I was looking around for some infromation regarding the use of the articles het and de. I found this among Yahoo Answers, but it appears to be good info, written by someone who teaches Dutch (as a second language)
[Knowing when to use hat and de is] not an easy thing to learn and when learning new word, it's best to learn also whether the word is "de" (masculin or feminin) or "het" (neutral). You can always find in a dictionary whether to use "de" or "het": "het" words are called "neutral" or "onzijdig", indicated with an "n" or an "o" in your dictionary.
However, there are rules for using "de" or "het". They are not exhaustive but they will help you.
First of all, most words are "de" (about 65% to 70%).
- Always "de" for plural: • de appels, de jassen
- Always "de" for professions and for people: • de bakker, de schilder , de broer, de tante
- Always "de" for vegetables, fruits, trees and plants: • de bloemkool, de citroen, de eik, de tulp
- Always "de" for names of mountains and rivers:• de Etna, de Maas, de Alpen, de Rhône
- Always "de" for words ending on -ing, -ie,- ij, -heid, -teit,-a, -nis, -st, -schap, -de, -te, -iek, -ica, -theek, -iteit, -tuur, -stuur, -sis, -xis, -tis, -ade, -ide, -ode, -ude, -age, -ine, -se, -ea: • de samenleving, de spatie, de vrijheid, de kwaliteit, de agenda, de kennis, de winst, de blijdschap, de liefde, de crisis, de alinea
- Always "het" for a diminutive: • het kindje
- Always "het" for words sonsisting of two syllables and starting with be-, ge-, ver-, ont-: • het begrip, het gedrag, het verlies, het ontzag
- Always "het" for languages:• het Russisch, het Engels
- Always "het" for names of metals: het ijzer, het koper, het zilver
- Always "het" for words ending on -isme, -ment:• het Boedhisme, het moment
- Always "het" for words derived from verbs:
• het slapen
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