Dutch A2.20 Listening Practice: Put Ge Inside the Action
Listen to a A2 Dutch dialogue about put ge inside the action, with audio, transcript, and grammar notes for language learning.
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Level
A2.20
Audio
Segmented audio
Transcript
18 segments
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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