The 10 Most Common Dutch Grammar Mistakes English Speakers Make
15 May 2026
Dutch is one of the closest languages to English — but that familiarity can trick you into making systematic errors. Here are the ten most common Dutch grammar mistakes English speakers make, and how to avoid them.
1. Using the Wrong Article: de vs het
Dutch has two definite articles: de (used with common-gender nouns) and het (used with neuter nouns). Unlike German, there's no reliable gender rule — you have to learn each noun with its article.
Mistake: "het man" instead of "de man"
Fix: Learn every new noun with its article. Write "de auto" not just "auto".
2. Forgetting Diminutives Always Take het
All diminutives (formed with -je, -tje, -pje, -etje) take het, regardless of the base noun's gender.
Correct: het meisje (the girl), het hondje (the little dog), het huisje (the little house)
3. Wrong Word Order with Verbs
Dutch uses V2 (verb-second) word order: the main verb always comes second in a sentence, regardless of what comes first.
Mistake: "Morgen ik ga naar Amsterdam" (Tomorrow I go to Amsterdam)
Correct: "Morgen ga ik naar Amsterdam"
In subordinate clauses, the verb moves to the end:
"Ik weet dat hij morgen naar Amsterdam gaat."
4. Confusing er
Dutch er has five distinct functions (locative, partitive, prepositional, passive, and existential). English speakers often omit it.
Mistake: "Zijn veel mensen" instead of "Er zijn veel mensen" (There are many people)
5. Placing the Infinitive in the Wrong Position
In sentences with a modal verb + infinitive, the infinitive goes to the end:
Correct: "Ik wil Nederlands leren." (I want to learn Dutch — not "Ik wil leren Nederlands.")
6. Not Separating Separable Verbs
Many Dutch verbs split apart in main clauses. The prefix moves to the end.
Mistake: "Ik opbel mijn moeder" instead of "Ik bel mijn moeder op."
7. Adjective Inflection Errors
Adjectives take an -e ending in most contexts, but not before a het-word in indefinite singular:
Correct: "een groot huis" (a big house — no -e) but "het grote huis" (the big house — with -e)
8. Overusing Progressive Tenses
Dutch doesn't have a continuous tense like English "I am walking." The simple present covers both:
"Ik loop" = I walk / I am walking
Dutch does have progressive constructions (aan het + infinitive) but they're used less frequently than in English.
9. Direct Translation of Prepositions
Dutch prepositions don't map directly to English ones. "Interested in" is "geïnteresseerd in" ✓ but "good at" is "goed in" — not "goed bij."
Learn common preposition collocations as fixed phrases rather than translating literally.
10. False Friends
Dutch and English share many words that look the same but mean something different:
| Dutch | Looks like | Actual meaning | |-------|-----------|---------------| | actueel | actual | current/topical | | eventueel | eventually | possibly | | sympathiek | sympathetic | likeable/nice |
Practice Makes Permanent
The only way to internalise Dutch grammar rules is through repeated, targeted practice — especially on the structures that trip you up most. Dutch Guru tracks which grammar patterns you get wrong and generates exercises specifically targeting your weaknesses, so you spend your study time where it counts.