Dutch A2.34 Listening Practice: Relay a Question Indirectly
Dutch A2 listening practice with audio, transcript, key phrases, and a speaking challenge for relay a question indirectly.
Podcast listening is in beta while creation and discussion tools are refined. This published chapter includes its complete segmented audio and transcript.
Level
A2.34
Audio
Segmented audio
Transcript
15 segments
What to notice while you listen
What you'll understand
Say that one does not know whether something is true or where something happens.
Use Ik weet niet of with one yes-no proposition and Ik weet niet waar with one place proposition, keeping the finite verb at the end of each indirect question.
New pattern
The fixed frame Ik weet niet plus of for one indirect yes-no question and waar for one bounded indirect W-question, both with subordinate verb-final order.
Practice aloud after listening
Ik weet niet of Anna vandaag thuis is. Ik weet niet waar Anna morgen werkt.
I do not know whether Anna is at home today. I do not know where Anna is working tomorrow.
A short Dutch listening chapter with transcript.
Say that you do not know whether Anna is home or where Anna works.
Read while you listen.
1. Marieke · Teacher
Welcome! Today we're learning how to relay questions indirectly using the fixed frame 'ik weet niet'. Listen to this short conversation between Bram and Lotte.
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2. Bram · Native Speaker 1
Ik weet niet of Anna vandaag thuis is.
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3. Lotte · Native Speaker 2
Ik weet het niet, en ik weet niet waar Anna werkt.
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4. Bram · Native Speaker 1
Is ze ook niet op kantoor?
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5. Lotte · Native Speaker 2
Nee, en ik weet niet waar Anna morgen werkt.
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6. Bram · Native Speaker 1
Dan stuur ik haar direct een berichtje.
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7. Marieke · Teacher
Let's break down the key sentences. Bram said: 'Ik weet niet of Anna vandaag thuis is.' This means 'I don't know if Anna is home today.' We use 'of' for indirect yes-no questions.
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8. Daan · Student
So 'of' means 'whether' or 'if', and why is the verb 'is' placed at the end?
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9. Marieke · Teacher
In an embedded clause starting with 'of', the finite verb 'is' naturally moves to the very end of that clause.
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10. Marieke · Teacher
Next, Lotte said: 'Ik weet niet waar Anna werkt.' This means 'I don't know where Anna works.'
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11. Daan · Student
Does 'waar' stay right after 'ik weet niet' while the verb 'werkt' moves to the end?
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12. Marieke · Teacher
Exactly! 'Waar' stays at the front of the embedded clause, and the verb 'werkt' closes it.
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13. Marieke · Teacher
Finally, Lotte said: 'Ik weet niet waar Anna morgen werkt.' This means 'I don't know where Anna works tomorrow.'
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14. Daan · Student
Does adding a time word like 'morgen' change the position of the verb at the end?
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15. Marieke · Teacher
Not at all, 'morgen' comes in the middle, and 'werkt' still stays at the very end.
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