A new routine

Lesson Overview: A New Routine

This lesson is designed for B1 level learners of Dutch who want to expand their ability to discuss daily routines, especially when starting a new schedule or habit. You will learn how to describe activities clearly and express changes in routines using practical vocabulary and common expressions.

Key Vocabulary and Expressions

• beginnen – to start
• elke dag – every day
• gewoonte – habit, routine
• meestal – usually
• tijd – time
• om ... uur – at ... o’clock
• veranderen – to change
• ontbijten – to have breakfast
• Ik begin mijn dag meestal met koffie. – I usually start my day with coffee.
• Vanaf nu ga ik elke ochtend wandelen. – From now on, I go for a walk every morning.

Lesson Content Highlights

You will focus on how to talk about new daily habits by combining time expressions and verbs that describe routine actions. The lesson explains how to use simple present tense verbs effectively to narrate your day, for example:

• Ik sta om zeven uur op. – I get up at seven o’clock.
• Ik neem een douche. – I take a shower.

Moreover, the lesson introduces useful connectors for sequencing your activities throughout the day, such as vervolgens (then), daarna (after that), and tot slot (finally).

Differences Between English and Dutch in Talking About Routines

While English often uses continuous forms for routines (“I am starting a new routine”), Dutch typically uses the simple present tense to describe habitual actions (Ik begin een nieuwe routine). Time expressions in Dutch usually come at the beginning or end of the sentence, unlike in English. Also, Dutch verbs do not require auxiliary verbs in the present tense, making sentence structures more straightforward. For example, the phrase “I usually have breakfast at 8” translates to Ik ontbijt meestal om acht uur. without additional helping verbs.

Useful Phrases for Daily Routine Discussions

• Mijn nieuwe routine begint om zes uur. – My new routine starts at six o’clock.
• Ik probeer elke dag om dezelfde tijd te eten. – I try to eat at the same time every day.
• Deze gewoonte probeer ik vol te houden. – I try to maintain this habit.

By familiarizing yourself with these phrases and vocabulary, you will be better equipped to describe your own routines and understand those of others in Dutch. This foundation supports smoother communication in everyday contexts such as talking about personal schedules, work habits, or lifestyle changes.