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 practical phrases like "Hoe laat is het?" (What time is it?) and expressions such as "kwart over drie" (quarter past three) and "half acht" (half past seven). This lesson focuses on clock-related vocabulary and daily time expressions for clear communication.
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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Learning to Tell Time in Dutch
This lesson introduces you to expressing time and reading the clock in Dutch, aimed at A1 beginners. You'll learn how to ask for the time, tell the time using common phrases, and understand key vocabulary related to time and everyday situations.
Key Concepts
The lesson teaches you how to say the time using specific Dutch expressions like "Het is kwart over drie" (It is a quarter past three) and "De trein vertrekt om half acht" (The train leaves at half past seven). You'll also find practical dialogues for different settings such as at work, at the hairdresser, and at the train station.
Important Time Expressions
- 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 (Times or periods of the day):
De middag (the afternoon), Middernacht (midnight), Het moment (the moment), De minuut (the minute)
Practical Example Sentences
- Hoe laat is het? (What time is it?)
- Het is kwart over drie. (It is quarter past three.)
- De trein vertrekt om half acht. (The train leaves at half past seven.)
- Ik kom om vijf voor twaalf aan. (I arrive at five to twelve.)
- Het is tien over twee, we zijn te laat. (It is ten past two, we are late.)
Verb Practice
The lesson also focuses on verb conjugation related to daily activities such as departures and arrivals. For example, vertrekken (to leave) and aankomen (to arrive) are practiced in the present tense with phrases like "Ik vertrek elke ochtend om acht uur naar mijn werk" (I leave for work every morning at eight o'clock).
Useful Language Notes
In Dutch, time is often expressed with increments like "kwart over" (quarter past), "half" (half past but literally meaning half to the next hour), and "kwart voor" (quarter to). This differs from English where "half past" always means thirty minutes after the hour. For example, "half acht" in Dutch means 7:30, not 8:30.
Common phrases to ask for and tell the time include:
- Hoe laat is het? (What time is it?)
- Kunt u zeggen hoe laat het is, alstublieft? (Could you please tell me the time?)
Contextual Dialogues
Practice common dialogues in real-life contexts, like during work breaks, confirming hairdresser appointments, or checking train departure times. These dialogues help you get accustomed to everyday usage and improve your conversational skills.
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