Prices and money

Lesson Overview: Prices and Money in Dutch

This lesson introduces you to common Dutch vocabulary and expressions related to prices, shopping, and money matters at places like markets, supermarkets, and bakeries. It focuses on practical phrases you can use to ask about costs, pay for goods, and discuss amounts, which are essential for daily transactions in Dutch-speaking environments.

Key Vocabulary Groups

• Payment and Money: de euro (the euro), het contant geld (cash money), de kaart (card), pinnen (to pay by card), de portemonnee (wallet)
• Prices and Costs: de prijs (price), goedkoop (cheap), duur (expensive), de korting (discount)

Adverbs of Quantity

The lesson also covers useful adverbs of quantity like veel (a lot), weinig (few), and genoeg (enough), which allow you to describe amounts clearly, such as in Heb je genoeg geld? (Do you have enough money?) or Er is weinig contant geld. (There is little cash.)

Useful Sentence Patterns and Dialogues

You will practice asking and stating prices, expressing how you want to pay, and confirming quantities with phrases such as:

• Hoeveel kost deze trui? (How much does this sweater cost?)
• Ik wil graag met de kaart betalen. (I would like to pay by card.)
• Is er genoeg fruit in de winkel? (Is there enough fruit in the store?)

Dialogues simulate real-life shopping interactions at supermarkets, bakeries, and vegetable stands, helping you handle questions like Kan ik met pin betalen? (Can I pay by card?) and responses about prices and quantities.

Verb Conjugation Focus

The lesson provides practice with essential present tense verbs related to buying and selling:

• Betalen (to pay): ik betaal, jij betaalt, hij betaalt, wij betalen, jullie betalen, zij betalen
• Kopen (to buy): ik koop, jij koopt, hij koopt, wij kopen, jullie kopen, zij kopen
• Verkopen (to sell): ik verkoop, jij verkoopt, hij verkoopt, wij verkopen, jullie verkopen, zij verkopen
• Geven (to give)
• Lopen (to walk)

These form the backbone of conversation about transactions, enhancing your ability to speak fluently about purchases.

Short Story Practice

The included mini story demonstrates these verbs and vocabulary in context, illustrating typical buying experiences and money exchanges.

Differences and Useful Phrases Compared to English

While English uses the word "money" broadly, Dutch differentiates between contant geld (cash) and card payments, which are expressed with verbs like pinnen (to pay by card). Dutch habitual present tense often emphasizes the verb with a conjugation that agrees with the subject, e.g., ik betaal instead of the English "I pay."

Useful phrases include:

• Hoeveel kost ...? – How much does ... cost?
• Ik wil graag met de kaart betalen. – I would like to pay by card.
• Is er genoeg ...? – Is there enough ...?

Mastering these expressions will enable you to confidently navigate everyday shopping and understand Dutch price-related interactions.