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What time is it? Hoe laat is het?
Dutch grammar
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This is an external web link, which will open a new browser window.De Nederlandse Taalunie (DU) This is an external web link, which will open a new browser window.The Dutch Grammar Forum (EN) 

English version by Bieneke Berendsen :: other languages
Approximately 24 million people in Belgium and the Netherlands have Dutch as their mother tongue, which makes Dutch the seventh language in the European Union. The variety of Dutch spoken in Flanders is sometimes referred to as Flemish, although the extent to which Flemish and Dutch differ is a much-debated issue. Dutch is also the official language of Surinam.

Dutch is a Germanic language, which means it has a lot in common with languages like German, English, Danish, and Swedish.

Learning Dutch

Dutch Internal link spelling is quite easy compared to many other languages because it is based on a bunch of basic principles. The same goes for the conjugation of Dutch regular Internal link verbs. Once you know the conjugation rules, you can conjugate any Dutch verb. Irregular verbs, however, must be learned by heart.

There are three Internal link articles to learn: the indefinite article 'een' (a) and the definite articles 'de' and 'het' (the). Those who have studied German, Russian, or Latin will be delighted to learn that the Dutch language does not have a case system. This means that you do not need to use different articles or adjectives for subjects and objects. Internal link Adjectives are only inflected according to the type of noun they precede (de or het noun).

The hardest part of the Dutch grammar is the Internal link word order. There are general guidelines for producing a sound Dutch sentence but the easiest way to master it is to read a lot of Dutch.

Another hurdle for Dutch learners is the Internal link pronunciation. Just how difficult you find it depends on where you come from. The guttural g is easier for Spanish or Arab speakers than for English or Japanese. But Dutch learners almost unamimously agree that Mp3uu, Mp3ui, and Mp3eu are by far the most difficult sounds to master. You can listen to their sounds on this website but the key to get familiar with the Dutch sound is exposure. Mix with Dutch speakers or immerse yourself in Dutch audio books, internet radio, and Dutch videos.

Using this website

You can navigate through the grammar chapters by using the menu on the left side of this screen. If you cannot find what you are looking for, do not hesitate to post your question on the Internal link Dutch Grammar Forum.

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