het + Infinitive

Nominalized Infinitive

Level 4

The nominalized infinitive (het + infinitive) transforms a verb into a neuter noun. It is the standard way to talk about the 'act' or 'process' of doing something, similar to the English '-ing' form (e.g., 'smoking', 'reading').

How It Works

The nominalized infinitive is a powerful tool in Dutch for creating abstract nouns from actions. It is the functional equivalent of the English gerund (-ing).

Key Rules:

  • Article: A nominalized infinitive is grammatically neuter, so with a definite article it takes het. The article is often left out when the activity is meant in general, as on signs or in statements (e.g., Roken verboden).
  • Prepositions: The article 'het' is usual when the infinitive follows a preposition (e.g., na het eten, door het sporten), but it is often absent after fixed verb or adjective combinations such as stoppen met roken or goed in koken.
  • Separable Verbs: When a separable verb is nominalized, the prefix and the verb are written as one single word (e.g., het binnenkomen).
  • Adjectives: If you describe the activity with an adjective, the adjective must take the inflected -e ending (e.g., het snelle lopen).
  • Objects: Dutch often uses a construction with van to link the action to its object: het lezen van boeken.
  • Plurality: Productive nominalized infinitives are generally uncountable. However, some infinitives that have evolved into independent nouns (lexicalized) can take a plural form, such as het leven (de levens) or het wezen (de wezens).

Nuance:
This form emphasizes the process or duration. For example, het bouwen refers to the act of building, whereas de bouw refers to the industry and het gebouw refers to the result (the building) itself.

Examples (4)

  1. Het roken van sigaretten is hier verboden.

    Smoking cigarettes is forbidden here.

    Word by Word: The smoke of cigarettes is here forbidden.

    Here, 'roken' (to smoke) becomes a noun representing the activity. Note the use of 'van' to connect the action to the object.

  2. Na het eten gaan we meestal wandelen.

    After eating, we usually go for a walk.

    Word by Word: After the eat go we mostly walk.

    This is a very common everyday use of the nominalized infinitive after the preposition 'na' (after).

  3. Ik hou niet van het lange wachten bij de dokter.

    I don't like the long waiting at the doctor's.

    Word by Word: I hold not of the long wait by the doctor.

    Notice how the adjective 'lang' gets an -e ending because 'het wachten' is a neuter noun with a definite article.

  4. Het voortdurend onderbreken van de leraar is irritant.

    The constant interrupting of the teacher is annoying.

    Word by Word: The constantly interrupt of the teacher is annoying.

    Even a complex verb like 'onderbreken' (an inseparable verb) can be nominalized to describe a specific behavior.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'de' instead of 'het'.

    De zwemmen is gezond.
    Het zwemmen is gezond.

    Nominalized infinitives are always neuter. You must use 'het', never 'de'.

  • Using the present participle (-end) as a noun.

    Lezend is mijn hobby.
    Het lezen is mijn hobby.

    In English, 'Reading' (-ing) is a noun. In Dutch, the form ending in -end is only an adjective or adverb. To make a noun, use 'het' + infinitive.

  • Thinking 'het' is always needed before an infinitive subject.

    Different MeaningHet roken is slecht voor je.
    Roken is slecht voor je.

    'Het roken is slecht voor je' is correct. A bare infinitive, 'Roken is slecht voor je', is just as common in general statements. 'Het' is the usual choice when more words follow, as in 'het roken van sigaretten'.

How It Connects

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

het + InfinitiveLevel 4Nominalized Infinitive

Learn This First

To understand nominalized infinitives (het + infinitive), a learner must be familiar with the Dutch definite article system, specifically the use of 'het' for neuter nouns, and how to identify the infinitive form of a verb.