Seasons, months and parts of the year
Seizoenen, maanden en delen van het jaar
- Learn the seasons and months.
- Describe the weather in each season and month.
- Advanced: tell what you do in what month of the year.
- Future tense with 'gaan'
Learn Dutch vocabulary for seasons (de lente, de zomer, de herfst, de winter) and months (januari, april, juli, augustus, december). Practice the future tense with 'gaan' to describe plans, like 'Ik ga naar het strand in juli.'
Listening and reading
Start this class by listening to the audio and completing the corresponding exercises.
Vocabulary (21) Share Copied!
Exercises Share Copied!
These exercises can be done together during conversation lessons or as homework.
Exercise 1: Reorder sentences
Instruction: Make correct sentences and translate.
Exercise 2: Match a word
Instruction: Match the translations
Exercise 3: Cluster the words
Instruction: Arrange the following words into the correct category: 'Seasons' or 'Months'.
Seizoenen
Maanden
Exercise 4: Translate and use in a sentence
Instruction: Pick a word, translated and use the word in a sentence or dialogue.
1
April
April
2
Veranderen
Change
3
Maart
March
4
Verkiezen
Prefer
5
Februari
February
Oefening 5: Conversation exercise
Instructie:
- Kun je de seizoenen en maanden noemen? (Can you name the seasons and months?)
- Hoe is het weer in elk seizoen? (What is the weather like in each season?)
- Welke maanden vallen in welk seizoen? (Which months are in each season?)
Teaching guidelines +/- 10 minutes
Example phrases:
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Er zijn drie maanden in de zomer: juni, juli en augustus. There are three months in summer: June, July, and August. |
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In de zomer is het heet. In summer it is hot. |
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September, oktober en november zijn in de herfst, en het regent vaak. September, October, and November are in autumn, and it often rains. |
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December, januari en februari zijn de wintermaanden. December, January and February are the winter months. |
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In de wintermaanden sneeuwt het soms. In the winter months it snows sometimes. |
|
Maart, april en mei zijn de lentemaanden en het weer is fris. March, April and May are the spring months and the weather is fresh. |
| ... |
Exercise 6: Dialogue Cards
Instruction: Select a situation and practice the conversation with your teacher or fellow students.
Exercise 7: Multiple Choice
Instruction: Choose the correct solution
1. In september ___ we vaak wandelen in de herfst.
(In September ___ we often go walking in the autumn.)2. Ik ___ in de winter graag naar de schaatsbaan.
(I ___ like to go to the ice rink in the winter.)3. Hij ___ in april planten in de tuin zetten.
(He ___ is going to plant plants in the garden in April.)4. Wij ___ in juni vaak fietsen met vrienden.
(We ___ often go cycling with friends in June.)Exercise 8: Plan for the Year: The Seasons and Months
Instruction:
Verb Tables
Gaan - Go
Onvoltooid tegenwoordige tijd
- Ik ga
- Jij/u gaat
- Hij/zij/het gaat
- Wij gaan
- Jullie gaan
- Zij gaan
Exercise 9: Toekomende tijd met 'gaan'
Instruction: Fill in the correct word.
Grammar: Future tense with 'gaan'
Show translation Show answersgaat, Ga, gaan, ga
Grammar Share Copied!
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Verb conjugation tables for this lesson Share Copied!
Gaan go Share Copied!
Onvoltooid tegenwoordige tijd (OTT)
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| (ik) ga | I go |
| (jij) gaat/ga | you go/go |
| (hij/zij/het) gaat | he/she/it goes |
| (wij) gaan | we go |
| (jullie) gaan | you go |
| (zij) gaan | they go |
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Introduction to Seasons, Months, and Parts of the Year in Dutch
This lesson focuses on vocabulary and expressions related to seasons, months, and parts of the year in Dutch. You will learn how to name each season and month and practice using the verb "gaan" (to go) in the present tense to talk about future plans or events connected to different times of the year.
Key Vocabulary: Months and Seasons
Familiarize yourself with important time-related words, such as:
- Months: januari, april, juli, augustus, december
- Seasons: de lente (spring), de zomer (summer), de herfst (autumn), de winter (winter)
Using "gaan" to Talk About the Future
The verb "gaan" is used to describe future actions, similar to "going to" in English. For example:
- In april gaat het weer vaak veranderen en wordt het warmer. (In April, the weather often changes and it becomes warmer.)
- Wij gaan in de zomer vaak naar het strand. (We often go to the beach in the summer.)
Important Grammar: Present Tense Conjugation of "Gaan"
The present tense (onvoltooid tegenwoordige tijd) forms are:
- Ik ga
- Jij gaat
- U gaat
- Hij/zij/het gaat
- Wij gaan
- Jullie gaan
- Zij gaan
Using Time Expressions and Planning Activities
Use the months and seasons when making plans or describing activities. For instance:
- Ik ga volgende maand een jas kopen voor de winter. (I am going to buy a coat for winter next month.)
- Ga jij mee wandelen in de lente? (Are you going for a walk in spring?)
Dialogue Practice Highlights
Engage in conversations about:
- Favorite months and seasons
- Weather descriptions per month or season
- Planning activities using the verb "gaan"
Comparison Between Dutch and English Seasonal/Time Expressions
In Dutch, months and seasons are often used with the definite article "de" for seasons (e.g., de lente), while months usually appear without an article. Also, the verb "gaan" is commonly used to talk about future intentions and plans, acting as an auxiliary to express what someone is going to do. This is functionally similar to the English "going to" construction but is formed simply with the present tense of "gaan" plus an infinitive.
Useful phrases include:
- In januari ga ik vaak wandelen. (In January, I often go walking.)
- De herfst begint in september. (Autumn starts in September.)
- Wij gaan in juli naar het strand. (We go to the beach in July.)
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