Dutch A2.20 Listening Practice: Put Ge Inside the Action
Dutch A2 listening practice with audio, transcript, key phrases, and a speaking challenge for put ge inside the action.
Podcast listening is in beta while creation and discussion tools are refined. This published chapter includes its complete segmented audio and transcript.
Level
A2.20
Audio
Segmented audio
Transcript
18 segments
What to notice while you listen
What you'll understand
Report completed actions expressed by familiar separable verbs.
Use opgebeld, afgesproken, meegenomen, and klaargemaakt in hebben-perfect clauses, locating ge inside each familiar separable verb.
New pattern
Past participles of a closed set of separable verbs place ge between the particle and the verb stem.
Practice aloud after listening
Ik heb Anna opgebeld. We hebben iets afgesproken. Ik heb koffie meegenomen.
I called Anna, we arranged something, and I brought coffee.
A short Dutch listening chapter with transcript.
Give a compact update about practical actions completed before a meeting or visit.
Read while you listen.
1. Marieke · Teacher
Welcome! I'm Marieke, and today we're discovering how to put '-ge-' inside separable verbs in Dutch past perfect sentences. Let's listen to a short conversation between Bram and Lotte.
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2. Bram · Native Speaker 1
Ik heb Anna opgebeld.
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3. Lotte · Native Speaker 2
Mooi! We hebben iets afgesproken.
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4. Bram · Native Speaker 1
Klopt, en ik heb verse koffie meegenomen.
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5. Lotte · Native Speaker 2
Super, want Anna heeft alles klaargemaakt.
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6. Bram · Native Speaker 1
Perfect, we zijn er klaar voor!
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7. Marieke · Teacher
Let's break down Bram's first sentence: 'Ik heb Anna opgebeld.' This means 'I called Anna.' The verb is opbellen, and when forming the past participle, '-ge-' squeezes between the prefix 'op' and 'beld' to make 'opgebeld'.
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8. Daan · Student
Hi Marieke, I'm Daan. So the prefix 'op' stays attached at the beginning of the word?
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9. Marieke · Teacher
Exactly, Daan! The particle stays on the left edge of the participle, forming one complete word placed at the end of the sentence.
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10. Marieke · Teacher
Next, Lotte said: 'We hebben iets afgesproken.' 'Iets' means 'something', and 'afgesproken' means 'arranged' or 'agreed'.
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11. Daan · Student
So for 'afspreken', '-ge-' goes right between 'af' and 'sproken'?
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12. Marieke · Teacher
Spot on! 'Af' + 'ge' + 'sproken' gives 'afgesproken'.
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13. Marieke · Teacher
In sentence three, Bram said: 'Ik heb verse koffie meegenomen.' 'Meegenomen' comes from 'meenemen', which means 'to bring along'.
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14. Daan · Student
Why is the stem part 'nomen' instead of 'nemes' or 'gemakt'?
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15. Marieke · Teacher
Because 'nemen' is an irregular verb whose participle is 'genomen', so with 'mee' attached, it becomes 'meegenomen'.
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16. Marieke · Teacher
Finally, Lotte said: 'Anna heeft alles klaargemaakt.' 'Alles' means 'everything', and 'klaargemaakt' means 'prepared' or 'made ready'.
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17. Daan · Student
So 'klaar' is the prefix, followed by '-ge-', and then 'gemaakt'?
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18. Marieke · Teacher
Yes! 'Klaar' + 'ge' + 'gemaakt' stays intact right at the edge of the clause.
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