Free Dutch Grammar with exercises, classified by level and topic

Self study with our Dutch grammar articles. You can filter by level and topic. Flashcards and exercises to practice are linked to many of the articles. Anything missing? Send us a message to support (below)

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86 articles found

Kennen vs Weten

Kennen versus Weten in Dutch. How to say to know in Dutch?

A2
Has Quiz

Want versus Omdat

When do you use want and when omdat in Dutch? Is there a difference?

A2
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The difference between Perfectum and Imperfectum

Imperfectum versus perfectum. It's not the same as in English or German!

B1
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Has Flashcards

Verbs: simple past in Dutch

Here you will find regular and irregular verbs in Dutch. Learn Dutch Online with Dutch grammar exercises and explantions A1 A2 B1 B2

A1
Has Quiz

Indirect speech- the use of "of" in Dutch

How to use indirect speech in Dutch. The place of the verbs in Dutch can be tricky. Learn all about the word order in Dutch. Learn Dutch!

B1
Has Quiz

Reflexive pronouns in Dutch

How to use reflexive verbs in Dutch: Learn Dutch grammar online for free with The Dutch Online Academy - Dutch grammar exercises!

A2
Has Quiz
Has Flashcards

Double infinitive

Learn Dutch online and learn why Dutch sentences can have lots of verbs. Dutch word order explained in English and Dutch.

B1
Has Quiz

Dutch perfectum irregular

How do you know if a verb is irregular in Dutch? We will give you a few examples of irregular verbs in perfectum and imperfectum.

A2
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Imperfectum

How to form the Dutch imperfectum: a full guide to the Dutch simple past. Learn to talk about the past in Dutch and conjugate Dutch verbs.

A2
Has Quiz

List with separable verbs

Learn Dutch Online with Dutch exercises and explanations. Here you find a list with separable verbs in Dutch. Learn Dutch fast and free.

A2

Comparing: Adjectives, comparatives & superlatives

Comparatives and superlatives in Dutch are not that difficult. Learn everything you need about Dutch language comparatives and superlatives

A1
Has Quiz

List of het-words

What is the difference between de and het in Dutch? How to know when a word is a het word? Here you find a list of common het-words.

A2

Asking questions

Learn how to form questions in Dutch. Sentence structure and interrogatives. Dutch exercises and Dutch grammar explanation

A1
Has Quiz

How to use ZOU in Dutch

Do you know how to use zou in Dutch? In this article you will find explanations on zou in English with exercises and examples.

A2
Has Quiz

Eindelijk - Uiteindelijk

How to use eindelijk and uiteindelijk in Dutch | Learn Dutch grammar for free with The Dutch Online Academy | Dutch free exercises grammar

B1
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Je or Jij

When to use JE instead of JIJ? There are 3 basic rules! Learn Dutch grammar with The Dutch Online Academy - Dutch grammar exercises

B1
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Dutch word order in a nutshell

How is the word order in Dutch? Discover the right place of the verbs. Dutch word order is easy! Dutch grammar - Dutch grammar exercises!

B1

Conjunctions and word order

Are you doubting about the word order in Dutch? Here you will find a clear explanation and exercises. Learn Dutch Online for Free

A2
Has Quiz

Het Perfectum (Perfect Tense)

In this article you will learn how to conjugate regular Dutch verbs in perfect tense, with examples videos and irregular cases.

A1
Has Quiz

Relative clause (die, dat, waar + prepositie, prepositie + wie)

A relative clause gives more information about a noun. Let's practice!

B1
Has Quiz

Hun or Hen in Dutch?

What is the difference between the pronouns HUN and HEN in Dutch? You can find Dutch grammar and practice with Dutch grammar exercises.

A2
Has Quiz

Pronouns in Dutch: 4 types you need to know

zij / zijn / haar / hem | Learn the dutch pronouns in this free Dutch course. In this Dutch lesson you will learn how to use the pronouns.

A1
Has Quiz

Separable verbs in perfectum

How to split separable verbs in Dutch in perfectum? The splittable verbs in Dutch are easy, learn and practice your Dutch

A2
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The difference between Toen, Wanneer and Als

Study Dutch grammar and learn when to use Als, Toen or Wanneer.

A2
Has Quiz

Er - overview

All the possible options of ER in Dutch language - learn how to use the word ER in Dutch, with grammar exercises, explanations and more

A1

Imperative

Dutch grammar and exercises in English and Dutch. Learn Dutch online with The Dutch Online Academy. Can you learn Dutch fast?

A2
Has Quiz

Hoeven

Learn how to use the Dutch modal verb hoeven and the difference between hoeven and moeten. Learn Dutch Online - The Dutch Online Academy

B1
Has Quiz

Passive sentences

How do you make passive sentences in Dutch? And when do you use WORDEN and when ZIJN? Dutch grammar explanations in both Dutch and English.

B1
Has Quiz

Hetzelfde or dezelfde

when to use hetzelfde and dezelfde in Dutch? We will make it fun and easy for you. Dutch grammar explained in both Dutch and English

B1
Has Quiz

List of reflexive verbs in Dutch

Learn Dutch grammar online with The Dutch Online Academy. Find a list with reflexive verbs in Dutch and reflexive pronouns in Dutch

A2

Die/deze/dat/dit

Learn Dutch | Dutch exercises - books - grammar - Free Online Dutch Material. Learn everything about Dutch demonstrative pronouns

A1

Plusquam-perfectum

Learn all the Dutch tenses with the Dutch Online Academy. Learn Dutch now for free! How to use plusquamperfectum in Dutch. Dutch grammar

B1

aan het + infinitive

Zijn aan het + infinitive: present continuous Dutch. Learn all about it.

A1

Adjectives: with or without e

Adjectives in Dutch with e or without e | how to write adjectives in Dutch | Klein or klein - groot or grote - Dutch grammar exercises

A1
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Separable verbs in Dutch: how to split them

Learn how to separate separable verbs in Dutch | You find Dutch exercises and clear explanations on our website: The Dutch Online Academy.

A2
Has Quiz
Has Flashcards

Referring to objects

Is Learning Dutch difficult? Learn how to refer to objects in this Online Dutch Lesson from The Dutch Online Academy | Free Dutch exercises

A1
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Moeten

The modal verbs in Dutch: moeten, willen, kunnen, zullen, mogen & hoeven! Learn how to use and conjugate Dutch verbs. Learn Dutch Online

B1

Position verbs in Dutch

Zitten, liggen, staan, hangen & lopen. How do you use these verbs?

A2
Has Quiz

Jaar or jaren?

Is it 5 jaar or 5 jaren? Find out!

A2
Has Quiz

Niet and geen in Dutch

Niet and Geen.. many Dutch students don't know the difference, but with a bit of practice you'll quickly understand the difference.

A1
Has Quiz

Alleen, maar en pas

How do you say "only" in Dutch? How do you use alleen? And when do you use maar? It's not as difficult as it seems. The Dutch grammar

A2
Has Quiz

De or Het

DE or HET Dutch | Difference De and HET | When do you use De and when do you use Het in Dutch? Are they masculine and feminine articles?

A1
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Inversion and word order

Inversion! Lots of students are confused by this grammatical term. It's probably easier than you think.

A1
Has Quiz

Fine / Fijn

What does fijn mean in Dutch? Is Fijn Fine? Know your false friends!

A1

Toen in Dutch

Here you learn the difference between toen, wanneer and als in Dutch! They are similar, but not the same.

A1

Talking about the future (zullen)

Learn how to talk about the future in Dutch. There are a few options!

A1

Reflexive verbs

Reflexive verbs are not super common, but important. They are combined with a reflexive pronoun.

A1
Has Flashcards

TE with adjectives

How to use TE in Dutch. The word te pops up for several reasons. Learn all the Dutch grammar rules with the Dutch Online Academy.

A2

Emotions (vocabulary)

Boos, bang, blij, verdrietig? There are more words to show emotion!

A2

Best: not the best

Dutch grammar and Dutch false friends: how to use the word best in Dutch. Learn Dutch grammar online for free. Dutch explanations and Dutch grammar exercises online.

A2

Word order adverbs in Dutch (TeMPO - rule)

The place of the verbs and the subject may be clear, but where does the rest go?

A2

Men

Het woordje "men" kan heel handig zijn als je over "mensen in het algemeen" wilt praten.

B1

Leuk, mooi & lekker Dutch

Leuk Lekker and Mooi are three very positive adjectives in Dutch. It is important to know the difference!

A2

Huis of thuis?

Weet jij het verschil tussen HUIS en THUIS? Je hoeft niet te twijfelen. Nederlandse grammaticaoefeningen en uitleg in het Nederlands en Engels. Oefen Nederlands nu online! Nederlandse Skype lessen

A2

Spijt: had ik maar!

Had ik maar ...! Leer hoe je spijt kunt uitdrukken met The Dutch Online Academy

B2

TE with certain verbs

Some verbs trigger TE and some don't. Read more here.

B1

Sommige: not always like some

"Sommige" looks like 'some' but is not completely the same.

B2

Prepositions

It's hard to translate prepositions, but in this list we've tried!

A2

Zover / zo ver

Learn how to use "zover" en "zo ver", the literal and less literal meaning.

B2

Te: action + goal

Learn everything about the word 'te'. And when do you have to use 'om' as well?

A1

TE: te + adjective + om + te

Learn more about 'te'. There are a few reasons to use this little word.

B2

Wel

Wel, wel, wel. You see this little word everywhere. But how do you use it?

B1

Referring to things

Learn to use the right pronouns to refer to things.

A1

Toch

The little word "toch" in Dutch can be tricky. Toch has a lot of uses in Dutch. The Dutch Online Academy takes a look at Dutch particles.

B1

Action words for position

How to say to place or to put in Dutch? What is the difference is between leggen, zetten, hangen, doen en stoppen? Dutch grammar exercises

B1

Even

Learn how to use these tiny Dutch words that can at first seem so confusing. Learn all about Dutch grammar and Dutch vocabulary.

B1

Abbreviations

Learn Dutch online | Do you want to improve your advanced Dutch further? The Dutch Online Academy offers grammar excersises!

B1

Alle - Al - Allen - Allemaal 

Alle Al Allen and Allemaal look alike but they are not the same. Learn what's the difference and Learn Dutch Online for Free - Dutch grammar

B1

English influence: verbs

English words in Dutch: conjugate English verbs in Dutch - present tense, perfectum and imperfectum in Dutch - Learn Dutch online

B2

Describing graphs & charts in Dutch

Learn how to describe pictures in Dutch, like graphs and charts! Learn Dutch online with the Dutch Online Academy - dutch grammar exercises

B2

Verbs: present tense

The basics are important! Work on the present tense!

A1

Ernaartoe / erheen

When do you use heen or naartoe in Dutch? The word ER can seem confusing. Know the Dutch grammar rules! Learn Dutch grammar exercises online

B2

Modal verbs in Dutch

Learn how to use the modal verbs with exercises and free online Dutch material. How to use zullen. Learn Dutch grammar online.

A1

Er 1 - Er + indefinite subject

There are different reasons to use ER. This one looks like the English "there is/there are".

A1

Er 2 - Er + quantity

How to use ER in Dutch | Learn Dutch grammar online | The Dutch Online Academy - Dutch study material: explanations Dutch grammar exercises

B1

Er 3 - Er as a place

Study Dutch Grammar Online - Dutch exercises and explanations | How to use ER in Dutch | What does ER mean in Dutch? - Dutch lessons

A1

Er 4 - Er + passive sentences

Oh, passive sentences! Tricky, but important. And ER also plays a role.

B1

zitten/liggen/staan/lopen + te

How to use Dutch position verbs to describe an ongoing action | Learn Dutch grammar online with The Dutch Online Academy | Dutch for free

B1

Waar + preposition

Here you will learn how to use WAAR + preposition well in Dutch | Learn Dutch for free at The Dutch Online Academy | Dutch grammar exercises

B1

Verb as adjective

Here you'll learn how to form an adjective in Dutch, using a verb | Free Dutch grammar exercises - The Dutch Online Academy

B1

Hoor

The little word "hoor" seems to be added randomly to Dutch sentences. The meaning is not easy to grasp. At the Dutch Online Academy

B2

beide, beiden & allebei

When do you use beide and when beiden? What is the difference between allebei and beide in Dutch | Learn Dutch Grammar Online for free

B1

Present tense in Dutch: irregular

Here you find an overview of the Dutch irregular verbs in present tense. Learn Dutch Online for Free with the Dutch Online Academy

A1

Zo'n / Zulke

Learn how to use zo'n and zulke in Dutch - the difference between zo'n and zulke. Learn Dutch Online: Dutch grammar exercises

B1
Has Quiz

Difference between veel and heel

When do you use heel and when veel in Dutch? What is the difference between heel and veel? Dutch grammar exercises online for free!

A1
Has Quiz

Introduction

Where to start (or continue) my Dutch grammar?

Wow, so much Dutch language material! Where do I start? No worries. We'll help you on your way.

If you know your level, you could start exploring grammar topics (you can filter by level). Looking for online lessons? Scroll through our online Dutch courses.

Complete beginner? Why not start with the basic pronouns and the present tense?

Want to dive deeper? We have lots of exercise PDFs available to master specific Dutch grammar topics. Many are suitable for multiple levels.

What is my Dutch language level?

No student is the same. You might already know a lot of Dutch vocabulary, but lack Dutch grammar skills. Or maybe your native language is structured in a way similar to Dutch language, which gives you a head start. No student is a complete beginner with 0,0 knowledge. Similar, no student perfectly fits in the description of A1 or B2 level.

Language levels never truly reflect all aspects of your skills. Still, it's important to have an idea of your Dutch level, since it is crucial to get the right study material.

At The Dutch Online Academy, we follow the CEFR-levels. A0/A1 is for beginners, while C1 stands for very advanced students (near fluent).

4 ways to find out your level:

  • What was the level of your last Dutch course or exam? You can continue from there.
  • Do our Dutch grammar level test.
  • Plan a one on one private level test with a professional teacher to ensure you'll focus on the right level.
  • Take a look at the free sneak peeks in our conversation courses. Which texts can your read without too much difficulty?

Learn Dutch Grammar

Practise your Dutch grammar with grammar explanations and practice exercises to test your understanding of the language. We’ve organised the grammar material in a way that you can quickly find the grammatical topic you want to work on.

The importance of learning Dutch grammar

All Dutch learners, whatever their level, have questions and doubts about grammar as they're learning Dutch. It’s important to pay attention to Dutch grammar rules, because it could give you more grip and confidence. At The Dutch Online Academy, you’ll find information about all aspects of Dutch grammar, like verb tenses, Dutch word order and important verbs like worden and zouden.

Dutch word order

It’s essential to pay attention to Dutch word order while learning Dutch, because if you don’t, you’ll sooner or later get tangled up in the sentence structure. The subordinate clause plays a main role in Dutch language. You’ll notice that all verbs go to the end of the sentence because of conjunctions, indirect speech and the relative clause.

Dutch verb tenses

Dutch verb conjugation is not the most difficult part of the language, especially if you already know English. But it’s still important to pay attention to the long list of irregular verbs in Dutch, the difference between perfect and imperfect tense and commonly used Dutch verbs. Forming the future tense in Dutch is simple, although you might want to unravel the difference between gaan and zullen.

Dutch pronouns

Important for beginners, but also advanced Dutch students. Dutch pronouns are tricky, mainly because many can be used in different situations. For example, je can be a subject pronoun, an object pronoun, a possessive pronoun and a reflexive pronoun. A very important aspect of Dutch grammar!

Dutch tiny words

There are many reasons why the Dutch language is filled with small words that have a big impact. Think of om, te, wel, maar and toch. And chances are you’ll have questions about the use of er in Dutch. Especially er with a preposition.

Lists with Dutch words

Did you know we offer free word lists? For example this list with Dutch reflexive verbs and separable verbs. If you want even more extended word lists, you could take a look at our book shop.

Free grammar exercises to test your Dutch

At The Dutch Online Academy you’ll find information about all aspects of Dutch grammar, like adjectives, the order of adverbs and the difference between de and het. And to top it off, we also offer free Dutch grammar practice. You’ll find a short grammar exercise below most topics.

What is my language level in Dutch?

Many Dutch students want an answer to this question. That’s logical, because knowing your level could help you study Dutch effectively. Therefore, it’s possible to filter the grammar topics on your level.

Unsure what your level is? We provide a free Dutch language level test to test your Dutch. It’s mainly focused on Dutch grammar.

Don’t forget that a good grammar base sets you up for the rest of your Dutch journey. So make sure to also repeat the grammar for lower levels every now and then. How to improve your Dutch grammar

The best way to improve your grammar is to practise a little bit often, so come back soon to choose another grammar point to focus on!

Dutch grammar lessons

Really want to dive deep into grammar? In our online Dutch classes we use lots of useful learning materials and activities to help you understand Dutch grammar is a safe environment. Grammar lessons are fun and interactive. You’ll have lots of opportunities to use your Dutch, ask questions about grammar and apply the grammar rules. The Dutch grammar lessons take place via Zoom.