Zijn, Worden, Blijven

Level 3

Dutch uses specific verbs to link a subject to a state (zijn), a change (worden), a continuation (blijven), or an appearance (lijken).

How It Works

In Dutch, linking verbs are essential for describing people and things. The most common are:

  • Zijn (to be): Used for a current state. Zijn is highly irregular.
  • Worden (to become/get): Used for a transition. Note the -dt spelling in the second and third person singular.
  • Blijven (to stay/remain): Used for a state that does not change.
  • Lijken (to seem/appear): Used to describe how something appears to be.

A key rule for these verbs is that the adjective following them is a predicative adjective. This means it never takes an inflectional -e ending, regardless of the gender or number of the subject. For example: De man is groot (not grote).

While English often uses 'to be' for both states and changes (e.g., 'It is getting dark'), Dutch usually uses worden for a process of change.

Examples (6)

  1. De soep is erg lekker.

    The soup is very tasty.

    Word by Word: The soup is very tasty.

    Here 'is' (zijn) links the subject 'de soep' to the adjective 'lekker'.

  2. Mijn broer wordt volgend jaar arts.

    My brother will become a doctor next year.

    Word by Word: My brother becomes next year doctor.

    'Wordt' indicates a change in status from student to doctor.

  3. Het kind blijft rustig.

    The child remains calm.

    Word by Word: The child stays calm.

    'Blijft' indicates that the state of being calm is continuing.

  4. Die auto lijkt erg duur.

    That car seems very expensive.

    Word by Word: That car seems very expensive.

    'Lijkt' (lijken) is used here to describe the appearance or impression of the car.

  5. Wij worden moe van het wandelen.

    We are getting tired from the walking.

    Word by Word: We become tired from the walking.

    Dutch uses 'worden' because 'getting tired' is a process of change.

  6. Zij zijn erg gelukkig samen.

    They are very happy together.

    Word by Word: They are very happy together.

    A simple state of being using the plural form of 'zijn'.

Common Mistakes

  • Adding an inflectional -e to the adjective after a linking verb.

    De film is goede.
    De film is goed.

    Adjectives used after linking verbs (predicative) do not get an -e ending. Only adjectives placed before a noun usually get the -e.

  • Using 'zijn' when you mean 'getting'.

    Different MeaningHet is koud buiten.
    Het wordt koud buiten.

    'Het is koud buiten' is good Dutch: it states a situation (it is cold). To say it is getting cold, use 'worden', as in the right sentence.

  • Incorrect spelling of 'worden' in the first person singular.

    Ik wordt leraar.
    Ik word leraar.

    The stem of 'worden' is 'word'. In the first person (ik), you do not add a -t, even though it sounds the same as 'wordt'.

How It Connects

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

Zijn, Worden, BlijvenLevel 3

Learn This First

To understand linking verbs, you first need to know how to conjugate the most common ones (zijn and worden). You also need to understand that adjectives following these verbs (predicative adjectives) behave differently than adjectives placed directly before a noun.

Words in This Pattern

wordenblijven