naar de bioscoop." (I am not going to the cinema.)
- "Hij spreekt niet Nederlands." (He does not speak Dutch.)
- "We hebben het niet gedaan." (We did not do it.)
On the other hand, "geen" is used to negate nouns or indicate the absence of something. It is used when we want to say "not a" or "no" in English. Take a look at these examples:
- "Ik heb geen auto." (I do not have a car.)
- "Er is geen koffie meer." (There is no more coffee.)
- "Ze hebben geen huisdieren." (They do not have any pets.)
To summarize, "niet" negates verbs or actions, while "geen" negates nouns or indicates the absence of something. Remember that "niet" is used to negate the action itself, while "geen" is used to express the absence or lack of something specific. With a little practice, you'll get the hang of using these words correctly in no time!
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1 comment - Niet and geen in Dutch
Caroline Hoey - June 26, 2023 at 7:49 pm
Thank you so much for sending me these Dutch lessons.