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Independent possessives in action

B1Pronouns · lesson 37 of 57

Dutch independent possessives are always preceded by a definite article: _de_ or _het_. Which article we use, depends on whether the pronoun refers to a [het-noun or a de-noun](#/lesson/NounsAndArticles.05).

de jas | the coat | dat is de mijne | that is mine

het boek | the book | dat is het mijne | that is mine

de oren | the ears | dat zijn de jouwe\\* | those are yours

het idee | the idea | dat is het jouwe | that is yours

de fiets | the bicycle | dat is de uwe | that is yours (formal)

het gezicht | the face | dat is het uwe | that is yours (formal)

de ogen | the eyes | dat zijn de zijne\* | those are his

het oog | the eye | dat is het zijne | that is his

de kam | the comb | dat is de hare | that is hers

het oor | the ear | dat is het hare | that is hers

de tent | the tent | dat is de onze | that is ours

het plan | the plan | dat is het onze | that is ours

de visie | the vision | dat is de hunne | that is theirs

het doel | the goal | dat is het hunne | that is theirs

(\*) As you can see, it does not matter whether the possessive pronoun refers to a singular or plural word

Independent possessive pronouns The alternative possessive
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