Grocery shopping
Boodschappen doen
- Write a grocery list for daily food and drinks.
- Ask a shop assistant about a product in the supermarket.
- Pronunciation of 'e', 'ee' and 'e'
Learn essential Dutch vocabulary and phrases for grocery shopping, including fresh produce like "de tomaat" (tomato) and places like "de supermarkt" (supermarket). Practice asking for items, making shopping lists, and understanding cashier interactions.
Listening & reading materials
Practice vocabulary in context with real materials.
Vocabulary (16) 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: foods you eat and places where you shop.
Voedingsmiddelen
Winkels en plekken
Exercise 4: Translate and use in a sentence
Instruction: Pick a word, translated and use the word in a sentence or dialogue.
1
Het winkelkarretje
The shopping trolley
2
De vis
The fish
3
Het vlees
The meat
4
Nodig hebben
To need
5
De yoghurt
The yoghurt
Oefening 5: Conversation exercise
Instructie:
- Describe the items on the shopping list. (Describe the items on the shopping list.)
- Ask the shop assistant for the location of the products. (Ask the shop assistant for the location of the products.)
- Pay for your products at the checkout. (Pay for your products at the checkout.)
Teaching guidelines +/- 10 minutes
Example phrases:
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Waar is / zijn ...? Where is / are ...? |
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Kunt u mij even helpen, alstublieft? Could you help me for a moment, please? |
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Mag ik een bonnetje? Could I have a receipt? |
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Is dit product in de aanbieding? Is this product on sale? |
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Kan ik contant betalen / met pinpas? Can I pay in cash / by card? |
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Heb je een tas? Do you have a bag? |
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Is deze prijs correct? Is this price correct? |
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Kan ik u helpen? Can I help you? |
| ... |
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 week verse groenten en fruit in de supermarkt.
(I ___ buy fresh vegetables and fruit at the supermarket every week.)2. Wij ___ vaak samen op de markt voor het avondeten.
(We ___ often shop together at the market for dinner.)3. Hij ___ niet beslissen welke yoghurt hij wil kopen.
(He ___ cannot decide which yogurt he wants to buy.)4. ___ ik meer koekjes aan mijn boodschappenlijst toevoegen?
(___ I add more cookies to my shopping list?)Exercise 8: Grocery Shopping for the Family
Instruction:
Verb Tables
Gaan - To go
Onvoltooid tegenwoordige tijd
- ik ga
- jij gaat
- hij/zij/het gaat
- wij gaan
- jullie gaan
- zij gaan
Maken - To make
Onvoltooid tegenwoordige tijd
- ik maak
- jij maakt
- hij/zij/het maakt
- wij maken
- jullie maken
- zij maken
Nemen - To take
Onvoltooid tegenwoordige tijd
- ik neem
- jij neemt
- hij/zij/het neemt
- wij nemen
- jullie nemen
- zij nemen
Zoeken - To look for
Onvoltooid tegenwoordige tijd
- ik zoek
- jij zoekt
- hij/zij/het zoekt
- wij zoeken
- jullie zoeken
- zij zoeken
Vragen - To ask
Onvoltooid tegenwoordige tijd
- ik vraag
- jij vraagt
- hij/zij/het vraagt
- wij vragen
- jullie vragen
- zij vragen
Betalen - To pay
Onvoltooid tegenwoordige tijd
- ik betaal
- jij betaalt
- hij/zij/het betaalt
- wij betalen
- jullie betalen
- zij betalen
Lopen - To walk
Onvoltooid tegenwoordige tijd
- ik loop
- jij loopt
- hij/zij/het loopt
- wij lopen
- jullie lopen
- zij lopen
Vinden - To like
Onvoltooid tegenwoordige tijd
- ik vind
- jij vindt
- hij/zij/het vindt
- wij vinden
- jullie vinden
- zij vinden
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!
Kopen buy Share Copied!
Onvoltooid tegenwoordige tijd (OTT)
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| (ik) koop | I buy |
| (jij) koopt | you buy |
| (hij/zij/het) koopt | he/she/it buys |
| (wij) kopen | we buy |
| (jullie) kopen | you buy |
| (zij) kopen | they buy |
Winkelen shopping Share Copied!
Onvoltooid tegenwoordige tijd (OTT)
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| (ik) winkel | I shop |
| (jij) winkelt | you shop |
| (hij/zij/het) winkelt | he/she/it shops |
| (wij) winkelen | we are shopping |
| (jullie) winkelen | you are shopping |
| (zij) winkelen | they are shopping |
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Lesson Overview: Grocery Shopping in Dutch
This lesson introduces you to basic Dutch vocabulary and expressions related to grocery shopping, a practical and everyday topic. It’s designed for A1 beginners who want to feel comfortable shopping for food and asking for items in Dutch.
Key Vocabulary Groups
You will learn important words that fall into two main categories:
- Food items: de groente (vegetables), de vis (fish), de yoghurt (yogurt), het fruit (fruit), het vlees (meat)
- Stores and places: de supermarkt (supermarket), de markt (market), de kassa (cash register)
Useful Phrases and Everyday Expressions
The lesson covers common questions and sentences used when shopping, including:
- Asking about fresh produce: Heeft u verse tomaten in de groenteafdeling? (Do you have fresh tomatoes in the vegetable section?)
- Discussing your shopping list: Ik heb yoghurt en chocolade nodig voor mijn boodschappenlijst. (I need yogurt and chocolate for my shopping list.)
- Locating store areas: Waar is de uitgang van de supermarkt, alstublieft? (Where is the exit of the supermarket, please?)
- Shopping etiquette: Kan ik met dit winkelkarretje naar de kassa? (Can I go to the checkout with this shopping cart?)
- Checking for specials or offers from the cashier: De cassière vraagt of ik genoeg koekjes heb gekocht. (The cashier asks if I have bought enough cookies.)
Dialogue Practice
You will practice real-life dialogues for:
- Making a shopping list for daily meals
- Asking employees where products are located
- Inquiring about prices and quantities
Verb Usage
Study verb conjugations commonly used in the context of shopping, such as:
- Ik koop (I buy)
- Wij winkelen (We shop)
- Hij kan (He can)
- Moet ik (Should I)
A mini story illustrates daily shopping activities and highlights verbs like gaan (go), maken (make), nemen (take), zoeken (look for), vragen (ask), betalen (pay), lopen (walk), and vinden (find) in present tense forms.
Important Language Notes
In Dutch, definite articles are gendered and vary: de for common gender nouns (e.g., de groente), and het for neuter nouns (e.g., het fruit). This differs from English where "the" is used universally. Also, plural forms and verb conjugations follow specific rules that are introduced step-by-step, helping you form simple present tense sentences naturally.
Useful phrases to remember in a grocery shopping context include:
- Heeft u... (Do you have...)
- Waar is... (Where is...)
- Hoeveel kost... (How much does... cost?)
- Mag ik... (May I...)
These enable polite and effective communication when shopping in Dutch-speaking areas.
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