Basic checks and status questions | Learn Dutch in English

Sentence explanations

1. Is dit oké?

   Is this okay?

   Is dit

   Is this …?

   oké

   okay

   More detail

   Is dit combines is, the present-tense form of zijn (“to be”), with dit, a demonstrative pronoun meaning “this.” In a Dutch yes/no question, the verb comes before the subject: Is dit ...? Compare the statement Dit is ... (“This is ...”). As a demonstrative, dit refers to one nearby thing or situation; dat is the corresponding “that” form. oké is an adjective meaning acceptable or satisfactory. Its spelling is also commonly seen as okay; in this sentence, oké describes the thing or situation indicated by dit. Example: Dit is oké. — “This is okay.” Together, Is dit oké? asks whether the indicated thing or situation is acceptable: “Is this okay?” The reusable pattern is Is dit + adjective?, as in Is dit nieuw? — “Is this new?”

2. Is dit jouw tas?

   Is this your bag?

   Is dit

   Is this…?

   jouw

   your

   tas

   bag

   More detail

   Is dit forms the beginning of a Dutch yes/no question. is is the present-tense form of zijn (“to be”) for hij, zij, and het, and dit means “this.” In a question, the finite verb comes before the subject: Is dit ...? means “Is this ...?” jouw means “your” for one or more people being addressed. It is a possessive determiner placed before the noun: jouw tas = “your bag.” The possessive jouw itself does not change for the number of the possessed noun; for example, jouw tas and jouw tassen mean “your bag” and “your bags.” tas is the noun “bag.” Its plural is tassen: een tas = “a bag,” twee tassen = “two bags.” Dutch nouns also belong to grammatical-gender classes; tas is a common-gender de-word, as shown by de tas, but that does not change the form of jouw here. Together, Is dit jouw tas? asks whether the object identified as “this” belongs to the person or people being addressed. The structure is reusable as Is dit jouw [noun]?, for example, Is dit jouw boek? — “Is this your book?”

3. Zit hier iemand?

   Is anyone sitting here?

   Zit

   is sitting

   hier

   here

   iemand

   anyone; someone

   More detail

   Zit is the present-tense singular form of zitten, “to sit” or “to be seated.” In this sentence, it describes someone’s seated location. The form zit is used with singular subjects such as ik, jij, hij, and iemand; the plural form is zitten. Example: Hij zit daar. — “He is sitting there.” hier means “here,” referring to the place relevant in the situation. It is an adverb, so it does not change form for number or gender. Example: Mijn jas ligt hier. — “My coat is here.” Iemand is an indefinite pronoun meaning “someone” in an affirmative statement and commonly “anyone” in a yes/no question such as this one. It is grammatically singular, which matches zit. Example: Er zit iemand buiten. — “Someone is sitting outside.” The sentence uses Dutch yes/no-question order: the finite verb Zit comes first, followed by the place adverb hier and the subject iemand. Together, Zit hier iemand? asks whether any person is seated here: “Is anyone sitting here?”

4. Ben je nu druk?

   Are you busy now?

   Ben je

   are you

   nu

   now

   druk

   busy

   More detail

   Ben je means “are you” here. It is the inverted question order of Dutch je bent (“you are”): ben is the present-tense form of zijn (“to be”) used with singular informal je in this question pattern. Compare Je bent druk. — “You are busy.” and Ben je druk? — “Are you busy?” nu means “now.” It is a time adverb that can be used in statements and questions: Ben je nu klaar? — “Are you ready now?” druk means “busy” in this sentence. It is a descriptive adjective used after zijn to describe the person: Ik ben druk. — “I am busy.” In the relevant sense, its opposite is vrij (“free,” “not busy”), as in Ik ben vrij. — “I am free.” Together, Ben je forms a yes-or-no question addressed to one informal person, nu specifies the present time, and druk supplies the description. The complete utterance means “Are you busy now?”

5. Ben je nu klaar?

   Are you ready now?

   Ben je

   are you

   nu

   now

   klaar

   ready

   More detail

   Ben je is the question form of je bent (“you are”). Ben is the present-tense form of zijn (“to be”) used with the subject je/jij; in a yes-no question, the verb comes before the subject: Ben je ...? Compare the statement Je bent klaar. — “You are ready.” nu means “now” and places the situation at the present time. It can also occur in another question, such as Ben je nu druk? — “Are you busy now?” klaar is an adjective meaning “ready” here. The same adjective can mean “finished” in a different context, so its precise sense comes from what is being discussed. Example: Ik ben klaar. — “I am ready” or “I am finished,” depending on the situation. Together, Ben je forms the yes-no question, nu specifies the present time, and klaar describes the addressee as ready. The complete meaning is “Are you ready now?”

6. Heb je hulp nodig?

   Do you need help?

   Heb je

   do you have…?

   hulp

   help

   nodig

   needed; necessary

   More detail

   Heb je is the inverted question form of je hebt (“you have”). The verb is hebben (“to have”): je hebt is the ordinary statement form, while Heb je ...? places the finite verb before the subject to form a yes/no question. Example: Heb je tijd? — “Do you have time?” hulp is a noun meaning “help”. It can refer to assistance in general, without stating how much help or identifying a particular kind. Example: Ik geef hulp. — “I give help.” nodig means “needed” or “necessary” here. In the reusable expression iets nodig hebben, it says that someone needs something: literally, “to have something necessary.” nodig is an adjective used in this expression; it does not change here for the person who needs the thing. Example: Ik heb water nodig. — “I need water.” Together, Heb je hulp nodig? uses the pattern Heb je [something] nodig? to ask whether the listener needs that thing. The complete meaning is “Do you need help?”