Er (Partitive) in Dutch

Overview

The partitive er is one of the most distinctive features of Dutch grammar. It replaces a noun phrase when combined with a number or quantity word, functioning much like "of them" in English -- except that in Dutch, er cannot be omitted. While English speakers might say "I have five" (dropping "of them"), Dutch requires Ik heb er vijf.

At the A2 level, understanding partitive er is important because it comes up constantly in everyday conversations about quantities. Whenever you answer a question about "how many" or "how much," you will likely need er. It feels unfamiliar at first because English has no direct equivalent that is always required, but with practice it becomes second nature.

Partitive er is one of several functions of the word er in Dutch. This article focuses specifically on its partitive use -- replacing "of them" in quantity expressions.

How It Works

Basic Pattern

When you mention a quantity without repeating the noun, you use er:

Hoeveel boeken heb je? -- How many books do you have? Ik heb er vijf. -- I have five (of them).

Without er, the sentence would feel incomplete in Dutch: Ik heb vijf sounds wrong to a Dutch ear.

Position of Er

Er typically comes right after the conjugated verb (or after the subject in inverted sentences):

Pattern	Example
Subject + verb + er + number	Ik heb er drie.
Verb + subject + er + number	Heb je er genoeg?

With Different Quantity Words

Er works with numbers, quantity adjectives, and indefinite quantity expressions:

Quantity type	Example	Translation
Number	Ik heb er twee.	I have two (of them).
veel	Ik heb er veel.	I have many (of them).
weinig	Ik heb er weinig.	I have few (of them).
genoeg	Ik heb er genoeg.	I have enough (of them).
een paar	Ik heb er een paar.	I have a couple (of them).
geen	Ik heb er geen.	I don't have any (of them).
een	Ik heb er een.	I have one (of them).

Er + Er (Existential + Partitive)

Sometimes existential er ("there") and partitive er both appear in the same sentence. In speech, only one er is pronounced, but conceptually both are present:

Zijn er nog koekjes? -- Are there still cookies? Er zijn er nog een paar. -- There are still a few (of them).

In the answer, the first er is existential ("there"), and the second is partitive ("of them").

In Negative Sentences

With geen (no/none), er is still required:

Ik heb er geen. (I don't have any.) Er zijn er geen meer. (There aren't any more.)

Examples in Context

Dutch	English	Note
Hoeveel boeken heb je? Ik heb er vijf.	How many books do you have? I have five.	Basic partitive
Zijn er nog koekjes? Er zijn er nog een paar.	Are there still cookies? There are still a few.	Double er
Ik wil er twee.	I want two (of them).	With a number
Hoeveel kinderen hebben zij? Zij hebben er drie.	How many children do they have? They have three.	Answering quantity
Heb je er genoeg?	Do you have enough (of them)?	With quantity word
Ik heb er geen meer.	I don't have any more (of them).	Negative
Er staan er drie op tafel.	There are three (of them) on the table.	Double er with location
Hoeveel wil je er?	How many (of them) do you want?	Er at end in question
We hebben er te veel.	We have too many (of them).	With te veel
Ik ken er een paar.	I know a few (of them).	With een paar

Common Mistakes

Omitting Er

• Wrong: Hoeveel appels heb je? Ik heb drie.
• Right: Hoeveel appels heb je? Ik heb er drie.
• Why: Unlike English, Dutch requires er when referring to a quantity without the noun. You cannot simply say the number alone.

Wrong Position

• Wrong: Ik er heb drie.
• Right: Ik heb er drie.
• Why: Er follows the conjugated verb, not the subject.

Using Er When the Noun Is Present

• Wrong: Ik heb er drie boeken.
• Right: Ik heb drie boeken. (noun present) or Ik heb er drie. (noun omitted)
• Why: Er replaces the noun. If you keep the noun, drop er.

Confusing Partitive Er with Other Er Functions

• Wrong: Thinking er always means "there."
• Right: Recognizing that er has multiple functions: existential (there is/are), partitive (of them), locative (there/in that place), and prepositional.
• Why: Context determines which er is being used. With quantities, it is partitive.

Usage Notes

Partitive er is used identically in the Netherlands and Belgium. It is a core feature of standard Dutch that cannot be avoided or replaced with a regional alternative. In very casual speech, er might be slightly reduced in pronunciation, but it is always grammatically present.

This construction has no real equivalent in most other European languages (except perhaps French en), which is why it can feel particularly alien to English speakers. Accept that it will feel strange at first -- it is one of those features you simply need to absorb through repeated exposure.

Practice Tips

• Question-and-answer drills: Have a partner (or imagine one) ask you "how many" questions: Hoeveel stoelen heb je? Hoeveel broers heb je? Hoeveel kopjes koffie drink je? Answer each with er + a number.
• Count things around you: Look around the room and describe quantities: Er staan er drie op tafel. Ik heb er twee in mijn tas. This grounds the grammar in your physical reality.
• Catch it in Dutch media: When listening to Dutch podcasts or conversations, actively listen for partitive er. You will start noticing it everywhere once you know what to look for.

Related Concepts

• Prerequisite: Er (introductory) — the basic existential er ("there is/are") that you need before understanding its partitive cousin
• Next steps: Complete Er System — mastering all four functions of er together (existential, partitive, locative, prepositional)