This lesson teaches Dutch compound nouns, explaining how two or more nouns are combined with or without linking letters -s or -en. It includes examples like de boerderijdeur, het dorpsplein, and het hondenhok, focusing on spelling rules and usage suitable for A2 learners. Indefinite numerals such as veel and een paar are also covered for correct agreement.
- A compound noun is a noun that consists of two or more parts.
- Sometimes an -s comes in between, as in dorpsschool.
- Sometimes an -en comes in between, as in woordenboek.
| Samenstellingstype (Type of compound) | Individuele woorden (Individual words) | Nieuwe samenstelling (New compound) |
|---|---|---|
| Zonder tussenvoegsel (Without infix) | de boerderij + de deur de deur + de bel | de boerderijdeur (the farm door) de deurbel (the doorbell) |
| -s tussen de delen (-s between the parts) | het dorp + het plein het varken + de stal | het dorpsplein (the village square) de varkensstal (the pigsty) |
| -en tussen de delen (-s between the parts) | de hond + het hok het paard + de wei | het hondenhok (the dog's kennel) de paardenwei (the horse pasture) |
Exercise 1: Samengestelde zelfstandige naamwoorden
Instruction: Fill in the correct word.
plattelandsdorp, boerderijdeur, kippenstal, plattelandshuis, geitenstal, varkensvoer
1.
Varken + voer:
Het ... ligt klaar in de schuur.
(The pig feed is ready in the barn.)
2.
Boerderij+ deur:
De ... staat open voor bezoekers.
(The farm door is open to visitors.)
3.
Kip+ stal:
Ze bouwen een nieuwe ....
(They are building a new chicken coop.)
4.
Geit+ stal:
De ... ruikt naar hooi.
(The goat pen smells of hay.)
5.
Platteland + huis:
We slapen in een gezellig ...
(We sleep in a cosy countryside house)
6.
Platteland + dorp:
Hij woont in een oud ....
(He lives in an old rural village.)
Exercise 2: Multiple Choice
Instruction: Choose the correct sentence with correct compound nouns or indefinite numerals. Pay close attention to common mistakes!
1.
Error: the compound noun must be written together: village school.
Error: incorrect interfix '-s'; it must be without the '-s': village school.
2.
Error: incorrect ending '-e'; 'horse meadow' ends without '-e'.
Error: the words must be written together as a compound noun.
3.
Error: 'many' should be without '-e' regardless of the noun.
Error: indefinite numerals like 'many' do not get an '-e'.
4.
Error: indefinite numerals like 'few' never get '-en'.
Error: 'a few' never gets an '-e' after the numeral.
