Watch and read: articles

In the next steps, you will learn the basics of Frisian grammar. In our view, grammar is a practical tool for structuring the ideas and thoughts you want to express. Grammar is not a goal in itself, but it can be a great help.

You can watch a video with a teacher explaining and reading the examples, and / or you can read the text on this grammatical subject. Choose what feels best for you. In this course, you will only learn about the basic principles and rules.

Articles

In Frisian we have two definite articles – de and it – and one indefinite article – in. All three words have the same unstressed vowel sound [ə].

Definite article
A singular noun is either a de-wurd (de universiteit) or an it-wurd (it teater).
Diminutives are always it-wurden (it suske).
Plural nouns are always de-wurden. So it is de universiteiten, de teaters and de suskes, regardless the singular form.

Indefinite article
The indefinite article of every singular noun is in.
So it is in universiteit, in teater and in suske.
The plural has no indefinite article: universiteiten, teaters, suskes.

Reduced forms
The articles de and it have reduced forms in both speech and writing. De is often reduced and written as ‘e when it follows a preposition of one syllable:

de bibleteek	the library
yn ‘e bibleteek	in the library
Ik sil yn ‘e bibleteek studearje.	I’m going to study in the library.

It is often reduced and written as ‘t:

Ha jim it nei ‘t sin?	Are you enjoying yourselves?
Ik wenje yn ‘t sintrum.	I live in the city centre.
Hoe is ‘t?	How are you?

Practise with Quizlet

Would you like to practise Frisian grammar? Please visit our grammar section on articles on Quizlet (you might like to open this link in a new window).

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