zijn

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 Dutch 1.1 Etymology 1 1.1.1 Pronunciation 1.1.2 Verb 1.1.2.1 Conjugation 1.1.2.2 Synonyms 1.1.2.3 Derived terms 1.2 Etymology 2 1.2.1 Determiner

[edit] Dutch

[edit] Etymology 1

From Proto-Germanic *sind-, from Proto-Indo-European *h₁es- (“‘to be’”), likely influenced by the Proto-Germanic subjunctive *sī-. In many Germanic languages the paradigm of "to be" has been since the time of Proto-Germanic a synthesis of three originally distinct verb stems. The words "ben" and "bent" are from *bʰuh₂- (“‘to become’”). The words "is" and "zijn" are both derived from *h₁es- (“‘to be’”). Lastly, the past forms starting with "w-" such as "was" and "waren" are from *wes- (“‘to reside’”), which still survives as wezen.

[edit] Pronunciation

•  audio^{help, file}
• IPA: [zɛɪn]

[edit] Verb

zijn (irregular verb)

1. (intransitive) To be, to exist.

   Zijn of niet zijn, dat is de vraag. — To be or not to be, that is the question.

2. (transitive, copular) Used to connect a noun to an adjective that describes it.

   De bal is rond. — The ball is round.

3. (transitive, auxiliary) Used to form the perfect tense of the active voice of some verbs, together with a past participle.

   Hij is hier geweest. — He has been here.

   Note: The perfect tense of most other verbs is formed using hebben.

4. (transitive, auxiliary) Used to form the perfect tense of the passive voice, together with a past participle.

   Ze waren gered. — They had been saved.

   De muur is geschilderd. — The wall has been painted.

   De muur zal zijn geschilderd. — The wall will have been painted.

   Note: The imperfect tense passive is formed using worden.

5. (transitive, auxiliary) Used to form the continuous forms of various tenses, together with aan het.

   De man was aan het lopen. — The man was walking.

6. (intransitive) To go, to go on a trip and return.

   Ik ben even naar de dokter. — I'm going to the doctor for a while.

   Ik ben vandaag naar het strand geweest. — I've been to the beach today.

7. (transitive, copular, mathematics) To equal; used to indicate that the values on either side of an equation are the same.

   Drie keer vijf is vijftien. — Three times five equals fifteen.

8. (intransitive) To have the next turn in a game.

   Jij bent nu. — It's your turn now.

[edit] Conjugation

Note: In informal speech, the imperative can also be ben, as would be expected if zijn were regular.

[edit] Synonyms

• (archaic) wezen
• (obsolete) bennen

[edit] Derived terms

• voorzijn
• welzijn

[edit] Etymology 2

From Proto-Germanic *sīnaz, from Proto-Indo-European *seino-, originally a reflexive form. Cognate with German sein, Swedish sin. Ultimately a form of Proto-Indo-European *Swe, related to Russian себя (sebja), Latin suus, Greek ἑός (heos), Sanskrit (sva) etc.

[edit] Determiner

zijn m. n. (dependent possessive) (independent possessive zijne, contracted form z'n)

1. Third person singular, masculine and neuter possessive pronoun: his, its.

   Een man en zijn hond. — A man and his dog.

   Een man en z'n hoed. — A man and his hat.

   Een boek en zijn kaft. — A book and its cover.