Halves and Quarters

Level 2

Fractions in Dutch are formed by combining a number (1, 2, 3) with an ordinal number (third, fifth, etc.). The most common fractions are half (1/2) and kwart (1/4).

How It Works

Dutch fractions follow a logical structure but require attention to specific vocabulary and adjective rules.

1. Basic Formation
To say 1/5, you say een vijfde. To say 2/3, you say twee derde. Note that unlike English, the denominator usually stays singular (twee derde, not 'twee derden').

2. The word 'Half'
The word half acts like an adjective and follows adjective inflection rules:

  • Een half uur (A half hour) - No -e because 'uur' is a het-word.
  • Een halve liter (A half liter) - Adds -e because 'liter' is a de-word.

3. Quarters
While een vierde is mathematically correct, Dutch speakers almost always use een kwart in daily life (e.g., een kwartier for 15 minutes).

4. One and a Half
Dutch has a unique word for 1.5: anderhalf. You do not use an article before it. You say anderhalf jaar (one and a half years), never 'een anderhalf jaar'.

5. Time Nuance
In telling time, half means 30 minutes before the next hour. Half vier is 3:30, not 4:30.

Examples (5)

  1. Ik wil graag een halve liter melk.

    I would like a half liter of milk.

    Word by Word: I want gladly a half liter milk.

    Notice the -e on 'halve' because 'liter' is a de-word.

  2. We hebben nog anderhalf uur.

    We still have one and a half hours.

    Word by Word: We have still other-half hour.

    'Anderhalf' is used without an article to mean 1.5.

  3. Driekwart van de studenten is aanwezig.

    Three-quarters of the students are present.

    Word by Word: Three-quarter of the students is present.

    'Driekwart' (3/4) is a very common compound fraction.

  4. Slechts een vijfde van de mensen stemde.

    Only one-fifth of the people voted.

    Word by Word: Only a fifth of the people voted.

    Standard fractions use the ordinal number (vijfde).

  5. Het is half drie.

    It is half past two (2:30).

    Word by Word: It is half three.

    In time, 'half' points to the upcoming hour.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'een anderhalf' instead of 'anderhalf'.

    Ik wacht al een anderhalf uur.
    Ik wacht al anderhalf uur.

    'Anderhalf' already implies 'one' (literally 'the other is half'), so adding 'een' is redundant and incorrect.

  • Confusing 'half' (adjective) with 'de helft' (noun).

    Ik wil een halve van de koek.
    Ik wil de helft van de koek.

    Use 'de helft' when you mean 'the half' as a noun. Use 'half' only as an adjective before a noun.

  • Pluralizing the denominator.

    Twee derden van de taart.
    Twee derde van de taart.

    In Dutch, the fraction denominator usually stays singular even if the numerator is greater than one.

How It Connects

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

Halves and QuartersLevel 2

Learn This First

To understand Dutch fractions, you need to know basic cardinal numbers for the quantities and ordinal numbers, as the suffixes -de and -ste used in ordinals are also used to create fractional denominators (like 'derde' for third). Additionally, understanding how the indefinite article 'een' interacts with nouns is necessary for common expressions like 'een half uur'.

Words in This Pattern

halfkwartanderhalf