Dutch A2.32 Listening Practice: Report a Thought or Message
Listen to a A2 Dutch dialogue about report a thought or message, with audio, transcript, and grammar notes for language learning.
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Level
A2.32
Audio
Segmented audio
Transcript
25 segments
A short Dutch listening chapter with transcript.
Share a simple belief and pass on one practical message from Anna.
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1. Marieke · Teacher
Welkom! Today we are learning how to report a thought or a message in Dutch using fixed frames like 'ik denk dat', 'ik zeg dat', and 'Anna zegt dat'.
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2. Daan · Student
Hi Marieke! Does 'dat' send the verb to the end of the sentence, just like 'omdat' does?
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3. Marieke · Teacher
That's exactly right, Daan! Let's listen to Bram and Lotte talk about their colleague Anna.
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4. Bram · Native Speaker 1
Lotte, ik denk dat Anna thuis is.
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5. Lotte · Native Speaker 2
Nee, Anna zegt dat ze vandaag op kantoor werkt.
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6. Bram · Native Speaker 1
O, maar ik zeg dat wij om twee uur afspreken.
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7. Lotte · Native Speaker 2
Ik denk dat ze om twee uur wel tijd heeft.
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8. Bram · Native Speaker 1
Mooi, ik denk dat de vergadering belangrijk is.
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9. Marieke · Teacher
Let's look at those sentences one by one.
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10. Marieke · Teacher
First, Bram said: 'Ik denk dat Anna thuis is.' This means 'I think that Anna is at home.' Notice how 'is' moves to the very end after 'dat'.
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11. Daan · Student
So 'ik denk dat' sets up a clause where the verb always goes last?
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12. Marieke · Teacher
Yes, 'dat' introduces a subordinate clause, pushing 'is' to the end.
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13. Marieke · Teacher
Next, Lotte said: 'Nee, Anna zegt dat ze vandaag op kantoor werkt.' This means 'No, Anna says that she is working at the office today.'
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14. Daan · Student
Why is 'werkt' placed after 'op kantoor'?
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15. Marieke · Teacher
Because 'Anna zegt dat' triggers subordinate word order, sending the working verb 'werkt' to the final spot.
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16. Marieke · Teacher
Then Bram said: 'O, maar ik zeg dat wij om twee uur afspreken.' Which translates to 'Oh, but I say that we are meeting at two o'clock.'
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17. Daan · Student
Is 'ik zeg dat' used the same way as 'ik denk dat'?
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18. Marieke · Teacher
Exactly, both frames use 'dat' and push the action verb, like 'afspreken', to the end.
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19. Marieke · Teacher
After that, Lotte said: 'Ik denk dat ze om twee uur wel tijd heeft.' Meaning 'I think that she does have time at two o'clock.'
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20. Daan · Student
What role does the word 'wel' play here?
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21. Marieke · Teacher
It adds positive emphasis, reassuring Bram that she likely *does* have time.
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22. Marieke · Teacher
Finally, Bram said: 'Mooi, ik denk dat de vergadering belangrijk is.' Meaning 'Great, I think that the meeting is important.'
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23. Daan · Student
Does the adjective 'belangrijk' come right before the end verb 'is'?
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24. Marieke · Teacher
Yes, adjectives stay in the middle of the clause while the finite verb 'is' closes it.
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25. Marieke · Teacher
Great listening today! Remember, whenever you report a thought or message with 'dat', send your main verb to the end.
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