Chef Smakelijk's Recipe for Adjectives: How to Use 'Laag' and 'Lage'

Chef Smakelijk here! Today, we're not talking about low heat on the stove (laag vuur), but about a word you'll use everywhere: the Dutch adjective laag (low). You can use it for low prices, low buildings, low temperatures... it's incredibly useful! But sometimes it’s laag, and sometimes it’s lage. So, what’s the recipe for getting it right every time?

Think of the -e at the end of an adjective as a special sauce. You don't add it to every dish, but you need to know the rules to make your sentences taste perfect. Let's break down the recipe for this “-e sauce”!

The Main Ingredient: The Dutch Adjective Rule

The secret to knowing whether to add the “-e” sauce depends on two things:

• Is the adjective before a noun or after a verb?
• If it's before a noun, is it a de-word, a het-word, or plural?

Don't worry, it's easier than it sounds. Here are my golden rules from the kitchen!

Chef Smakelijk's Golden Rules for adding “-e”

Rule 1: Adjective After a Verb (Standing Alone)

When the adjective comes after a verb like zijn (to be) and isn't followed by a noun, you never add the -e. It's served plain and simple!

• De prijs is laag. (The price is low.)
• Het plafond is laag. (The ceiling is low.)

Rule 2: Adjective Before a de-word

De-words (like de prijs, de stem, de deur) are always hungry for the “-e sauce”. It doesn't matter if you use “de” or “een”, they always get the -e.

• de lage prijs (the low price)
• een lage stem (a low voice)

Rule 3: Adjective Before a het-word

This is the only tricky one! Pay attention here.

• With het (definite): it gets the -e sauce → het lage plafond (the low ceiling).
• With een (indefinite): it does not get the -e → een laag plafond (a low ceiling).

Rule 4: Adjective Before a Plural Noun (Always with -e sauce!)

If the adjective comes before a plural noun, it always gets the “-e sauce”, regardless of whether the singular was a de- or het-word.

• de lage prijzen (the low prices)
• lage plafonds (low ceilings)
  
  
  

Let's See it in Action! (Voorbeelden)

Now let's taste-test these rules with the examples from our Instagram post.

• Ik moet bukken, want deze deur is erg laag. 🚪 (Rule 1)
• Jij hebt een lage score op de test. ✍️ (Rule 2)
• Hij spreekt met een lage, zware stem. 🗣️ (Rule 2)
• Zij zoekt een tafel voor een lage prijs. 🏷️ (Rule 2)
• Het plafond in dit oude huis is erg laag. 🏡 (Rule 1)
• Wij wonen op de laagste verdieping. 👇 (Superlative with -e)
• Jullie moeten onder de lage brug door varen. 🌉 (Rule 2)
• De prijzen in deze winkel zijn laag. (Rule 1)

Adding More Flavor: Comparative & Superlative (Lager & Laagst)

• Lager (Lower): De temperatuur is vandaag lager dan gisteren. 🌡️
• Laagst (Lowest): Dit is het laagste punt van het land. 🇳🇱

Notice that the “-e sauce” rule applies to the superlative (laagst) when it comes before a noun: de laagste verdieping, het laagste punt.

Practice Time! (Oefenen!)

Now it's your turn to cook with this grammar! Instead of leaving a comment here, share your answer with us on Instagram 👉 @mydutchjournal: Wat is er laag in jouw huis of stad? (What is something low in your house or city?)

Mastering this adjective recipe is a huge step towards sounding more natural in Dutch. You’re doing great!

Ready to Take Your Dutch to the Next Level?

If you enjoyed this mini-lesson, imagine what you could learn in a full class! Explore our Mini Lessons or join a full program in our Courses. And don’t forget to follow us on Instagram for more tips and fun Dutch content!

Veel succes en tot de volgende les! (Good luck and until the next lesson!)