Dutch A2.35 Listening Practice: Explain the Whole Decision
Listen to a A2 Dutch dialogue about explain the whole decision, 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
A2.35
Audio
Segmented audio
Transcript
21 segments
A short Dutch listening chapter with transcript.
Explain a work plan, relay Anna's message, state a condition, and admit one missing detail.
Read while you listen.
1. Marieke · Teacher
Welcome! I'm Marieke, and today we're exploring how to explain complete decisions in Dutch by choosing the right connectors and word order. Let's listen to Lotte and Bram discuss their work plans.
Audio ready
2. Lotte · Native Speaker 2
Anna zegt dat ze vandaag op kantoor werkt, maar ik werk thuis omdat ik geen tijd heb.
Audio ready
3. Bram · Native Speaker 1
Ik werk thuis, want ik heb geen tijd.
Audio ready
4. Lotte · Native Speaker 2
Als ik morgen tijd heb, bel ik Anna op.
Audio ready
5. Bram · Native Speaker 1
Ik weet niet of Anna thuis is.
Audio ready
6. Lotte · Native Speaker 2
Ik weet niet waar Anna morgen werkt.
Audio ready
7. Marieke · Teacher
Let's break down those sentences! First, Lotte said: 'Anna zegt dat ze vandaag op kantoor werkt, maar ik werk thuis omdat ik geen tijd heb.' This means 'Anna says that she works at the office today, but I work at home because I don't have time.'
Audio ready
8. Daan · Student
Hi Marieke, I'm Daan! Why does 'werkt' go to the end after 'dat' and 'omdat', but not after 'maar'?
Audio ready
9. Marieke · Teacher
'Dat' and 'omdat' start subordinate clauses, which push the finite verb to the end. 'Maar' links two main clauses, keeping regular word order.
Audio ready
10. Marieke · Teacher
Next, Bram said: 'Ik werk thuis, want ik heb geen tijd.' That means 'I work at home, because I have no time.'
Audio ready
11. Daan · Student
How is 'want' different from 'omdat'?
Audio ready
12. Marieke · Teacher
'Want' joins two main clauses, so the verb stays right after the subject 'ik heb', whereas 'omdat' sends the verb to the end.
Audio ready
13. Marieke · Teacher
Then Lotte said: 'Als ik morgen tijd heb, bel ik Anna op.' This translates to 'If I have time tomorrow, I will call Anna.'
Audio ready
14. Daan · Student
Why does she say 'bel ik' instead of 'ik bel' in the second part?
Audio ready
15. Marieke · Teacher
When an 'als' clause comes first, it acts as position one, causing subject-verb inversion 'bel ik' in the following main clause.
Audio ready
16. Marieke · Teacher
After that, Bram said: 'Ik weet niet of Anna thuis is.' This means 'I don't know if Anna is home.'
Audio ready
17. Daan · Student
Does 'of' force the verb to the end like 'dat' does?
Audio ready
18. Marieke · Teacher
Exactly, Daan! Indirect questions introduced by 'of' are subordinate clauses, so the verb 'is' goes at the end.
Audio ready
19. Marieke · Teacher
Finally, Lotte said: 'Ik weet niet waar Anna morgen werkt.' Meaning 'I don't know where Anna works tomorrow.'
Audio ready
20. Daan · Student
So question words like 'waar' in indirect questions also move the verb to the end?
Audio ready
21. Marieke · Teacher
Yes! 'Waar' creates a subordinate clause here, placing 'werkt' at the very end. Fantastic job focusing on these word order rules today!
Audio ready