Dutch A1.14 Listening Practice: Count More Than One
Dutch A1 listening practice with audio, transcript, key phrases, and a speaking challenge for count more than one.
Podcast listening is in beta while creation and discussion tools are refined. This published chapter includes its complete segmented audio and transcript.
Level
A1.14
Audio
Segmented audio
Transcript
21 segments
What to notice while you listen
What you'll understand
State a small quantity of familiar objects using common plural forms.
Produce boeken and fietsen with -en, tafels with -s, and use de before each practiced plural regardless of its singular article.
New pattern
A bounded set of common plurals in -en or -s, with de used for every plural noun practiced here.
Practice aloud after listening
Ik heb twee boeken. Ik heb drie tafels.
I have two books. I have three tables.
A short Dutch listening chapter with transcript.
Report that you have two books and identify three tables without carrying singular het into the plural.
Read while you listen.
1. Marieke · Teacher
Welcome! Today we are learning how to count and talk about plural nouns in Dutch, like books, bicycles, and tables. Let's listen to a short conversation between Bram and Lotte.
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2. Bram · Native Speaker 1
Ik heb twee boeken.
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3. Lotte · Native Speaker 2
Ik heb drie tafels.
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4. Bram · Native Speaker 1
Kijk, daar zijn de fietsen.
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5. Lotte · Native Speaker 2
De boeken liggen hier.
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6. Bram · Native Speaker 1
En de tafels staan daar.
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7. Marieke · Teacher
Let me break that down for you. First, Bram said: 'Ik heb twee boeken.' This means 'I have two books.' Notice how 'het boek' becomes 'de boeken' in the plural.
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8. Daan · Student
So even though it's 'het boek' in the singular, the plural always uses 'de'?
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9. Marieke · Teacher
Exactly, Daan! Every single plural noun in Dutch uses the article 'de'.
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10. Marieke · Teacher
Next, Lotte said: 'Ik heb drie tafels.' This means 'I have three tables.'
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11. Daan · Student
Why does 'tafels' end in '-s', but 'boeken' ends in '-en'?
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12. Marieke · Teacher
Dutch plurals usually take either '-en' or '-s'. For now, memorize them as fixed pairs: 'boeken' and 'tafels'.
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13. Marieke · Teacher
Then Bram said: 'Kijk, daar zijn de fietsen.' This translates to 'Look, there are the bicycles.'
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14. Daan · Student
And 'de fiets' becomes 'de fietsen' with '-en', right?
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15. Marieke · Teacher
Spot on! 'De fiets' adds '-en' to become 'de fietsen'.
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16. Marieke · Teacher
After that, Lotte said: 'De boeken liggen hier.' That means 'The books lie here' or 'The books are here.'
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17. Daan · Student
Why did she use 'liggen' instead of 'zijn'?
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18. Marieke · Teacher
In Dutch, we often use 'liggen' for flat objects resting on a surface, like books.
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19. Marieke · Teacher
Finally, Bram said: 'En de tafels staan daar.' That means 'And the tables are standing there.'
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20. Daan · Student
And we use 'staan' because tables stand upright on legs?
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21. Marieke · Teacher
Precisely! Objects like tables 'staan'. Excellent practice today!
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