To ask a yes or no question in Dutch, put the conjugated verb (the form that matches the person) first and the subject (who or what does it) right after it: _Heb je tijd?_ _Woont hij hier?_ When the subject _jij_ or _je_ follows the verb, the verb loses its -t ending (_Werk jij?_), and your voice usually rises at the end.
The pattern
In a yes or no question, the conjugated verb comes first and the subject follows. The rest keeps its usual order.
- _Hij woont hier._ becomes _Woont hij hier?_
- When the subject _jij_ or _je_ follows the verb, the -t ending drops: _Werk jij?_ _Ben je moe?_
- A t that is already in the _ik_ form stays: _ik zit_, _Zit jij hier?_
- With other subjects, the form does not change: _Werkt u?_
- A second verb stays at the end: _Kun je zwemmen?_
Examples
| Heb je morgen tijd? | Do you have time tomorrow? |
|---|---|
| Woont Daan hier? | Does Daan live here? |
| Werk jij op zaterdag? | Do you work on Saturdays? |
| Spreek je Engels? | Do you speak English? |
| Is de supermarkt nog open? | Is the supermarket still open? |
| Gaat deze trein naar Utrecht? | Does this train go to Utrecht? |
| Heeft u pijn? | Are you in pain? |
Why it works this way
In a statement, the verb comes second, as in [Inversion: Morgen ga ik](#/lesson/inversion). In a yes or no question it moves to the front, and that move itself signals the question. English does this with only a few verbs (Are you tired?) and adds "do" for the rest. Dutch puts any conjugated verb first, and before _jij_ a regular verb is just its _ik_ form: _ik werk_, _Werk jij?_ More in [Werk jij? Where the t disappears](#/lesson/jij-inversion).
In relaxed speech you also hear statement order with a rising voice: _Je komt morgen?_ That sounds like checking or surprise. For a plain question, put the verb first, especially if your language often asks with intonation alone, as Spanish and spoken Arabic do.
Remember: when a statement starts with the subject, swap the subject and the verb: _De winkel is open._ becomes _Is de winkel open?_ If _jij_ or _je_ now follows the verb, drop the -t.
Watch out
- Not: _Werkt jij morgen?_ Say: _Werk jij morgen?_ (the -t drops when the subject _jij_ follows the verb)
- Not: _Bent je moe?_ Say: _Ben je moe?_ (_zijn_ loses its t too)
- Not: _Doe je hier werken?_ Say: _Werk je hier?_ (Dutch has no helper verb like "do")
- Not: _Woon hij hier?_ Say: _Woont hij hier?_ (the -t ending only drops when the subject _jij_ or _je_ follows the verb)
Quick check
- Fill in the right form of _werken_: _... jij morgen?_
- Choose _Kom_ or _Komt_: _... u morgen ook?_
- Fix the verb: _Bent jij de nieuwe buurvrouw?_
- Turn this into a question that starts with the verb: _Sanne fietst naar haar werk._
Answers
- _Werk_: the subject _jij_ follows the verb, so the -t drops.
- _Komt_: with _u_, the t stays.
- _Ben jij de nieuwe buurvrouw?_: _zijn_ loses its t too.
- _Fietst Sanne naar haar werk?_: verb first, and the t stays because the subject is Sanne.
Use it today
Ask a colleague or neighbour three yes or no questions that start with the verb, like _Werk je morgen?_ Check each one for the lost t, and let your voice rise at the end.