Adjectives Used as Nouns

Level 4

In Dutch, you can turn an adjective into a noun by adding the suffix -e. Use de for people and het for abstract things or qualities.

How It Works

This pattern is a highly productive way to create nouns from adjectives. It follows three main paths:

1. Referring to People (De-words): When referring to a person or group, the nominalized adjective functions as a de-word. This remains true even when using the indefinite article (e.g., een zieke - a sick person).

  • Singular: Use the -e suffix (e.g., de zieke). Crucially, even adjectives or past participles ending in -en take an extra -e when referring to people (e.g., de gevangene - the prisoner).
  • Plural: Use the -en suffix only when referring to people (e.g., de armen - the poor). If referring to things or animals, use only -e (e.g., de grote - the big ones).

2. Referring to Concepts (Het-words): When you use the article het, the adjective refers to an abstract concept or quality (e.g., het goede - the good). While the superlative takes an -e when functioning as a noun (e.g., het mooiste - the most beautiful thing), remember that the -e can be omitted when the superlative is used as a predicate (e.g., Dat is het mooist). It also appears in fixed expressions like in het openbaar (in public). A common conversational structure is het [adjective]e van [noun], meaning 'the [adjective] thing about [noun].'

3. Elliptical Use: Adjectives can stand alone to avoid repeating a noun mentioned earlier. In this case, the adjective takes the gender (de or het) of the omitted noun (e.g., Ik wil de rode [auto] → Ik wil de rode).

4. Partitive -s: When an adjective follows indefinite pronouns like iets (something), niets (nothing), wat (something/some), veel (much), weinig (little), or genoeg (enough), it takes an -s suffix. For example: iets moois (something beautiful), veel lekkers (many tasty things), or wat nieuws (something new). See Iets Leuks for more details.

Spelling Rules:
The suffix -e follows standard adjective inflection rules regarding vowel length and consonant doubling (e.g., groot → de grote, dik → de dikke).

Exceptions for Things:
Unlike the rule for people, material adjectives (like houten) and past participles ending in -en (like gebakken) do not take an extra -e when used elliptically to refer to things (e.g., Ik wil de houten, Ik wil de gebakken).

Examples (6)

  1. De overledene werd gisteren begraven.

    The deceased [person] was buried yesterday.

    Word by Word: The deceased was yesterday buried.

    Here, the adjective 'overleden' (deceased) becomes a noun referring to a person by adding -e and using 'de'.

  2. Wij helpen de armen in deze stad.

    We help the poor in this city.

    Word by Word: We help the poor in this city.

    When referring to a plural group of people, the nominalized adjective takes the -en suffix.

  3. Het leuke van deze baan is de afwisseling.

    The nice thing about this job is the variety.

    Word by Word: The nice of this job is the variety.

    Using 'het' + adjective + 'e' is the standard way to say 'the [adjective] thing about' something.

  4. Heb je iets nieuws gekocht?

    Did you buy something new?

    Word by Word: Have you something new-s bought?

    After words like 'iets' or 'niets', the adjective gets an -s suffix. This is the partitive -s construction.

  5. Welke auto wil je? De rode.

    Which car do you want? The red one.

    Word by Word: Which car want you? The red.

    This is an elliptical use where the noun 'auto' is omitted, and the adjective stands in for it.

  6. Het goede overwint altijd.

    Good always triumphs.

    Word by Word: The good triumphs always.

    'Het goede' refers to the abstract concept of 'the good' or 'goodness'.

Common Mistakes

  • Forgetting the mandatory -e suffix.

    Het mooi van Amsterdam.
    Het mooie van Amsterdam.

    When an adjective functions as a noun, the -e suffix is required, even if the base adjective wouldn't normally have one.

  • Using 'een mooie' to mean 'something beautiful'.

    Different MeaningIk zag een mooie.
    Ik zag iets moois.

    'Ik zag een mooie' is correct when the noun is clear from context ('een mooie' = a beautiful one, such as a car, a dress or a person). To say 'something beautiful' without a noun, use the partitive -s construction.

  • Adding -e to material adjectives.

    De houtene is van mij.
    De houten is van mij.

    Material adjectives like 'houten' (wooden) or 'gouden' (golden) are already inflected and do not take an additional -e.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Adjectives Used as NounsLevel 4

Learn This First

To use adjectives as nouns, you must first understand how adjectives are inflected with the -e suffix. You also need to be comfortable with the de/het system, as the choice of article determines whether the nominalized adjective refers to a person (de oude) or an abstract concept/thing (het mooie).

Words in This Pattern

-e-e