To be (zijn)

To be
'To be' is an irregular verb (werkwoord)..
This means that it does not follow the rules regular verbs follow.
To be able to use the verb correctly, you simply have to learn the verb by heart.

 

long form short form
am - ik ben I'm
you are - jij/u bent you're
he is - hij is he's
she is - zij is she's
it is - het is it's
we are - wij zijn we're
you are - jullie zijn you're
they are - zij zijn they're

 

You make a negation (ontkenning) by putting 'not' after the right form.

Lange vorm Korte vorm Korte vorm (2)
am not I'm not  
you are not you're not you aren't
he/she/it is not he's/she's/it's not he/she/it isn't
we are not we're we aren't
you are not you're not you aren't
they are not they're not they aren't

 

You make a question by changing the word order (woordvolgorde)

am Am I?
You are Are you?
He is Is he?
She is Is she?
It is Is it?
We are Are we?
You are Are you?
They are Are they?