Dutch A2.12 Listening Practice: Ask for Practical Help
Listen to a A2 Dutch dialogue about ask for practical help, with audio, transcript, and grammar notes for language learning.
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Level
A2.12
Audio
Segmented audio
Transcript
17 segments
A short Dutch listening chapter with transcript.
Ask a colleague for help and ask an unfamiliar staff member to repeat something.
Read while you listen.
1. Marieke · Teacher
Welcome back! I'm Marieke, your Dutch teacher. Today we're practicing how to ask for practical help in Dutch, focusing on when to use the informal 'Kun je' versus the polite 'Kunt u'. Let's listen to a short scene at a train station where Bram and Lotte need assistance.
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2. Bram · Native Speaker 1
Lotte, kun je me helpen met de route?
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3. Lotte · Native Speaker 2
Vraag het liever even aan de machinist daar.
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4. Bram · Native Speaker 1
Meneer, kunt u me helpen?
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5. Lotte · Native Speaker 2
Kunt u dat herhalen?
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6. Bram · Native Speaker 1
Kun je me daarna helpen, Lotte?
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7. Marieke · Teacher
Great job listening! Now let's break down those important expressions step by step.
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8. Marieke · Teacher
First, Bram asks his friend Lotte: 'Lotte, kun je me helpen?' Notice that because Bram is speaking to a friend, he uses 'kun je'. Also, the action verb 'helpen' comes at the very end of the question.
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9. Daan · Student
So whenever I'm asking a friend, classmate, or family member for help, I should always start with 'Kun je'?
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10. Marieke · Teacher
Exactly, Daan! 'Kun je' is perfect for informal situations.
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11. Marieke · Teacher
Next, Bram turns to an older stranger and asks politely: 'Meneer, kunt u me helpen?' Here, 'kun' becomes 'kunt' because he's addressing a stranger with the polite pronoun 'u'.
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12. Daan · Student
Does the helper verb still go at the end when using 'kunt u'?
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13. Marieke · Teacher
Yes! The pattern stays identical: 'Kunt u' plus your object, and the infinitive 'helpen' closes the sentence at the end.
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14. Marieke · Teacher
Finally, Lotte asks the conductor: 'Kunt u dat herhalen?' meaning 'Can you repeat that?'. Then Bram turns back to Lotte and asks: 'Kun je me daarna helpen?' which means 'Can you help me after that?'.
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15. Daan · Student
So 'herhalen' means 'to repeat' and 'daarna' means 'after that'?
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16. Marieke · Teacher
Spot on! 'Herhalen' is another useful infinitive that sits at the end of the request. And 'daarna' connects the timing seamlessly.
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17. Marieke · Teacher
Remember: choose 'Kun je' for informal connections and 'Kunt u' for polite interactions, always putting the action verb at the end. Tot de volgende keer!
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