Senses and perceiving
Zintuigen en waarnemen
- Describe taste, smell, sight, sound and touch
- Compare things
- Degrees of comparison
This lesson focuses on Dutch vocabulary and expressions related to the senses, such as zien (to see), ruiken (to smell), horen (to hear), and voelen (to feel). You will learn to describe and compare tastes like zoet (sweet) and zuur (sour), as well as sounds such as hard (loud) and stilte (silence).
Listening & reading materials
Practice vocabulary in context with real materials.
Vocabulary (17) 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 following words into two groups: words related to tastes and words related to sounds.
Smaken
Geluiden
Exercise 4: Translate and use in a sentence
Instruction: Pick a word, translated and use the word in a sentence or dialogue.
1
Lekker
Tasty
2
Hard
Hard
3
Zien
See
4
De stilte
The silence
5
Zoet
Sweet
Oefening 5: Conversation exercise
Instructie:
- Describe the opposite in the pictures using comparatives (more than, as, less than). (Describe the opposite in the pictures using comparatives (more than, as, less than).)
- Ask the person sitting next to you, if they prefer sweet or salty food, sweet or bitter drinks,... (Ask the person sitting next to you, if they prefer sweet or salty food, sweet or bitter drinks,...)
Teaching guidelines +/- 10 minutes
Example phrases:
|
Koffie is bitterder dan thee. Coffee is more bitter than tea. |
|
Een appel is harder dan een banaan. An apple is harder than a banana. |
|
Bloemen ruiken beter dan sokken. Flowers smell better than socks. |
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Zout voedsel smaakt net zo goed als zoet voedsel. Salty food tastes as good as sweet food. |
|
Heb je liever de geur van koffie of thee? Do you prefer the smell of coffee or tea? |
|
Ik geef de voorkeur aan de bittere geur van koffie. I prefer the bitter smell of coffee. |
| ... |
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 ____ de zon achter de wolken.
(I ____ the sun behind the clouds.)2. Je ____ de bloemen in de tuin.
(You ____ the flowers in the garden.)3. Wij ____ het geluid van de vogels.
(We ____ the sound of the birds.)4. Zij ____ de zachte stof van de jas.
(She ____ the soft fabric of the coat.)Exercise 8: A Walk in the Park
Instruction:
Verb Tables
Zien - See
Onvoltooid tegenwoordige tijd
- ik zie
- jij ziet
- hij/zij/het ziet
- wij zien
- jullie zien
- zij zien
Ruiken - Smell
Onvoltooid tegenwoordige tijd
- ik ruik
- jij ruikt
- hij/zij/het ruikt
- wij ruiken
- jullie ruiken
- zij ruiken
Horen - Hear
Onvoltooid tegenwoordige tijd
- ik hoor
- jij hoort
- hij/zij/het hoort
- wij horen
- jullie horen
- zij horen
Voelen - Feel
Onvoltooid tegenwoordige tijd
- ik voel
- jij voelt
- hij/zij/het voelt
- wij voelen
- jullie voelen
- zij voelen
Exercise 9: Trappen van vergelijking
Instruction: Fill in the correct word.
Grammar: Degrees of comparison
Show translation Show answerszachter, liefste, zuurste, zoetst, luider, beter, minst, zouter
Grammar Share Copied!
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Verb conjugation tables for this lesson Share Copied!
Zien see Share Copied!
Onvoltooid tegenwoordige tijd (OTT)
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| (ik) zie | I see |
| (jij) ziet/zie | you see/see |
| (hij/zij/het) ziet | he/she/it sees |
| (wij) zien | we see |
| (jullie) zien | you see |
| (zij) zien | they see |
Ruiken to smell Share Copied!
Onvoltooid tegenwoordige tijd (OTT)
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| (ik) ruik | I smell |
| (jij) ruikt | you smell |
| (hij/zij/het) ruikt | he/she/it smells |
| (wij) ruiken | we smell |
| (jullie) ruiken | you smell |
| (zij) ruiken | They smell |
Horen to hear Share Copied!
Onvoltooid tegenwoordige tijd (OTT)
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| (ik) hoor | I hear |
| (jij) hoort / hoor | you hear / I hear |
| (hij/zij/het) hoort | he/she/it hears |
| (wij) horen | we hear |
| (jullie) horen | you hear |
| (zij) horen | they hear |
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Introduction to Senses and Perceiving in Dutch
This lesson focuses on using Dutch vocabulary and phrases related to the five senses, particularly emphasizing how to describe tastes, smells, sounds, and feelings through comparison and perception. It is designed for A1 learners who are beginning to express sensory experiences and make comparisons in everyday contexts like shopping or dining.
Key Vocabulary and Themes
You will learn important words associated with taste such as bitter, lekker (delicious), zoet (sweet), zout (salty), and zuur (sour). For sounds, words like de stilte (the silence), het geluid (the sound), hard (loud), and luider (louder) are introduced to help describe auditory experiences.
Using Comparisons with Sensory Words
Dutch uses comparative forms like -er dan to compare sensations, for example:
- "Dit eten smaakt beter dan gisteren." (This food tastes better than yesterday.)
- "Ik ruik iets zoets." (I smell something sweet.)
- "De stilte in het bos is zachter dan in de stad." (The silence in the forest is softer than in the city.)
These examples show how to express preferences or differences in taste, sound, and smell in daily conversations.
Practical Contexts for Application
Dialogues simulate real-life situations where you can practice:
- Discussing fruit in the supermarket by describing and comparing sensory qualities.
- Talking about coffee varieties at a coffee machine, focusing on scent and taste.
- Describing food experiences at a restaurant, covering taste, texture, and sounds.
Verb Usage Related to Senses
The lesson highlights key verbs in the present tense connected to the senses:
- Zien – to see
- Ruiken – to smell
- Horen – to hear
- Voelen – to feel
For example, "Ik zie de zon achter de wolken" means "I see the sun behind the clouds." Practicing their conjugations in common phrases builds foundational communication skills related to perception.
Mini Story Practice
A short narrative helps you apply these verbs and vocabulary in context: "Ik zie de bomen in het park..." This story invites you to fill gaps with correct verb forms and engage with sensory descriptions, enhancing both comprehension and production.
Instruction Language vs Learning Language Notes
Since both the instruction and learning languages are Dutch and English respectively, translations and explanations are provided in English to clarify Dutch expressions. Dutch comparative sentences often use the suffix -er dan (e.g., "zoeter dan" meaning "sweeter than"), which works differently than English adjective comparisons. Recognizing these patterns is essential for building accurate and natural sentences.
Useful phrases include:
- Deze appel is zoeter dan die sinaasappel. – "This apple is sweeter than that orange."
- Ik ruik een zoete geur in de frisse lentelucht. – "I smell a sweet scent in the fresh spring air."
- Het geluid is harder dan het geluid van de televisie. – "The sound is louder than the sound of the television."
Understanding and using these expressions will help you describe sensory experiences naturally in Dutch conversations.
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