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BetaDutchA2 listeningAug 9, 2026

Dutch A2.22 Listening Practice: Select Zijn for Four Results

Dutch A2 listening practice with audio, transcript, key phrases, and a speaking challenge for select zijn for four results.

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

Level

A2.22

Audio

Segmented audio

Transcript

17 segments

Lesson guide

What to notice while you listen

What you'll understand

Report selected completed movements or changes with the appropriate perfect auxiliary.

Use ben, is, or zijn with the four stored participles gegaan, gekomen, gebleven, and geworden, without extending zijn to other verbs.

New pattern

Perfect clauses with zijn for the closed result frames gegaan, gekomen, gebleven, and geworden.

koud = coldgebleven = stayed/remainedgeworden = become/turnedIk ben naar huis gegaan.Anna is vroeg gekomen.We zijn thuis gebleven.Het is koud geworden.

Practice aloud after listening

Anna is vroeg gekomen. We zijn thuis gebleven.

Anna arrived early. We stayed at home.

Listen firstBeta

A short Dutch listening chapter with transcript.

Update someone about an arrival, departure, decision to remain, or visible change.

Transcript

Read while you listen.

1. Marieke · Teacher

Welcome back! I'm Marieke. Today we're learning when to use 'zijn' instead of 'hebben' in the Dutch past tense.

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2. Daan · Student

Hi Marieke! Is this the rule where every verb that shows movement uses 'zijn'?

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3. Marieke · Teacher

Not quite, Daan! It's much better to avoid general rules about movement and instead memorize four specific participle frames that always take 'zijn': gegaan, gekomen, gebleven, and geworden. Let's listen to Bram and Lotte use them in conversation.

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4. Bram · Native Speaker 1

Ik ben gisteren vroeg naar huis gegaan.

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5. Lotte · Native Speaker 2

Anna is ook vroeg gekomen.

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6. Bram · Native Speaker 1

We zijn de hele avond thuis gebleven.

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7. Lotte · Native Speaker 2

Het is buiten erg koud geworden.

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8. Bram · Native Speaker 1

Ja, het is heel koud geworden!

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9. Marieke · Teacher

Let's break down those five sentences. First, Bram said: 'Ik ben gisteren vroeg naar huis gegaan.' This means 'I went home early yesterday.' Notice the combination 'ben' with 'gegaan'.

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10. Daan · Student

So 'gegaan' always pairs with a form of 'zijn' like 'ben' or 'is'?

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11. Marieke · Teacher

Exactly! Store 'zijn + gegaan' as one unit in your mind.

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12. Marieke · Teacher

Next, Lotte said: 'Anna is vroeg gekomen,' meaning 'Anna came early.' Then Bram added: 'We zijn de hele avond thuis gebleven,' which means 'We stayed home all evening.'

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13. Daan · Student

Wait, staying home with 'gebleven' doesn't involve any movement at all! Why does it take 'zijn'?

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14. Marieke · Teacher

That's why relying on a 'movement rule' can confuse you! 'Gebleven' is simply one of our four target verbs that takes 'zijn'. Remember: 'zijn + gebleven'.

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15. Marieke · Teacher

Finally, Lotte and Bram said: 'Het is koud geworden.' This means 'It has become cold.' 'Geworden' comes from 'worden', which means to become.

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16. Daan · Student

So our four key stored participles with 'zijn' are gegaan, gekomen, gebleven, and geworden?

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17. Marieke · Teacher

Spot on, Daan. Just lock in those four result pairings—gegaan, gekomen, gebleven, and geworden—and don't stretch 'zijn' to other verbs. Great job today!

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