Dutch A2.33 Listening Practice: Set a Real Condition
Listen to a A2 Dutch dialogue about set a real condition, with audio, transcript, and grammar notes for language learning.
Podcast listening pages are in beta while chapter audio, transcripts, and discussion flows are still being completed.
Level
A2.33
Audio
Segmented audio
Transcript
21 segments
A short Dutch listening chapter with transcript.
Explain when you will call Anna and what happens if you have time.
Read while you listen.
1. Marieke · Teacher
Welcome back! Today we are learning how to express conditions in Dutch using the word 'als', which means 'if' or 'when'. Pay close attention to where the verbs go when 'als' starts a sentence versus when it comes second. Let me pass it over to Bram and Lotte.
Audio ready
2. Lotte · Native Speaker 2
Bram, ga je vanavond naar de sportschool?
Audio ready
3. Bram · Native Speaker 1
Als ik vanavond tijd heb, ga ik naar de sportschool.
Audio ready
4. Lotte · Native Speaker 2
Ik ga ook sporten als ik vroeg klaar ben met werken.
Audio ready
5. Bram · Native Speaker 1
Als we samen gaan, bel ik je om zeven uur op.
Audio ready
6. Lotte · Native Speaker 2
Prima, ik leer Nederlands als ik op de bus wacht.
Audio ready
7. Marieke · Teacher
Let's break down the dialogue line by line! First, Lotte asked Bram: 'Bram, ga je vanavond naar de sportschool?' This means 'Bram, are you going to the gym tonight?'
Audio ready
8. Daan · Student
Is ' sportschool' the standard Dutch word for gym?
Audio ready
9. Marieke · Teacher
Yes! 'De sportschool' literally translates to 'the sport school' and is used for gym or fitness center.
Audio ready
10. Marieke · Teacher
Next, Bram said: 'Als ik vanavond tijd heb, ga ik naar de sportschool.' This translates to 'If I have time tonight, I am going to the gym.' Notice how 'als' pushes the verb 'heb' to the end of its clause, and the main clause immediately starts with the verb 'ga'.
Audio ready
11. Daan · Student
So whenever the 'als' clause comes first, the second part must start with the verb?
Audio ready
12. Marieke · Teacher
That's right! Because the entire 'als' clause takes up position one, inversion happens in the main clause: verb 'ga', then subject 'ik'.
Audio ready
13. Marieke · Teacher
Then Lotte replied: 'Ik ga ook sporten als ik vroeg klaar ben met werken.' Meaning 'I am also going to exercise if I finish work early.'
Audio ready
14. Daan · Student
Why doesn't 'ik ga' invert to 'ga ik' in this line?
Audio ready
15. Marieke · Teacher
Because the main clause 'Ik ga ook sporten' comes first here, so it keeps regular word order. The 'als' clause comes second, with 'ben' pushed to the end.
Audio ready
16. Marieke · Teacher
Bram then said: 'Als we samen gaan, bel ik je om zeven uur op.' Which means 'If we go together, I'll call you at seven o'clock.'
Audio ready
17. Daan · Student
What happened to the verb 'opbellen' in that sentence?
Audio ready
18. Marieke · Teacher
'Opbellen' is a separable verb. In the inverted main clause, 'bel' comes first after the comma, and 'op' goes to the very end.
Audio ready
19. Marieke · Teacher
Finally, Lotte said: 'Prima, ik leer Nederlands als ik op de bus wacht.' This means 'Fine, I study Dutch when I wait for the bus.'
Audio ready
20. Daan · Student
Does 'als' mean 'when' here instead of 'if'?
Audio ready
21. Marieke · Teacher
Exactly! In real, non-past situations, 'als' serves as both 'if' and 'when'. Excellent listening today!
Audio ready