Every Dutch adjective obeys one central rule. Get this one right and ninety per cent of adjective work is done.
The rule
Add -e to the adjective UNLESS the noun is singular AND takes _het_ AND has an indefinite article (or no article at all).
Translated to plain steps:
- Adjective before a _de_-word? Always add -e. _de grote hond_, _een grote hond_, _grote honden_.
- Adjective before a _het_-word that has _het_ in front? Always add -e. _het grote huis_.
- Adjective before a _het_-word that has _een_ / nothing in front? No -e. _een groot huis_, _groot huis_.
- Adjective after a linking verb (predicative)? Never add -e. _het huis is groot_, _de hond is lief_.
See it in one table
| singular, de-word | een lieve hond | a sweet dog _(add -e)_
| singular, de-word | de lieve hond | the sweet dog _(add -e)_
| singular, het-word, definite | het grote huis | the big house _(add -e)_
| singular, het-word, indefinite | een groot huis | a big house _(no -e)_
| singular, het-word, no article | groot huis | big house _(no -e)_
| plural, any gender | grote huizen | big houses _(always -e on plurals)_
| predicative | de hond is lief | the dog is sweet _(never -e)_
Small spelling echoes
Adding -e can change the stem because Dutch spelling keeps vowel length consistent:
| groot → grote | the double vowel shortens when we add -e because the syllable closes
| wit → witte | the consonant doubles to keep the vowel short
| lief → lieve | f becomes v between vowels
| rijk → rijke | no change, the ij already closes the syllable
If those spelling shifts feel arbitrary, revisit the Alphabet Garden chapter, the four syllable rules explain every one of them.
Try it aloud
Read these pairs out. Notice how the -e changes the rhythm of the whole phrase:
- _een mooi huis_ / _het mooie huis_
- _een oud boek_ / _het oude boek_
- _een lief kind_ / _het lieve kind_
Next page: the three exceptions where even a rule-following -e would sound wrong.