Teaching guidelines +/- 15 minutes
Learn the general word order in Dutch sentences with core words like onderwerp (subject), persoonsvorm (verb), tijd (time), lijdend voorwerp (object), and plaats (place). Master sentences such as “Pedro eet om 12 uur een banaan op het werk.”
- Structure: onderwerp + persoonsvorm + tijd + lijdend voorwerp + plaats.
| Plaats (Place) | Voorbeeld (Example) | Toelichting (Explanation) |
|---|---|---|
| 1e plaats (1st position) | Pedro | Onderwerp (Subject) |
| 2e plaats (2nd position) | eet | Persoonsvorm (Finite verb) |
| 3e plaats (3rd position) | om 12 uur | Tijd (Time) |
| 4e plaats (4th position) | een banaan | Lijdend voorwerp (Direct object) |
| 5e plaats (5th position) | op het werk. | Plaats (Place) |
Exercise 1: Algemene zinsbouw
Instruction: Fill in the correct word.
de instructies, Ik, identiteitskaart, De piloot, controleert
1.
De stewardess ... de veiligheidsgordel voor het opstijgen.
(The flight attendant checks the seatbelt before takeoff.)
2.
Piet toont zijn ... aan de balie.
(Piet shows his identity card at the counter.)
3.
... check in bij de balie op de luchthaven.
(I check in at the desk at the airport.)
4.
Wij volgen ... van de stewardess goed.
(We follow the instructions of the stewardess carefully.)
5.
... bestuurt het vliegtuig op een veilige manier.
(The pilot flies the aircraft in a safe manner.)
Exercise 2: Multiple Choice
Instruction: Choose the correct sentence with proper general sentence structure according to the fixed order: subject + finite verb + time + direct object + place, appropriate for practical situations at the airport and on the airplane.
1.
The finite verb 'checks' must be right after the subject; 'at 10 o'clock' is now between subject and finite verb, which is incorrect.
The finite verb 'checks' must come immediately after the subject 'The traveler'. Time modifiers at the start of a declarative sentence cause incorrect word order without inversion, which is not correct here.
2.
This sentence lacks a subject before the finite verb, making it look like a question; the fixed word order for declarative sentences is not followed.
The time modifier 'today' must come directly after the finite verb; placing 'today' after the direct object breaks the fixed order.
3.
The subject 'We' must precede the finite verb; the direct object should not be at the start of the sentence as that disrupts the sentence structure.
The time modifier 'at 2 p.m.' must come directly after the finite verb; here it is placed too far back, disturbing the fixed order.
4.
The subject 'The staff' must come before the finite verb; here the sentence begins with the direct object, which is not correct for the fixed order.
The time modifier 'at 8 o'clock' belongs directly after the finite verb and before the direct object; now it is placed too far back.
