As a Tourist in the City
Als toerist in de stad
- Common activities during a city trip.
- Asking information at the tourist office.
- Know practical survival phrases as a tourist to navigate in the city.
- Past participle: strong and weak verbs
This lesson covers practical Dutch for tourists asking information at the VVV-kantoor, buying tickets, and reserving tables, featuring verbs like maken (to make), nemen (to take), and important phrases such as 'Ik wil graag een rondleiding plannen' and 'Een tafel reserveren'.
Vocabulary (11) Share Copied!
Exercises Share Copied!
These exercises can be done together during conversation lessons or as homework.
Exercise 1: Translate and use in a sentence
Instruction: Pick a word, translated and use the word in a sentence or dialogue.
1
Het monument
The monument
2
Foto's maken
Taking photos
3
Een taxi nemen
Taking a taxi
4
Een wandeling maken
To go for a walk
5
Staan
To stand
Oefening 2: Conversation exercise
Instructie:
- Describe what this tourist in Copenhagen is doing in the pictures. (Describe what this tourist in Copenhagen is doing in the pictures.)
- What could the person say in any of the situations? (What could the person say in any of the situations?)
- Do you still send postcards from your holidays? To whom do you send them? (Do you still send postcards from your holidays? To whom do you send them?)
Teaching guidelines +/- 10 minutes
Example phrases:
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De vrouw neemt een taxi. The woman takes a taxi. |
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Ik heb de route op de kaart opgezocht. I looked up the directions on the map. |
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Kunt u mij vertellen hoe ik bij het monument kom? Can you tell me how to get to the monument? |
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Hebt u een studenten korting? Do you have a student discount? |
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Ik gebruik mijn telefoon om naar het museum te navigeren. I use my phone to navigate to the museum. |
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Kun je een foto van mij maken? Can you take a picture of me? |
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Ik moet een ansichtkaart naar mijn familie sturen. I have to send a postcard to my family. |
| ... |
Exercise 3: Dialogue Cards
Instruction: Select a situation and practice the conversation with your teacher or fellow students.
Exercise 4: Multiple Choice
Instruction: Choose the correct solution
1. Ik heb gisteren een interessante wandeling ____ door de oude stad.
(I made an interesting walk ____ through the old city yesterday.)2. We hebben een plattegrond ____ om het museum te vinden.
(We ____ a map to find the museum.)3. Hij heeft een taxi ____ om snel bij het hotel te komen.
(He ____ a taxi to get to the hotel quickly.)4. Zij hebben mooie foto’s ____ tijdens het bezoek aan het monument.
(They ____ beautiful photos during the visit to the monument.)Exercise 5: As a tourist in the city
Instruction:
Verb Tables
Houden - Houden
Onvoltooid tegenwoordige tijd
- ik houd
- jij houdt
- hij/zij/het houdt
- wij houden
- jullie houden
- zij houden
Staan - Staan
Onvoltooid verleden tijd
- ik stond
- jij stond
- hij/zij/het stond
- wij stonden
- jullie stonden
- zij stonden
Staan - Staan
Onvoltooid tegenwoordige tijd
- ik sta
- jij staat
- hij/zij/het staat
- wij staan
- jullie staan
- zij staan
Nemen - Nemen
Onvoltooid tegenwoordige tijd
- ik neem
- jij neemt
- hij/zij/het neemt
- wij nemen
- jullie nemen
- zij nemen
Maken - Maken
Onvoltooid tegenwoordige tijd
- ik maak
- jij maakt
- hij/zij/het maakt
- wij maken
- jullie maken
- zij maken
Exercise 6: Voltooid deelwoord: sterke en zwakke werkwoorden
Instruction: Fill in the correct word.
Grammar: Past participle: strong and weak verbs
Show translation Show answersgeraadpleegd, gegaan, gebruikt, gepland, gebracht, gereisd, genomen, kerk, gemaakt
Grammar Share Copied!
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A2.7.1 Grammatica
Voltooid deelwoord: sterke en zwakke werkwoorden
Past participle: strong and weak verbs
Verb conjugation tables for this lesson Share Copied!
Houden to keep Share Copied!
Onvoltooid tegenwoordige tijd (OTT)
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| (ik) houd | I keep |
| (jij) houdt/houd | you keep/hold |
| (hij/zij/het) houdt | he/She/It keeps |
| (wij) houden | we keep |
| (jullie) houden | you keep |
| (zij) houden | they keep |
Staan to stand Share Copied!
Onvoltooid tegenwoordige tijd (OTT)
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| (ik) sta | I stand |
| (jij) staat / sta | you stand / stand |
| (hij/zij/het) staat | he/she/it stands |
| (wij) staan | we stand |
| (jullie) staan | you stand |
| (zij) staan | they stand |
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Lesson Overview: As a Tourist in the City
This lesson focuses on using the past participle (voltooid deelwoord) of strong and weak verbs within practical conversations you might encounter as a tourist in a Dutch-speaking city. It helps you understand and practice common interactions such as asking information at the VVV tourist office, buying transport tickets, and making restaurant reservations. The lesson also integrates verb conjugations in context, reinforcing your grasp of key verbs and their forms.
What You Will Learn
- How to use the past participle forms of both strong and weak verbs in sentences relevant to tourism and everyday city life.
- Common phrases and vocabulary related to finding information, transportation, and dining out.
- Verb conjugations in present and past tenses to help you describe actions accurately.
Key Vocabulary and Expressions
Examples of useful words and expressions that appear throughout the lesson include:
- plattegrond – city map
- rondleiding – guided tour
- reserveren – to reserve
- ticket kopen – to buy a ticket
- VVV-kantoor – tourist information office
Important Grammar Points
The lesson emphasizes recognizing and using the past participle of common verbs. Here are some examples to highlight:
- gemaakt (made, from maken)
- geraadpleegd (consulted, from raadplegen)
- genomen (taken, from nemen)
Besides the past participle, the lesson provides tables and examples for:
- Present tense conjugations (onvoltooid tegenwoordige tijd), e.g., ik neem, jij neemt
- Simple past tense conjugations (onvoltooid verleden tijd), e.g., ik stond, wij stonden
Practical Dialogues for Real-Life Situations
You will practice dialogues in these scenarios:
- Asking for tourist information about city sights and tours at the VVV office.
- Buying tickets for public transportation like buses and trams.
- Reserving a table at a restaurant and discussing booking details.
Contextual Short Story
The short story Als toerist in de stad reinforces the vocabulary and verb forms in a natural narrative about exploring the city, stopping at the tourist office, and taking photos. This helps you connect grammar to real-life experiences.
Note on Differences Between English and Dutch
One important difference is the use of the past participle (voltooid deelwoord) in Dutch phrases with auxiliary verbs like hebben. Dutch often combines the past participle with auxiliaries to form perfect tenses, for example, Ik heb gemaakt (I have made). Unlike English, the Dutch verb forms rely heavily on strong and weak classifications, affecting the past participle endings. Additionally, many Dutch nouns are gendered and inflected, which can affect adjective endings and article usage.
Useful Phrases to Remember
- Ik wil graag een rondleiding plannen. – I would like to plan a tour.
- Waar is de markt? – Where is the market?
- Heeft u een tafel vrij? – Do you have a table available?
- Ik koop een dagkaart voor de tram. – I buy a day ticket for the tram.
By mastering these expressions and grammar points, you'll be prepared to navigate typical tourist situations confidently while improving your Dutch language skills.
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