| Subject | Objects | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| I | ik ('k) | me | mij (me) |
| you (fam.) | jij (je) | you | jou (je) |
| you (form.) | u | you | u |
| he | hij | him | hem ('m) |
| she | zij (ze) | her | haar (ze) |
| it | hij / het | it | het ('t) |
| we | wij (we) | us | ons |
| you (pl.) | jullie | you | jullie (je) |
| you (form.) | u | you | u |
| they | zij (ze) | them | hen (ze) / hun (ze) |
Direct and indirect object pronouns are the same in Dutch,
except for "them." Hen is used if it is a direct object, and hun is used
if it is an indirect object. Generally, indirect objects are preceded by
"to" or "from" in English, and direct objects are not preceded by any
prepositions. Additionally, these object pronouns are used in
prepositional phrases.
An alternative way of showing possession
without using the possessive pronouns is to use van + object pronoun.
In fact, this is the only way to show possession with the jullie form, as there
is no possessive pronoun for it. This construction corresponds to "of +
object" and occurs often in sentences with the verb "to be." Is deze
pen van jou? Is this your pen? Die schoenen zijn niet van mij.
Those shoes are not mine.
If the noun is not present in
the clause, then die or dat + van + object pronoun is used. Mijn huis is
klein; dat van hem is erg groot. My house is small; his is very large.
This article was used with permission from:
Indo-European Languages