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BetaDutchA1 listeningAug 9, 2026

Dutch A1.19 Listening Practice: Say What You Want to Do

Dutch A1 listening practice with audio, transcript, key phrases, and a speaking challenge for say what you want to do.

Podcast listening is in beta while creation and discussion tools are refined. This published chapter includes its complete segmented audio and transcript.

Level

A1.19

Audio

Segmented audio

Transcript

20 segments

Lesson guide

What to notice while you listen

What you'll understand

State a simple intention involving a familiar activity.

Produce ik wil with kopen or leren at the end of a controlled main clause, keeping any familiar object between the modal and infinitive.

New pattern

The bounded modal frame ik wil plus an infinitive at the right edge of the main clause.

ik wilkopenlerenIk wil een boek kopen.Ik wil dit goede boek kopen.Ik wil Nederlands leren.

Practice aloud after listening

Ik wil dit goede boek kopen. Ik wil Nederlands leren.

I want to buy this good book. I want to learn Dutch.

Listen firstBeta

A short Dutch listening chapter with transcript.

Say that you want to buy a book or learn Dutch, placing an expressed object before its infinitive.

Transcript

Read while you listen.

1. Marieke · Teacher

Welcome to today's podcast! I'm Marieke. Today, we're practicing how to say what you want to do in Dutch using the simple frame 'Ik wil'.

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2. Marieke · Teacher

Let's listen to a short conversation between Bram and Lotte.

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3. Bram · Native Speaker 1

Ik wil Nederlands leren.

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4. Lotte · Native Speaker 2

Mooi! Ik wil een boek kopen.

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5. Bram · Native Speaker 1

Ik wil dit goede boek kopen.

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6. Lotte · Native Speaker 2

Ik wil leren.

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7. Bram · Native Speaker 1

Ja, ik wil Nederlands leren!

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8. Marieke · Teacher

Let's break down those sentences together.

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9. Marieke · Teacher

First, Bram said: 'Ik wil Nederlands leren.' This means 'I want to learn Dutch.' Notice how 'wil' comes second, and 'leren' goes to the very end.

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10. Daan · Student

So the object, 'Nederlands', sits right between 'wil' and 'leren'?

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11. Marieke · Teacher

Exactly, Daan! Any object always sits in the middle, while the main action verb closes the clause.

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12. Marieke · Teacher

Next, Lotte said: 'Ik wil een boek kopen.' That means 'I want to buy a book.'

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13. Daan · Student

Would it be wrong if I said 'Ik wil kopen een boek'?

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14. Marieke · Teacher

Yes, that's a classic error! 'Een boek' must go before 'kopen' at the end: 'Ik wil een boek kopen.'

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15. Marieke · Teacher

Then Bram said: 'Ik wil dit goede boek kopen.' This means 'I want to buy this good book.'

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16. Daan · Student

Even with longer descriptions like 'dit goede boek', does the whole phrase stay in the middle?

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17. Marieke · Teacher

Yes! The entire object phrase stays trapped between 'wil' and the final verb 'kopen'.

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18. Marieke · Teacher

Finally, Lotte said: 'Ik wil leren.' That means 'I want to learn.'

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19. Daan · Student

If there is no object at all, do 'wil' and 'leren' stand right next to each other?

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20. Marieke · Teacher

That's right! When nothing intervenes, adjacency is completely normal. Great job, everyone!

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