Asking things
Dingen vragen
- Ask and answer questions.
- Learn the question words.
- The pronunciation of ui, ou, eu, oe
This lesson teaches basic Dutch question words like Hoe? (How?), Waar? (Where?), and Wanneer? (When?), plus essential verbs such as vragen (to ask), antwoorden (to answer), and willen (to want). You'll practice common questions like "Waar woon je?" and responses, mastering practical conversation starters and polite inquiries.
Listening and reading
Start this class by listening to the audio and completing the corresponding exercises.
Vocabulary (11) 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 below into two groups: question words and words related to questions and answers.
Vraagwoorden
Vragen en Antwoorden
Exercise 4: Translate and use in a sentence
Instruction: Pick a word, translated and use the word in a sentence or dialogue.
1
Antwoorden
To answer
2
Waar?
Where?
3
Waarheen?
Where to?
4
Willen
To want
5
Wanneer?
When?
Oefening 5: Conversation exercise
Instructie:
- Maak een zin die bij de afbeelding past, gebruik een vraag. (Make a phrase that matches the picture, using a question.)
Teaching guidelines +/- 10 minutes
Example phrases:
|
Hoeveel is de rekening? How much is the bill? |
|
Wat zeg je? What do you say? |
|
Welke wil je? Which one do you want? |
|
Waar moeten we heen? Where do we have to go? |
|
Wat is jouw baan? What is your job? |
|
Welke taal spreek je? What language do you speak? |
| ... |
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 ___ altijd om hulp als ik iets niet begrijp.
(I ___ always ask for help when I don't understand something.)2. Jij ___ vaak naar de markt gaan om verse groenten te kopen.
(You ___ often want to go to the market to buy fresh vegetables.)3. Wij ___ eerlijk als iemand ons iets vraagt.
(We ___ honestly when someone asks us something.)4. Hij ___ waar het kantoor is voordat hij er naartoe gaat.
(He ___ where the office is before he goes there.)Exercise 8: Asking questions in the store
Instruction:
Verb Tables
Vragen - Ask
Onvoltooid tegenwoordige tijd
- ik vraag
- jij vraagt
- hij/zij/het vraagt
- wij vragen
- jullie vragen
- zij vragen
Antwoorden - Answer
Onvoltooid tegenwoordige tijd
- ik antwoord
- jij antwoordt
- hij/zij/het antwoordt
- wij antwoorden
- jullie antwoorden
- zij antwoorden
Willen - Want
Onvoltooid tegenwoordige tijd
- ik wil
- jij wilt
- hij/zij/het wil
- wij willen
- jullie willen
- zij willen
Vinden - Find
Onvoltooid tegenwoordige tijd
- ik vind
- jij vindt
- hij/zij/het vindt
- wij vinden
- jullie vinden
- zij vinden
Sluiten - Close
Onvoltooid tegenwoordige tijd
- ik sluit
- jij sluit
- hij/zij/het sluit
- wij sluiten
- jullie sluiten
- zij sluiten
Grammar Share Copied!
It's not the most exciting thing, we admit, but it’s absolutely essential (and we promise it'll pay off)!
Verb conjugation tables for this lesson Share Copied!
Vragen ask Share Copied!
Onvoltooid tegenwoordige tijd (OTT)
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| (ik) vraag | I ask |
| (jij) vraagt | you ask |
| (hij/zij/het) vraagt | he/she/it asks |
| (wij) vragen | we ask |
| (jullie) vragen | you ask |
| (zij) vragen | they ask |
Antwoorden to answer Share Copied!
Onvoltooid tegenwoordige tijd (OTT)
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| (ik) antwoord | I answer |
| (jij) antwoordt | You answer |
| (hij/zij/het) antwoordt | he/she/it answers |
| (wij) antwoorden | we answer |
| (jullie) antwoorden | you answer |
| (zij) antwoorden | they answer |
Willen to want Share Copied!
Onvoltooid tegenwoordige tijd (OTT)
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| (ik) wil | I want |
| (jij) wilt/wil | you want |
| (hij/zij/het) wil | he/she/it wants |
| (wij) willen | we want |
| (jullie) willen | you want |
| (zij) willen | they want |
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Mastering the Art of Asking Questions in Dutch
This lesson focuses on essential question words and expressions necessary for everyday conversations in Dutch. It introduces key question words like "Hoe?", "Waar?", "Wanneer?", "Waarom?", and "Wat?" and contrasts them with verbs related to answers and intentions such as "het antwoord", "antwoorden", "vragen", and "willen".
Learn Key Question Words and Their Use
Understanding and using these question words will help you gather information effectively. Examples include simple questions like "Waar woon je?" (Where do you live?), "Hoe gaat het vandaag met jou?" (How are you today?), and "Wanneer ga je naar huis?" (When are you going home?). These build the foundation of asking and answering in Dutch.
Practice Verb Conjugations for Common Verbs
The lesson also presents important verbs like vragen (to ask), antwoorden (to answer), willen (to want), and zijn (to be) conjugated in the present tense. For example, you learn forms like ik vraag, jij vraagt, and hij vraagt, which are essential for constructing questions and responses.
Real-Life Context: Shopping and Everyday Dialogues
A short story situates these words and verbs in a practical shopping scenario, enabling you to see how to form questions like "Waar zijn de damesschoenen?" (Where are the women's shoes?) and responses such as "Ze zijn op de tweede verdieping." (They are on the second floor.) This contextual learning helps solidify your grasp of the language.
Useful Dialogues for Conversational Practice
The lesson includes dialogues for common situations such as asking information at the post office, requesting directions on the street, and ordering in a café. These dialogues provide varied question types and answers, perfect for practicing your skills in realistic contexts.
Scannable Exercises to Reinforce Learning
Exercises include reordering sentences, matching question halves, classifying vocabulary into question or answer groups, and multiple-choice conjugation drills. These reinforce your understanding of question words, verb usage, and sentence structure.
Differences Between English and Dutch in Asking Questions
Unlike English, Dutch question structures often rely heavily on verb positioning and auxiliary usage. For example, the word order in questions frequently swaps the subject and verb, as in "Hoe gaat het?" (How goes it?), compared to English "How is it going?" Moreover, question words can sometimes stand alone, similar to English. Common Dutch question words correspond directly to English equivalents, but pay attention to pronunciation differences, such as the Dutch diphthongs ui, ou, eu, and oe.
Essential Phrases to Remember
- Hoe gaat het vandaag met jou? – How are you today?
- Wil je een kopje koffie? – Do you want a cup of coffee?
- Waar is de dichtstbijzijnde supermarkt? – Where is the nearest supermarket?
- Wanneer begint de film vanavond? – When does the movie start tonight?
- Wat is het antwoord op de vraag? – What is the answer to the question?
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