Verb 'zijn' (to be) - Present Tense (A1)
'Zijn' is one of the most important verbs in Dutch. It's irregular, meaning its forms don't follow the standard pattern.
Conjugation:
- ik ben (I am)
- jij bent (you are - informal singular)
- u bent (you are - formal singular/plural)
- hij is (he is)
- zij is (she is)
- het is (it is)
- wij zijn (we are)
- jullie zijn (you are - informal plural)
- zij zijn (they are)
Usage examples:
- Identifying people/things:
Ik ben Mark.(I am Mark.)Dat is een huis.(That is a house.) - Describing qualities:
Jij bent lang.(You are tall.)Het weer is goed.(The weather is good.) - Indicating location:
Wij zijn in Amsterdam.(We are in Amsterdam.) - Talking about age:
Hoe oud ben je?(How old are you?)Zij is dertig.(She is thirty.) - Nationality/Origin:
Hij is Duitser.(He is German.)Zijn jullie uit Spanje?(Are you from Spain?)
Note: Remember the difference between informal jij/jullie and formal u.