Dutch A2.34 Listening Practice: Relay a Question Indirectly
Listen to a A2 Dutch dialogue about relay a question indirectly, 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
A2.34
Audio
Segmented audio
Transcript
15 segments
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.
Audio ready
2. Bram · Native Speaker 1
Ik weet niet of Anna vandaag thuis is.
Audio ready
3. Lotte · Native Speaker 2
Ik weet het niet, en ik weet niet waar Anna werkt.
Audio ready
4. Bram · Native Speaker 1
Is ze ook niet op kantoor?
Audio ready
5. Lotte · Native Speaker 2
Nee, en ik weet niet waar Anna morgen werkt.
Audio ready
6. Bram · Native Speaker 1
Dan stuur ik haar direct een berichtje.
Audio ready
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.
Audio ready
8. Daan · Student
So 'of' means 'whether' or 'if', and why is the verb 'is' placed at the end?
Audio ready
9. Marieke · Teacher
In an embedded clause starting with 'of', the finite verb 'is' naturally moves to the very end of that clause.
Audio ready
10. Marieke · Teacher
Next, Lotte said: 'Ik weet niet waar Anna werkt.' This means 'I don't know where Anna works.'
Audio ready
11. Daan · Student
Does 'waar' stay right after 'ik weet niet' while the verb 'werkt' moves to the end?
Audio ready
12. Marieke · Teacher
Exactly! 'Waar' stays at the front of the embedded clause, and the verb 'werkt' closes it.
Audio ready
13. Marieke · Teacher
Finally, Lotte said: 'Ik weet niet waar Anna morgen werkt.' This means 'I don't know where Anna works tomorrow.'
Audio ready
14. Daan · Student
Does adding a time word like 'morgen' change the position of the verb at the end?
Audio ready
15. Marieke · Teacher
Not at all, 'morgen' comes in the middle, and 'werkt' still stays at the very end.
Audio ready