To introduce someone or point at something, say _dit is_ or _dat is_, even when the noun is a de-word: _Dit is mijn zus._ For more than one, only the verb changes: _Dit zijn mijn kinderen._ To describe a situation, say _het is_ (_Het is laat._), and to react to something someone just said, say _dat is_ (_Dat is een goed plan._).
The pattern
To introduce or identify someone or something, use _dit is_ or _dat is_, for de-words and het-words alike. To describe the situation itself, use _het is_.
- _dit is_ or _dat is_ + one person or thing: _Dit is mijn zus._ _Dat is het station._
- _dit zijn_ or _dat zijn_ + more than one: _Dit zijn mijn kinderen._
- _dit_ is close to you, _dat_ is farther away or already mentioned.
- _het is_ + time, weather or a description of the moment: _Het is laat._ _Het is koud._
- _dat is_ + your reaction to a whole idea: _Dat is een goed plan._
Examples
| Dit is mijn zus Sanne. | This is my sister Sanne. |
|---|---|
| Dat is onze nieuwe buurman. | That's our new neighbour. |
| Dit is het gemeentehuis. | This is the town hall. |
| Dit zijn mijn kinderen, Yara en Daan. | These are my children, Yara and Daan. |
| Dat zijn de nieuwe collega's van Carlos. | Those are Carlos's new colleagues. |
| Het is laat, ik ga naar huis. | It's late, I'm going home. |
| Het is koud en het regent. | It's cold and it's raining. |
| Het is vandaag druk in de trein. | It's busy on the train today. |
| Je hebt een nieuwe baan? Dat is fantastisch! | You've got a new job? That's fantastic! |
| Zaterdag fietsen? Dat is een goed plan! | Cycling on Saturday? That's a good plan! |
Why it works this way
In [Deze, die, dit, dat](#/lesson/demonstratives) you put these words right before a noun: _deze fiets_, _dit huis_. Here, _dit_ and _dat_ stand on their own. At that moment you are not naming the thing yet, you are only pointing at it, so Dutch uses the neutral forms _dit_ and _dat_. The noun comes after the verb, and it decides just one thing: _is_ for one, _zijn_ for more.
_Deze_ and _die_ can also stand alone, but then they mean "this one" or "that one" for a de-word or a plural that you and your listener already have in mind: _Welke jas koop je? Deze is mooi._ So the rule of thumb is: to introduce or identify someone or something, normally use _dit_ or _dat_. When a de-word is already clear and you mean "this one" or "that one", _deze_ or _die_ is possible too, even with a noun after the verb.
_Het is_ works differently. There is nothing to point at: you describe the whole scene. The time, the weather and how busy or quiet it is all take _het_: _Het is tien uur._ _Het is druk op het station._ More on this in [Het as an empty subject](#/lesson/dummy-het). You will also hear _het is_ for someone you cannot see yet: _Wie is het? Het is de postbode._ When the person is right in front of you, _dit_ or _dat_ is the natural choice.
Finally, _dat_ can point back at a whole sentence, just like English "that". When Fatima says _Ik ben geslaagd!_ (I passed!), you answer _Dat is geweldig!_ Your _dat_ points at the whole piece of news. Everyday reactions such as _dat klopt_ (that's right), _dat is jammer_ (that's a pity) and _dat maakt niet uit_ (it doesn't matter) work the same way. With a suggestion, _Dat is een goed plan!_ is the usual reply. _Het is een goed plan_ is also correct, just less common as a quick reaction.
Remember: _dit_ and _dat_ are your finger, _het_ is your camera. Point at a person, a thing or someone's words with _dit_ or _dat_; describe the scene with _het_.
Watch out
- Not: _Deze is mijn zus._ Say: _Dit is mijn zus._ (when you introduce someone, use _dit_, even for a de-word)
- Not: _Deze zijn mijn kinderen._ Say: _Dit zijn mijn kinderen._ (when you introduce, English "these are" becomes _dit zijn_)
- Not: _Dit is mijn ouders._ Say: _Dit zijn mijn ouders._ (a plural noun after the verb needs _zijn_)
- Not: _Is koud vandaag._ Say: _Het is koud vandaag._ (a full Dutch statement needs a subject, here the empty _het_)
Quick check
- Choose: _Daan, (deze / dit) is mijn collega Priya._
- Fill in the gap: _Dit ... mijn kinderen, Emma en Joris._
- Choose: _(Het / Dit) is al elf uur. Ik ga naar bed._
- Choose. Mei says: _Ik heb mijn rijbewijs gehaald!_ Ahmed answers: _(Dat / Die) is geweldig!_
Answers
- _dit_: you are introducing someone, so _dit_, even though _collega_ is a de-word.
- _zijn_: _kinderen_ is plural, so the verb is plural too.
- _Het_: the time is a situation, there is nothing to point at.
- _Dat_: Ahmed reacts to Mei's news as a whole idea, and _dat_ points back at it.
Use it today
Show a friend or colleague three photos on your phone and introduce what is on them with _Dit is..._ or _Dit zijn..._. Then look outside and describe the weather in one sentence that starts with _Het is..._.