--- title: "Dit is, dat is, het is" level: A2 chapter: "Pronouns" canonical: https://www.dutchfluency.com/grammar/dit-is-dat-is updated: 2026-10-08 author: Dutch Fluency license: CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) --- # Dit is, dat is, het is 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](https://www.dutchfluency.com/grammar/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](https://www.dutchfluency.com/grammar/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 1. Choose: _Daan, (deze / dit) is mijn collega Priya._ 2. Fill in the gap: _Dit ... mijn kinderen, Emma en Joris._ 3. Choose: _(Het / Dit) is al elf uur. Ik ga naar bed._ 4. Choose. Mei says: _Ik heb mijn rijbewijs gehaald!_ Ahmed answers: _(Dat / Die) is geweldig!_ ## Answers 1. _dit_: you are introducing someone, so _dit_, even though _collega_ is a de-word. 2. _zijn_: _kinderen_ is plural, so the verb is plural too. 3. _Het_: the time is a situation, there is nothing to point at. 4. _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..._. ## Questions learners ask **Is it "dit is" or "deze is" in Dutch?** When you introduce someone or something, say "dit is", even with a de-word: "Dit is mijn zus." You use "deze is" when it means "this one" for a de-word that is already clear, as in "Welke jas koop je? Deze is mooi." **How do you say "these are" in Dutch?** To introduce people or things, say "dit zijn" for those close by and "dat zijn" for those farther away, for example "Dit zijn mijn kinderen." The plural only shows in the verb "zijn", not in "dit" or "dat". **What is the difference between "het is" and "dat is" in Dutch?** "Het is" describes a situation, like the time or the weather: "Het is laat." "Dat is" points at something specific or reacts to what someone just said: "Dat is een goed plan." From the Dutch Fluency Grammar: https://www.dutchfluency.com/grammar. Shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.