zijn

To Be (Zijn)

Level 1

zijn (to be) is highly irregular. It is used for identity (I am a student), states (I am tired), and as an auxiliary verb for certain past tenses.

How It Works

The verb zijn is the most frequent verb in Dutch and is completely irregular. It serves four main purposes:

1. Copula (Linking Verb): It connects a subject to a quality or identity. Example: Ik ben blij (I am happy).
2. Location: It states where someone or something is. Example: Ik ben hier (I am here).
3. Auxiliary Verb: It forms the perfect tense for verbs involving a change of state or location. Zijn also uses itself as a helper: Ik ben geweest (I have been).
4. Passive Voice: It describes a finished state. Example: De brief is geschreven (The letter is written).

Present Tense Conjugation:

  • ik ben (I am)
  • jij/je bent (you are, informal)
  • u bent (you are, formal) — Note: 'u is' is sometimes used in very formal/archaic contexts.
  • hij/zij/het is (he/she/it is)
  • wij/jullie/zij zijn (we/you/they are)

Past Tense Conjugation:

  • ik/jij/u/hij/zij/het was (I/you/he/she/it was)
  • wij/jullie/zij waren (we/you/they were)

Imperative (Command):
The command form of zijn is wees. Example: Wees voorzichtig! (Be careful!).

Special Rule: Inversion
When asking a question with jij, the -t is dropped: Ben jij?. This follows the rule of jij inversion. The formal u usually keeps the -t: Bent u?.

Important Distinction:
Unlike English, Dutch uses hebben (to have) for certain states: Ik heb honger (I am hungry), Ik heb dorst (I am thirsty), and Ik heb het koud (I am cold).

Examples (5)

  1. Ik ben een student.

    I am a student.

    Word by Word: I am a student.

    Uses 'ben' for the first person singular (ik).

  2. Ben jij vandaag moe?

    Are you tired today?

    Word by Word: Are you today tired?

    Notice the -t is dropped from 'bent' because 'jij' follows the verb in a question.

  3. Wij zijn in Amsterdam.

    We are in Amsterdam.

    Word by Word: We are in Amsterdam.

    Uses the plural form 'zijn' for 'wij' (we).

  4. Het is koud buiten.

    It is cold outside.

    Word by Word: It is cold outside.

    Uses 'is' for the third person singular (het).

  5. Bent u de leraar?

    Are you the teacher?

    Word by Word: Are you the teacher?

    The formal 'u' usually retains the -t in questions, unlike 'jij'.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'zijn' for physical states like hunger or thirst.

    Ik ben honger.
    Ik heb honger.

    In Dutch, you 'have' hunger, thirst, or cold rather than 'being' them. Use hebben for these states.

  • Keeping the -t in questions with 'jij'.

    Bent jij hier?
    Ben jij hier?

    In Dutch, when 'jij' or 'je' follows the verb (inversion), the -t ending is dropped. This is a rule of jij inversion.

  • Confusing the verb 'zijn' with the possessive 'zijn'.

    Zijn is hier.
    Hij is hier.

    'Zijn' can mean 'to be' or 'his'. Make sure you aren't using the possessive zijn (his) when you mean the pronoun hij (he).

How It Connects

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

zijnLevel 1To Be (Zijn)

Learn This First

To learn the conjugation of 'zijn' (to be), you first need to be familiar with the Dutch subject pronouns, as this verb is highly irregular and changes its form significantly depending on the subject.

Learn Next

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And 18 more in the full list.

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