When it comes to writing in Dutch, one of the most common mistakes that people make is using the wrong article for the word “contract”. In Dutch, the noun “contract” can be either masculine or neuter, which means it can take either the article “de” or “het”. So, the question arises: is it “contract de” or “contract het”?
The correct answer is both, depending on the gender of the word that follows it. Let`s take a look at a few examples:
– “De contractvoorwaarden zijn gunstig.” Here, we use “de” because the noun “voorwaarden” is masculine.
– “Het contract is nog niet getekend.” Here, we use “het” because the noun “contract” is neuter.
– “De opzegtermijn in het arbeidscontract is een maand.” Here, we use “het” for “arbeidscontract” because it`s neuter, but “de” for “opzegtermijn” because it`s masculine.
So, how do you know if a noun is masculine or neuter? Unfortunately, there`s no easy answer. You simply have to memorize the gender of each noun. However, there are a few general rules that can help:
– Most nouns ending in -heid, -teit, -sie, -schap, -isme, -loos, -isme, -ment, -dom, -sel, and -aal are neuter.
– Most nouns ending in -er, -aar, -eur, -ier, and -or are masculine.
– Most nouns ending in -ing, -ij, and -nis can be either masculine or neuter.
Of course, there are plenty of exceptions to these rules, so it`s best to consult a dictionary if you`re not sure.
In conclusion, whether to use “contract de” or “contract het” depends on the gender of the noun that follows it. If the noun is masculine, use “de”; if it`s neuter, use “het”. While there are no hard and fast rules for determining the gender of a noun, there are some general guidelines that can help. So, if you want to write in correct Dutch, make sure you pay attention to the gender of your nouns!