An infinitive is the dictionary verb form, such as zijn. It does not mark grammatical person.

Pronoun: A person or thing word: ik, je, u, hij, zij.

Adjective: A word describing a person or thing, such as nieuw or moe.

Plural: More than one; plural verbs usually use the infinitive form.

to be and pronouns

Use zijn to say who someone is. In Dutch, subject pronouns are very important: ik, u, jij, hij, zij, het. Here, the landlady and other adult strangers use formal u to the learner, and the learner uses u back. With a child or a friendly neighbour, use jij or je.

The full present forms are ik ben, u bent, jij bent, je bent, hij is, zij is, het is. In plural, use wij zijn, jullie zijn, zij zijn. The learner does not change adjectives or participles for sex in Dutch.

Use dit is for introducing people and things: Dit is mijn huis. Use hij is for Max because Max is a male cat. For Emma, use zij is. For things like het café, use het is.

For neighbour words, Dutch really has a sex difference: buurman for a male neighbour and buurvrouw for a female neighbour. Use the real one only when it matters.

• Ik ben Lukas.I am Lukas.

  Ik ben Lena.I am Lena.

• U bent de nieuwe buurman.You are the new neighbour.

  U bent de nieuwe buurvrouw.You are the new neighbour.

• Jij bent Emma.You are Emma.

• Hij is Max.He is Max.

• Zij is hier.She is here.

• Het is mijn huis.It is my house.

• Wij zijn hier.We are here.

• U bent mijn buurman.You are my male neighbour.