Physical states and sensations
Fysieke toestanden en sensaties
- Express what you need.
- Tell how your body feels.
- Diminutives
Learn to describe physical states and sensations in Dutch, focusing on key vocabulary for feelings like tiredness and pain, practical dialogues for daily conversations, and essential grammar with verb conjugations at the A1 level.
Listening & reading materials
Practice vocabulary in context with real materials.
Vocabulary (10) 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: words related to bodily feelings and words that describe a bodily condition.
Lichamelijke gevoelens
Lichamelijke toestanden
Exercise 4: Translate and use in a sentence
Instruction: Pick a word, translated and use the word in a sentence or dialogue.
1
Rusten
To rest
2
Zich ontspannen
To relax
3
De dorst
The thirst
4
Geblesseerd
Injured
5
Mediteren
To meditate
Oefening 5: Conversation exercise
Instructie:
- How do the people feel in those situations? (How do the people feel in those situations?)
Teaching guidelines +/- 10 minutes
Example phrases:
|
Hij is uitgeput. He is exhausted. |
|
Ik voel me moe in de ochtend. I feel tired in the morning. |
|
Ik voel me uitgeput na werk. I feel exhausted after work. |
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Ik moet iets drinken. I need to drink something. |
|
Ik heb dorst. I am thirsty. |
|
Ik heb honger. I am hungry. |
|
Zij heeft het koud. She is feeling cold. |
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Ik voel me warm. I feel warm. |
| ... |
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 middag even uit na het werk.
(I ___ every afternoon for a while after work.)2. Jij ___ niet genoeg, dat is niet gezond.
(You ___ don't rest enough, that is not healthy.)3. Hij ___ op zondag altijd uit na het sporten.
(He ___ always rests on Sunday after exercising.)4. Wij ___ samen in het park en genieten van het mooie weer.
(We ___ together in the park and enjoy the nice weather.)Exercise 8: A day of resting after sports
Instruction:
Verb Tables
Rusten - To rest
Onvoltooid tegenwoordige tijd
- ik rust
- jij rust
- hij/zij/het rust
- wij rusten
- jullie rusten
- zij rusten
Nemen - To take
Onvoltooid tegenwoordige tijd
- ik neem
- jij neemt
- hij/zij/het neemt
- wij nemen
- jullie nemen
- zij nemen
Staan - To stand
Onvoltooid tegenwoordige tijd
- ik sta
- jij staat
- hij/zij/het staat
- wij staan
- jullie staan
- zij staan
Exercise 9: Verkleinwoorden
Instruction: Fill in the correct word.
Grammar: Diminutives
Show translation Show answersdeurtje, boompje, knoopje, weggetje, zus, cadeautje, jasje, woninkje
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!
Rusten to rest Share Copied!
Onvoltooid tegenwoordige tijd (OTT)
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| (ik) rust | I rest |
| (jij) rust/ruist | you rest |
| (hij/zij/het) rust | he/she/it rests |
| (wij) rusten | we rest |
| (jullie) rusten | you rest |
| (zij) rusten | they rest |
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Understanding Physical States and Sensations in Dutch
This lesson is designed for A1 learners to develop basic vocabulary and conversational skills around describing physical feelings and conditions. You will learn how to express sensations such as tiredness, thirst, and pain, as well as describing physical states like being sweaty or injured.
Key Vocabulary
- Physical feelings: de dorst (thirst), de pijn (pain), bezweet (sweaty)
- Physical states: moe (tired), geblesseerd (injured), fit (fit), uitgeput (exhausted)
Practical Dialogues
The lesson features useful dialogues for everyday situations like reporting illness at home, consulting a pharmacy, or speaking with a doctor. These conversations offer natural expressions to describe how you feel, ask for help, and understand advice.
Grammar and Practice
You will also practice verb conjugations with the verb "rusten" (to rest), learning how to use it correctly in present tense sentences. A short story reinforces vocabulary and verbs through context: resting after exercise and describing feelings.
Instruction vs Dutch Language Notes
In Dutch, diminutives (verkleinwoorden) are frequently used to express smallness or affection, such as "woninkje" for a small house or "armpje" for little arm. English does not have a direct equivalent but uses adjectives like "small" or "little" instead. Understanding these diminutives can help grasp subtle nuances in Dutch expressions about physical states.
Common Dutch phrases useful in this context include "Ik voel me moe" (I feel tired) and "Ik heb pijn" (I have pain), which differ from English by placing the verb closer to the subject for sensations.
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