Editing Dutch grammar (section)

===Plural===

The [[plural]] is formed by addition of {{lang|nl|-en}} (pronounced {{IPA|/ən/}} or {{IPA|/ə/}}) or {{lang|nl|-s}}, with the usual spelling changes in the case of the former. Which of the two is used is somewhat unpredictable, although some general rules can be given:

* Single-syllable words, which are common in Dutch, normally use {{lang|nl|-en}}:
** {{lang|nl|deur}} "door" → {{lang|nl|deuren}}
** {{lang|nl|boot}} "boat" → {{lang|nl|boten}}
** {{lang|nl|huis}} "house" → {{lang|nl|huizen}}
** {{lang|nl|dief}} "thief" → {{lang|nl|dieven}}
* Words ending in a [[schwa]] {{IPA|/ə/}} often use {{lang|nl|-s}}, but a sizable number use {{lang|nl|-n}}, particularly if they are older. Some nouns may allow either ending. Nouns that are substantivised forms of adjectives always use {{lang|nl|-n}}.
** {{lang|nl|tante}} "aunt" → {{lang|nl|tantes}}
** {{lang|nl|chocolade}} "chocolate" → {{lang|nl|chocolades}}
** {{lang|nl|bode}} "messenger" → {{lang|nl|boden}} or {{lang|nl|bodes}}
** {{lang|nl|oxide}} "oxide" → {{lang|nl|oxiden}}
** {{lang|nl|grote}} "great one" → {{lang|nl|groten}}
* Relatively modern words ending in a long vowel use {{lang|nl|-'s}} (with an apostrophe), but if they end in {{lang|nl|-ee}} or {{lang|nl|-é}} then no apostrophe is used. Older ones generally use {{lang|nl|-en}} or {{lang|nl|-ën}} (with diaeresis).
** {{lang|nl|baby}} "baby" → {{lang|nl|baby's}}
** {{lang|nl|café}} "café, bar, pub" → {{lang|nl|cafés}}
** {{lang|nl|pizza}} "pizza" → {{lang|nl|pizza's}}
** {{lang|nl|radio}} "radio" → {{lang|nl|radio's}}
** {{lang|nl|ree}} "roe" → {{lang|nl|reeën}}
** {{lang|nl|la}} (also {{lang|nl|lade}}) "drawer" → {{lang|nl|laden}} (but in colloquial usage sometimes also {{lang|nl|la's}})
* Words ending in unstressed {{lang|nl|-el}} or {{lang|nl|-er}} usually use {{lang|nl|-s}}. If {{lang|nl|-en}} is allowed it tends to be more archaic or poetic.
** {{lang|nl|akker}} "agricultural field" → {{lang|nl|akkers}}
** {{lang|nl|appel}} "apple" → {{lang|nl|appels}} or (archaic) {{lang|nl|appelen}} (note: for the derived noun {{lang|nl|aardappel}} "potato", the plural {{lang|nl|aardappelen}} is still common, alongside {{lang|nl|aardappels}})
** {{lang|nl|lepel}} "spoon" → {{lang|nl|lepels}}
** {{lang|nl|sleutel}} "key" → {{lang|nl|sleutels}}
** {{lang|nl|vader}} "father" → {{lang|nl|vaders}} or (archaic) {{lang|nl|vaderen}}
* Initialisms (words pronounced as letters) follow the rules for whatever the final syllable suggests, usually by adding {{lang|nl|-s}} but occasionally {{lang|nl|-en}}:
** {{lang|nl|APK}} "vehicle inspection" → {{lang|nl|APK's}}
** {{lang|nl|cd}} "CD" → {{lang|nl|cd's}}

====Plurals with vowel change====

A number of common nouns inherited from [[Old Dutch language|Old Dutch]] have a short vowel in the singular but a long vowel in the plural. When short {{lang|nl|i}} is lengthened in this way, it becomes long {{lang|nl|e}}.

* {{lang|nl|dag}} {{IPA|/dɑx/}} "day" → {{lang|nl|dagen}} {{IPA|/ˈdaːɣə(n)/}} "days"
* {{lang|nl|gebrek}} {{IPA|/ɣəˈbrɛk/}} "lack, deficiency" → {{lang|nl|gebreken}} {{IPA|/ɣəˈbreːkə(n)/}} "deficiencies"
* {{lang|nl|schip}} {{IPA|/sxɪp/}} "ship" → {{lang|nl|schepen}} {{IPA|/ˈsxeːpə(n)/}} "ships"
* {{lang|nl|slot}} {{IPA|/slɔt/}} "lock" → {{lang|nl|sloten}} {{IPA|/ˈsloːtə(n)/}} "locks" (also the plural of {{lang|nl|sloot}} "ditch")

Other nouns with this change include: {{lang|nl|bad}} "bath", {{lang|nl|bedrag}} "(money) contribution", {{lang|nl|bevel}} "command", {{lang|nl|blad}} "sheet of paper; magazine" (not "leaf"), {{lang|nl|(aan)bod}} "offer", {{lang|nl|dak}} "roof", {{lang|nl|dal}} "valley", {{lang|nl|gat}} "hole", {{lang|nl|gebed}} "prayer", {{lang|nl|gebod}} "commandment", {{lang|nl|gen}} "gene", {{lang|nl|glas}} "glass", {{lang|nl|god}} "god", {{lang|nl|hertog}} "duke", {{lang|nl|hof}} "court", {{lang|nl|hol}} "cave; burrow", {{lang|nl|lid}} "member", {{lang|nl|lot}} "lottery ticket", {{lang|nl|oorlog}} "war", {{lang|nl|pad}} "path", {{lang|nl|schot}} "shot", {{lang|nl|slag}} "strike, battle", {{lang|nl|smid}} "smith", {{lang|nl|spel}} "large game; spectacle" (not in the sense of a smaller everyday game), {{lang|nl|staf}} "staff", {{lang|nl|vat}} "vat, barrel", {{lang|nl|verbod}} "ban, prohibition", {{lang|nl|verdrag}} "treaty", {{lang|nl|verlof}} "permission", {{lang|nl|weg}} "road, way".

The noun {{lang|nl|stad}} {{IPA|/stɑt/}} "town, city" has [[Diaeresis (diacritic)|diaeresis]] in the plural alongside lengthening: {{lang|nl|steden}} {{IPA|/ˈsteːdə(n)/}} "towns, cities". The plural of nouns ending in the suffix {{lang|nl|-heid}} {{IPA|/ɦɛit/}} "-ness, -hood" is irregular {{lang|nl|-heden}} {{IPA|/ɦeːdə(n)/}}.

====Plurals in {{lang|nl|-eren}}====

A few neuter nouns have a plural in {{lang|nl|-eren}}. This ending derives from the old Germanic "z-stem" nouns, and is cognate with the English {{lang|en|-ren}} ({{lang|en|children}}, {{lang|en|brethren}}, etc.). The following nouns have this type of plural:
* {{lang|nl|been}} "bone" → {{lang|nl|beenderen}} (when used in the sense "leg", the plural is the regular {{lang|nl|benen}})
* {{lang|nl|blad}} "leaf" → {{lang|nl|bladeren}} (when used in the sense "sheet, magazine", the plural is {{lang|nl|bladen}})
* {{lang|nl|ei}} "egg" → {{lang|nl|eieren}}
* {{lang|nl|gelid}} "rank, file" → {{lang|nl|gelederen}}
* {{lang|nl|gemoed}} "mood, emotion" → {{lang|nl|gemoederen}}
* {{lang|nl|goed}} "good" → {{lang|nl|goederen}}
* {{lang|nl|hoen}} "fowl" → {{lang|nl|hoenderen}}
* {{lang|nl|kalf}} "calf" → {{lang|nl|kalveren}}
* {{lang|nl|kind}} "child" → {{lang|nl|kinderen}}
* {{lang|nl|kleed}} "cloth" → (archaic) {{lang|nl|klederen}} or {{lang|nl|kleren}} "clothes" (nowadays a [[plurale tantum]] like in English)
* {{lang|nl|lam}} "lamb" → {{lang|nl|lammeren}}
* {{lang|nl|lied}} "song" → {{lang|nl|liederen}} (somewhat dated; the plural of the diminutive is often used instead: {{lang|nl|liedjes}})
* {{lang|nl|rad}} "wheel" → {{lang|nl|raderen}}
* {{lang|nl|rund}} "cattle" → {{lang|nl|runderen}}
* {{lang|nl|volk}} "people, nation" → {{lang|nl|volkeren}} (the regular {{lang|nl|volken}} is also used)

When used in compounds, the stem of these nouns usually includes the {{lang|nl|-er}}. For example: {{lang|nl|ei'''er'''schaal}} "eggshell", {{lang|nl|kind'''er'''arbeid}} "child labour", {{lang|nl|kled'''er'''dracht}} "traditional costume", {{lang|nl|rund'''er'''tartaar}} "beef [[tartare]]". This is not a rule, however, and compounds with the singular form also exist: {{lang|nl|eivorm}} "egg-shape", {{lang|nl|rundvlees}} "beef".

====Foreign plurals====

For a number of nouns of Latin origin, a Latin-like plural may be used. Depending on the word and the formalness of the setting, a regular plural in {{lang|nl|-en}} or {{lang|nl|-s}} can also be used.

* {{lang|nl|museum}} "museum" → {{lang|nl|musea}} or {{lang|nl|museums}}
* {{lang|nl|politicus}} "politician" → {{lang|nl|politici}}

Some modern scientific words borrowed from Latin or Greek form their plurals with vowel lengthening, like the native words listed above. These words are primarily Latin agent nouns ending in {{lang|nl|-or}} and names of particles ending in {{lang|nl|-on}}. Alongside the change in vowel length, there is also a stress shift in the plural, patterned on the Latin third declension where this also occurs. In each case, the singular follows a Latin-like stress, while the plural stresses the {{lang|nl|-on-}} or {{lang|nl|-or-}}. Some examples:

* {{lang|nl|elektron}} ({{IPA|/eːˈlɛktrɔn/}} "electron") → {{lang|nl|elektronen}} ({{IPA|/eːlɛkˈtroːnə(n)/}} "electrons")
* {{lang|nl|doctor}} ({{IPA|/ˈdɔktɔr/}} "doctor (holder of a doctorate)") → {{lang|nl|doctoren}} ({{IPA|/dɔkˈtoːrə(n)/}} "doctors")
* {{lang|nl|graviton}} ({{IPA|/ˈɣraːvitɔn/}} "graviton") → {{lang|nl|gravitonen}} ({{IPA|/ɣraːviˈtoːnə(n)/}} "gravitons")
* {{lang|nl|reactor}} ({{IPA|/reːˈɑktɔr/}} "reactor") → {{lang|nl|reactoren}} ({{IPA|/reːɑkˈtoːrə(n)/}} "reactors")

Words borrowed from English or French will generally form their plural in {{lang|nl|-s}}, in imitation of the native plural of those languages. This applies especially to recent borrowings.

* {{lang|nl|harddisk}} → {{lang|nl|harddisks}}
* {{lang|nl|bonbon}} → {{lang|nl|bonbons}}