"Het dier eet zijn eten."
Translation:The animal eats its food.
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With the word 'zijn' -- it there a way to tell whether it is "its" food or "his" food?
In Dutch can you specify the 'his' in: "the animal eats his food" instead of :"The animal eats its food"?
It's strange that there is no distinction between "The dog is eating his (a man's) meal" and "The dog is eating it's food", when both have such separate meanings.
It's the same in English though. You could say "tge dog is eating his dinner" with the 'his' referring to the dog or a man. Context always helps, of course ;)
It is said that you will develop a sense to tell them apart. Some words go with "de" (masculine/feminine), some with "het" (neutral). Also, there are exceptions. In depth: https://www.duolingo.com/comment/3732938
Could it also be "the animal eats their food", as in the animal is eating the food of others?
Nope, that would be het dier eet hun eten. An alternative translation of Het dier eet zijn eten could be The animal eats his food (as in some 'him' that is not the animal).
It would need haar then.
Zijn either is used when the gender is unknown like its in English, or when it's a male.