When the Adjective Takes No -e

Level 1

In Dutch, most adjectives end in -e (een grote boom). However, you use the 'bare' form (no -e) if the noun is Neuter (het-word) + Singular + Indefinite. Note that adjectives already ending in -e or -en (like material adjectives or participles) never take an extra -e.

How It Works

Most Dutch adjectives take an -e suffix when they come before a noun. But there is one very important exception where a standard adjective stays in its base form.

You do not add an -e when all three of these conditions are met:

  • The noun is a neuter noun (a het-word).
  • The noun is singular.
  • The noun phrase is indefinite (preceded by een, geen, elk, veel, or no article).

For standard adjectives, if even one of these conditions changes (e.g., het mooie huis), the -e returns. This rule also applies to diminutives because they are always het-words.

Important Exceptions:
Some adjectives never take an -e, regardless of the noun:

  • Adjectives ending in -en. This includes material adjectives (houten, gouden), words like eigen (own) or open, and past participles used as adjectives (gebakken).
  • Adjectives already ending in -e (e.g., roze, beige).
  • Fixed adjectives like linker (left) and rechter (right).

Examples (5)

  1. Ik woon in een klein huis.

    I live in a small house.

    Word by Word: I live in a small house.

    'Huis' is a neuter noun (het huis). Because it is singular and preceded by 'een', the adjective 'klein' does not get an -e.

  2. Dat is een interessant boek.

    That is an interesting book.

    Word by Word: That is an interesting book.

    'Boek' is a neuter noun. Since it is indefinite (een), we use 'interessant' instead of 'interessante'.

  3. Er is geen warm water.

    There is no warm water.

    Word by Word: There is no warm water.

    'Water' is a neuter noun. The rule applies with 'geen' (no/none) just as it does with 'een'.

  4. Ik zie een schattig hondje.

    I see a cute little dog.

    Word by Word: I see a cute doggie.

    Diminutives like 'hondje' are always het-words. Therefore, the adjective 'schattig' stays bare when indefinite.

  5. Hij drinkt koud bier.

    He drinks cold beer.

    Word by Word: He drinks cold beer.

    For uncountable neuter nouns like 'bier', the adjective stays bare even when there is no article at all.

Common Mistakes

  • Adding -e to adjectives describing indefinite neuter nouns.

    Ik heb een mooie huis.
    Ik heb een mooi huis.

    Learners often overgeneralize the -e ending. Remember: Neuter + Singular + Indefinite = No -e.

  • Dropping the -e for plural neuter nouns.

    Ik zie twee mooi huizen.
    Ik zie twee mooie huizen.

    The 'no -e' rule only applies to the singular. All plural adjectives in Dutch must take the -e ending, regardless of gender.

  • Dropping the -e when using a possessive pronoun.

    Mijn mooi huis.
    Mijn mooie huis.

    Words like 'mijn' (my) or 'jouw' (your) make the noun definite. The 'no -e' rule only works for indefinite nouns.

How It Connects

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When the Adjective Takes No -eLevel 1

Learn This First

To understand when an adjective does not take an -e, you must first be able to distinguish between 'de' and 'het' nouns, understand how the indefinite article 'een' works, and know the standard rule for adjective inflection.

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Words in This Pattern

-e