Telling the time and reading the clock
De tijd vertellen en de klok lezen
- Ask and tell the time
- Read the clock
- How do you tell the time?
Learn to tell time in Dutch with key expressions like "Hoe laat is het?", "Het is kwart over drie.", and times such as "half acht" and "vijf over." Understand clock phrases and daily time references for practical use.
Listening & reading materials
Practice vocabulary in context with real materials.
Vocabulary (20) 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: Divide the words into two groups: words with which you tell the time on the clock and words that indicate moments or periods of the day.
Tijdsaanduidingen op de klok
Momenten of periodes van de dag
Exercise 4: Translate and use in a sentence
Instruction: Pick a word, translated and use the word in a sentence or dialogue.
1
Het is één uur.
It is one o'clock.
2
Aankomen
Arrive
3
Het uur
The hour
4
Het moment
The moment
5
Hoe laat is het?
What time is it?
Oefening 5: Conversation exercise
Instructie:
- What time is it in the pictures? (What time is it in the pictures?)
- What time is it right now? (What time is it right now?)
Teaching guidelines +/- 10 minutes
Example phrases:
|
Het is half 4. It's half past 3. |
|
Het is vier uur in de middag. It is four o'clock in the afternoon. |
|
Het is kwart voor twaalf. It's a quarter to twelve. |
|
Het is tien over vijf. It is ten after five. |
|
Het is kwart over tien in de ochtend. It's quarter past ten in the morning. |
|
Het is één uur 's nachts. It is one o'clock at night. |
| ... |
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. Ik ____ elke ochtend om acht uur naar mijn werk.
(I ____ every morning at eight o'clock for my work.)2. Je ____ altijd te laat aan om kwart over negen.
(You ____ always arrive late at quarter past nine.)3. We ____ stipt om half tien om naar de vergadering te gaan.
(We ____ promptly at half past nine to go to the meeting.)4. Hij ____ meestal laat aan na zijn werkdag.
(He ____ usually arrives late after his workday.)Exercise 8: What time does the train leave?
Instruction:
Verb Tables
Vertrekken - Leave
Onvoltooid tegenwoordige tijd
- ik vertrek
- jij/u vertrekt
- hij/zij/het vertrekt
- wij vertrekken
- jullie vertrekken
- zij vertrekken
Aankomen - Arrive
Onvoltooid tegenwoordige tijd
- ik kom aan
- jij/u komt aan
- hij/zij/het komt aan
- wij komen aan
- jullie komen aan
- zij komen aan
Exercise 9: Hoe zeg je de tijd?
Instruction: Fill in the correct word.
Grammar: How do you tell the time?
Show translation Show answershalf drie, vijf voor twaalf, kwart voor vijf, tien over twee, vier uur, tien voor vier, half acht
Grammar Share Copied!
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Verb conjugation tables for this lesson Share Copied!
Vertrekken to leave Share Copied!
Onvoltooid tegenwoordige tijd (OTT)
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| (ik) vertrek | I leave |
| (jij) vertrekt/je vertrekt | you leave |
| (hij/zij/het) vertrekt | he/she/it leaves |
| (wij) vertrekken | we leave |
| (jullie) vertrekken | you leave |
| (zij) vertrekken | they leave |
Aankomen arrive Share Copied!
Onvoltooid tegenwoordige tijd (OTT)
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| (ik) kom aan | I arrive |
| (jij) komt aan/kom aan | you arrive/arrive |
| (hij/zij/het) komt aan | he/she/it arrives |
| (wij) komen aan | we arrive |
| (jullie) komen aan | you arrive |
| (zij) komen aan | they arrive |
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Lesson Overview: Telling the Time and Reading the Clock in Dutch
This lesson covers the essential vocabulary and expressions for asking and telling time in Dutch, suitable for A1 beginners. You will learn how to read a clock and use common phrases to talk about time in everyday situations, such as at work, the hairdresser’s, or at the train station.
Key Expressions and Examples
- Basic question: Hoe laat is het? (What time is it?)
- Common replies: Het is kwart over drie. (It is a quarter past three.)
- Time references: half acht (half past seven, meaning 7:30), vijf voor twaalf (five minutes to twelve), tien over twee (ten past two)
Understanding Dutch Time Expressions
Dutch often uses phrases like half acht which literally means “half eight,” but actually refers to 7:30, not 8:30 as might be assumed in English. The word half is used to indicate the half hour before the named hour.
Other important phrases include:
- Kwart over – a quarter past the hour
- Kwart voor – a quarter to the hour
- Vijf over, tien voor – five past, ten to, etc.
Groups of Words for Telling Time
The lesson organizes vocabulary into two groups:
- Tijdsaanduidingen op de klok (Time indications on the clock): Het is één uur, half acht, kwart over, tien voor vier, vijf over
- Momenten of periodes van de dag (Moments or periods of the day): De middag (afternoon), Middernacht (midnight), Het moment (moment), De minuut (minute)
Practical Dialogue Scenarios
You will practice asking and telling time in real-life situations, like during breaks at work, checking appointments at the hairdresser, or finding out train departure times at the station. These dialogues help you build confidence using time expressions naturally.
Verb Conjugation Practice
The lesson also includes exercises on conjugating relevant verbs such as vertrekken (to depart) and aankomen (to arrive), which are common in conversations about schedules and time.
Useful Differences Between English and Dutch Time Expressions
While in English “half eight” would mean 8:30, in Dutch half acht means 7:30 – it refers to half an hour before eight o’clock. The construction is reversed compared to English. Also, phrases like kwart over or kwart voor correspond to “quarter past” and “quarter to” respectively, similar but slightly more consistent in Dutch usage.
Common helpful phrases include:
- Hoe laat is het? – What time is it?
- Het is kwart over tien. – It is quarter past ten.
- De trein vertrekt om half acht. – The train leaves at 7:30.
By mastering these expressions, you will be ready to understand and communicate about time confidently in Dutch.
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