Dutch Conversation-Grammar 1732 Studios

Dutch · Unit 10

Lessons 37 to 39

Use of the Parts of Speech, and Word-Formation

Waarom wordt men klerk?; Waarom wordt men klerk? (Vervolg.); Waarom wordt men klerk? (Slot.)

579 lines

Lesson 37: Over = about, above, across, at, by, beyond, in, of, on, opposite, over, upon

Over for place and for a topic

One Dutch preposition can stand for many English ones. Over gives about, above, across, beyond, on, opposite and more.

Over can name a place. Een brug over de rivier means a bridge across the river. De ketel hangt over het vuur means the kettle hangs over the fire.

Over also names a topic. Over iets denken means to think about a thing. Een boek over Rusland means a book on Russia.

For each example, look at the English word that the sentence needs.

Over for time and number

Over can name a time ahead. Over een week means a week from now. Zij vertrekken over acht dagen means they depart in eight days.

Over can name a time past. Het is over twee means it is past two.

Before a number, over means above it. Over de zestig jaar oud means above sixty years old.

Over = about, above, across, at, by, beyond, in, of, on, opposite, over, upon

Heden over acht dagen. a week from today. Over een week. a week from now. Het is over twee. it is past two. De trein is over zijn tijd. the train is overdue. Hij is tien minuten over zijn tijd. he is ten minutes late. Over de brug komen. to come down handsomely.

  1. 1

    to think, speak about a thing.

    Overacross, over
    ietssomething
    denken,think
    spreken.to speak
  2. 2

    a bridge across the river.

  3. 3

    above sixty years old.

  4. 4

    to drink wine at table.

  5. 5

    we go by (via) Amsterdam.

Over = about, above, across, at, by, beyond, in, of, on, opposite, over, upon

Over = about, above, across, at, by, beyond, in, of, on, opposite, over, upon. Over iets denken, spreken. to think, speak about a thing. Waar hebben ze het over? what are they talking about? Een brug over de rivier. a bridge across the river. Over iemands hoofd hangen. to hang above one's head. Over de zestig jaar oud. above sixty years old. Over de honderd boten. above a hundred vessels. Wijn over tafel drinken. to drink wine at table. Zich boos maken over. to be offended at, with. Wij gaan over Amsterdam. we go by (via) Amsterdam. Over land reizen. to travel by land. Over de Alpen. beyond the Alps. Overdag reizen. to travel in the day-time. Zij vertrekken over acht dagen. they depart in eight days. Voogd over minderjarigen. guardian of minors. Berouw hebben over. to repent of. Een gesprek over de oorlog. a conversation on (the) war. Een boek over Rusland. a book on Russia. Over de kerk wonen. to live opposite the church. De ketel hangt over het vuur. the kettle hangs over the fire. Over een sloot springen. to jump over a ditch. Hij woont over de rivier. he lives beyond the river. Hij woont over ons. he lives over the way. Iets de winter over houden. to keep a thing over winter. Over de zaak praten. to talk the matter over. Lewes heeft over Goethe geschreven. Lewes has written upon Goethe. Over het geheel. upon the whole. In verrukking zijn over. to be enchanted with. Heden over acht dagen. a week from today. Over een week. a week from now. Het is over twee. it is past two. De trein is over zijn tijd. the train is overdue. Hij is tien minuten over zijn tijd. he is ten minutes late. Over de brug komen. to come down handsomely.

A few from the list
Over iets denken, spreken.  to think, speak about a thing.
Waar hebben ze het over?    what are they talking about?
Een brug over de rivier.    a bridge across the river.
Over iemands hoofd hangen.  to hang above one's head.
Over de zestig jaar oud.    above sixty years old.
Over de honderd boten.      above a hundred vessels.
Wijn over tafel drinken.    to drink wine at table.
Zich boos maken over.       to be offended at, with.
Wij gaan over Amsterdam.    we go by (via) Amsterdam.
Over land reizen.           to travel by land.
Sedert may denote a duration, whereas since denotes a point of time only

Sedert may denote a duration, whereas since denotes a point of time only. Hij is mijn compagnon sedert 1870. he has been my partner since 1870. Sedert Pasen, Pinksteren. since Easter, Whitsuntide. Sedert mijn komst. since my coming. Sedert onheuglijke tijden. from time immemorial. Hij is sedert tien jaar dood. he has been dead these ten years. Sedert wanneer ben je hier? how long have you been here?
Te = at, by, in, on, to

Te = at, by, in, on, to. Te Vlissingen. at Flushing. We zullen morgen thuis zijn. we shall be at home to-morrow. Terzelfder tijd. at the same time. Op uw kosten. at your expense. Iemand te voet vallen. to fall at one's feet. Hier zijn er drie tegelijk. here there are three, at once, at a time. Te land en ter zee. by sea and land. In Londen. in London. Te zijner ere. in his honour. Hier te lande. in this country. Te rechter tijd. in due time. Te bed liggen. to lie in bed. Te voet reizen. to travel on foot. Te paard zitten. to sit on horseback. Naar de kerk gaan. to go to church. Ten hemel opzien. to look up to heaven. Te bed gaan. to go to bed. Iemand tegemoet gaan. to go to meet a person. Iets tegemoet zien. to look forward to. Een schip te water laten. to launch a vessel. Ik moet tegen twaalven thuis zijn. I must be home by twelve o'clock. Teniet gaan. to go to wreck and ruin. Teniet doen. to annul. Thuis liggen. to lodge. Te scheep. aboard. Te koop, te huur. for sale, to let. Te weten. viz.

A few from the list
Te Vlissingen.                at Flushing.
We zullen morgen thuis zijn.  we shall be at home to-morrow.
Terzelfder tijd.              at the same time.
Op uw kosten.                 at your expense.
Iemand te voet vallen.        to fall at one's feet.
Hier zijn er drie tegelijk.   here there are three, at once, at a time.
Te land en ter zee.           by sea and land.
In Londen.                    in London.
Te zijner ere.                in his honour.
Hier te lande.                in this country.
Tegen = against, about, at, by, in spite of, to, towards

Tegen = against, about, at, by, in spite of, to, towards. Scheur het niet tegen de draad in. do not tear it against the grain. Tegen de muur leunen. to lean against the wall. Tegen alle verwachting. against all expectation. Het gebeurde tegen de avond. it happened about the evening hour. Tegen een matige prijs. at a moderate price. Tegen die tijd, tegen elf uur. by that time, by eleven. Tegen wil en dank. in spite of oneself. Iets tegen iemand zeggen. to say something to one. Tegen iemand spreken. to speak to one. Ik heb niets tegen dit voorstel. I have no objection to this proposal. Het is honderd tegen een. it is a hundred to one. Tegen de avond. towards evening. Tegen het einde van de maand. towards the close of the month. Ik heb iets tegen mosterd. I dislike mustard. Ik kan niet tegen bier. beer does not agree with me.

A few from the list
Scheur het niet tegen de draad in.  do not tear it against the grain.
Tegen de muur leunen.               to lean against the wall.
Tegen alle verwachting.             against all expectation.
Het gebeurde tegen de avond.        it happened about the evening hour.
Tegen een matige prijs.             at a moderate price.
Tegen die tijd, tegen elf uur.      by that time, by eleven.
Tegen wil en dank.                  in spite of oneself.
Iets tegen iemand zeggen.           to say something to one.
Tegen iemand spreken.               to speak to one.
Ik heb niets tegen dit voorstel.    I have no objection to this proposal.
Tot = to, till, among, into

Tot = to, till, among, into. Van Gouda tot Rotterdam. from Gouda to Rotterdam. Tot op de bodem. down, to the bottom. Tot op de grond afgebrand. burnt to the ground. Tot aan het dak. up to the roof. Zij stonden tot aan de armen in het water. they were up to their arms in water. Tot op het hemd nat. wet to the skin. Tot een cent toe. to the last farthing. Van dag tot dag. from day to day. Van zes tot zeven. from six to seven. Zijn naam is niet tot ons gekomen. his name has not come down to us. Zij werden tot de laatste man toe gedood. they were slain to a man. Van woorden kwam het tot slagen. from words they got to blows. Niet in staat tot. incapable of. Tot zijn eer. to his honour. Tot 1830, tot in die tijd toe. till 1830, till then. Tot een uur. till one o'clock. Tot en met blz. 20. page 20 included. Het behoort tot zijn hoofdverdiensten. it is among his chief merits. Toegang tot de spreekkamer. entrance into the parlour. Wij wandelden tot Wickwar. we walked as far as Wickwar. Tot aan de top van de berg. as high as the top of the mountain.

A few from the list
Van Gouda tot Rotterdam.                    from Gouda to Rotterdam.
Tot op de bodem.                            down, to the bottom.
Tot op de grond afgebrand.                  burnt to the ground.
Tot aan het dak.                            up to the roof.
Zij stonden tot aan de armen in het water.  they were up to their arms in water.
Tot op het hemd nat.                        wet to the skin.
Tot een cent toe.                           to the last farthing.
Van dag tot dag.                            from day to day.
Van zes tot zeven.                          from six to seven.
Zijn naam is niet tot ons gekomen.          his name has not come down to us.
Uit = out of, by, for, from, in, of, with

Uit = out of, by, for, from, in, of, with. Vader is uit de stad. father is out of town. Uit de weg gaan. to go out of the way. Uit het raam vallen. to drop out of the window. Uit een glas drinken. to drink out of a glass. Uit het lid zijn. to be out of joint. Uit de mode zijn. to be out of fashion. Uit beleefdheid. out of politeness. Uit het oog, uit het hart. out of sight, out of mind. Uit ervaring weten. to know by experience. Ik zie uit zijn brief dat ... I see by his letter that ... Uit kracht van de wet. by virtue of the law. Uit de hand verkopen. to sell by private contract. Hij deed het uit de grap. he did it for fun. Uit vriendschap. for friendship's sake. Uit gebrek aan geld. for want of money. Uit vrije keus. from one's own choice. Zijde uit Duitsland. silk from Germany. Uit de grond van mijn hart. from the bottom of my heart. Ik weet het uit de nieuwsbladen. I know it from the papers. Uit vrees voor straf. from fear of punishment. Hij is uit Parijs. he is from Paris. Uit naam van uw ouders. in name of your parents. Hij is uit edel bloed. he is of noble blood. Uit een oud geslacht geboren. born of an ancient race. Uit klei gemaakt. made of clay. Iemand uit het oog verliezen. to lose sight of one. Uit hoofde van. on account of. Uit alle macht. with might and main. Jaar in, jaar uit. year after year. Ten voeten uit. full length.

A few from the list
Vader is uit de stad.          father is out of town.
Uit de weg gaan.               to go out of the way.
Uit het raam vallen.           to drop out of the window.
Uit een glas drinken.          to drink out of a glass.
Uit het lid zijn.              to be out of joint.
Uit de mode zijn.              to be out of fashion.
Uit beleefdheid.               out of politeness.
Uit het oog, uit het hart.     out of sight, out of mind.
Uit ervaring weten.            to know by experience.
Ik zie uit zijn brief dat ...  I see by his letter that ...
Van = of, about, at, by, for, from, in, on, out, of, with

Van = of, about, at, by, for, from, in, on, out, of, with; see also Lesson 27. I. De vensters van het huis. the windows of the house. Dit komt van uw uitstellen. this comes of your delaying. Dat was dom van hem. that was stupid of him. Dit is vriendelijk van u. this is kind of you. Hij kwam vanzelf. he came of his own accord. Vanzelf spreken. to be a matter of course. Rijk van het woekeren. rich by usury. Een les van buiten leren. to learn a lesson by heart. Een roman van Van Lennep. a novel by van Lennep. Van zijn arbeid leven. to live by one's work. Van vreugde schreeuwen. to shout for joy. Drinken van hartzeer. to drink for grief. Rekenschap geven van. to account for. De pannen vielen van het dak. the tiles fell from the roof. Van de morgen tot de avond. from morning till night. Zij kwamen van verre. they came from afar. Al het goede komt van boven. all blessings come from Heaven. Ik heb van mijn vriend gehoord. I have heard from my friend. Van huis gaan. to go from home. Van zijn leven. in his life. Ik heb ervan gehoord. I have heard of it. Van water en brood leven. to live on water and bread. Misbruik maken van. to trespass on. Zich meester maken van. to seize upon. Zal er van zijn kant niets tegen zijn? will there be no objection on his part? Van ganser harte. with all my heart. Alles ging vanzelf. all was done with the least difficulty. Verkleumd van kou. benumbed with cold. Komt hij? Hij zegt van ja. Will he come? He says he will. Vandaag, vanavond. to-day, to-night. Vanmorgen, deze zomer. this morning, this summer. Van node hebben. to want. Wij verwachten hem van uur tot uur. we expect him every hour. Wij zijn van plan te vertrekken. we intend to start. Van boven. at the top. Van boven komen. to come down-stairs. Van achteren. at the back, from behind. Van voren. in front. Van binnen. on the inside.

A few from the list
De vensters van het huis.    the windows of the house.
Dit komt van uw uitstellen.  this comes of your delaying.
Dat was dom van hem.         that was stupid of him.
Dit is vriendelijk van u.    this is kind of you.
Hij kwam vanzelf.            he came of his own accord.
Vanzelf spreken.             to be a matter of course.
Rijk van het woekeren.       rich by usury.
Een les van buiten leren.    to learn a lesson by heart.
Een roman van Van Lennep.    a novel by van Lennep.
Van zijn arbeid leven.       to live by one's work.
Voor = before, for, against, at, by, in front of, to

Voor = before, for, against, at, by, in front of, to; see also Lesson 27. II. Ik stond voor hem. I stood before him. Het kwam voor Pasen. it came before Easter. Ik zal het graag voor u doen. I'll do it willingly for you. Ik geef er een gulden voor. I will give a guilder for it. Ik voor mij. I, for one. Voor acht dagen. for eight days. Voor wie houd je mij? whom do you take me for? Hij vreesde voor zijn leven. he feared for his life. Iemand voor een Duitser houden. to take one for a German. Het is goed voor kiespijn. it is good against tooth-ache. Ik koop het voor deze prijs. I buy it at this rate. Stuk voor stuk verkopen. to sell one by one. De troepen waren voor het paleis opgesteld. the troops were drawn up in front of the palace. Van aanbelang voor. important to (for). Iemand voor een eerlijke man houden. to take one to be an honest man. Wat voor een man ben je? who are you? Voor de dag komen. to come forth, to appear. Iets voor onwaar houden. to consider a thing as not true.

A few from the list
Ik stond voor hem.               I stood before him.
Het kwam voor Pasen.             it came before Easter.
Ik zal het graag voor u doen.    I'll do it willingly for you.
Ik geef er een gulden voor.      I will give a guilder for it.
Ik voor mij.                     I, for one.
Voor acht dagen.                 for eight days.
Voor wie houd je mij?            whom do you take me for?
Hij vreesde voor zijn leven.     he feared for his life.
Iemand voor een Duitser houden.  to take one for a German.
Het is goed voor kiespijn.       it is good against tooth-ache.
Zonder = without, but for, of

Zonder = without, but for, of. Hij ontving ons zonder complimenten. he received us without ceremony. Zonder enige twijfel. without any doubt. Zonder u was ik verloren geweest. but for you I should have been lost. Dit papier is zonder waarde. this paper is of no value.
Across = dwars door, dwars, over, kruiselings

Across = dwars door, dwars, over, kruiselings. Hij reisde dwars door het land. He travelled straight across the country. Hij overhandigde mij de krant dwars over de tafel. He handed me the paper across the table. De jongens zaten kruiselings over de bank. The boys were sitting across the bench. Zij spraken voor ons heen. They talked across us.
Beyond = aan gene zijde van, verder dan, boven, over

Beyond = aan gene zijde van, verder dan, boven, over. Het bos ligt aan gene zijde van de rivier. The wood lies beyond the river. Verder dan dit kan ik niet gaan. Beyond this I cannot go. Dat is boven mijn bevatting. That is beyond my comprehension. Wij werden over de gewone tijd gehouden. We were kept beyond the usual time. Buiten kijf, onbetwistbaar. Beyond dispute.
By = door, met, van

By = door, met, van. Sometimes it answers to the loan-word per (= met). Het werd per spoor, per stoomboot, per post, per extra post verzonden. It was sent by rail, by steamer, by post, by express. Per uur betalen. To pay by the hour. Per dozijn verkopen. To sell by the dozen. Een les van buiten leren. To learn a lesson by heart.
Off = van ... weg, van, voor, op de hoogte van

Off = van ... weg, van, voor, op de hoogte van. Ga weg van die stoel. Get off that chair. Van de been zijn. To be off one's legs. Voor de vuist, op het eerste gezicht. Off hand. Buiten dienst. Off duty. De boot zonk op de hoogte van Vlissingen. The vessel sunk off Flushing.
Prepositional phrases: as to, by means of, by way of, for want of, in consequence of, in favour of, in the middle of, in spite of, instead of, thanks to

Of the Prepositional phrases we may mention the following: As to = met betrekking tot, aangaande, betreffende, wat betreft. By means of = door middel van, met behulp van. By way of = bij wijze van. For want of = bij gebrek aan. In consequence of = ten gevolge van, uithoofde van. In favour of, on behalf of = ten gunste van, ten behoeve van. In the middle of = in het midden van; in the midst of = te midden van. In (de)spite of, in defiance of = in (ten) spijt van. Instead of = in plaats van. Note. In plaats van may also answer to the English in ... stead. Thanks to, owing to = dank zij. Wat de Duitse romans betreft. As to the German novels, I'll send you some of the best I possess. De dieven verschaften zich toegang in onze kamer door middel van een loper. The thieves got into our room by means of a master-key. Hij zei het bij wijze van aardigheid. He said so by way of joke. Bij wijze van verontschuldiging. By way of apology. Ik gebruik deze uitdrukking bij gebrek aan een betere. I use this term for want of a better. Bij gebrek aan geld. For want of money. Dat is alles ten gevolge van de oorlog. It is all in consequence of the war. Ten gunste van zijn kinderen. In favour of his children. Ten behoeve van onszelf. On our own behalf. In het midden van de straat. In the middle of the street. In het midden van december. In the middle of December. De waarheid ligt in het midden van deze twee uitersten. Between these two extremes truth lies in the middle. Te midden van de woestijn. In the midst of the desert. Te midden van de vrede. In the midst of peace. We werden doornat, ondanks onze paraplu's. We got wet to the skin, in spite of our umbrellas. Hij werd tot secretaris benoemd in plaats van onze vriend N. He was appointed secretary instead of our friend N. N. werd tot secretaris benoemd in plaats van zijn vader. N. was appointed secretary in his father's stead. Dank zij zijn onderzoekingen, weten wij nu alles omtrent deze belangrijke zaak. Thanks to his investigations, we know all about this important matter.

A few from the list
Wat de Duitse romans betreft.                                                As to the German novels, I'll send you some of the best I possess.
De dieven verschaften zich toegang in onze kamer door middel van een loper.  The thieves got into our room by means of a master-key.
Hij zei het bij wijze van aardigheid.                                        He said so by way of joke.
Bij wijze van verontschuldiging.                                             By way of apology.
Ik gebruik deze uitdrukking bij gebrek aan een betere.                       I use this term for want of a better.
Bij gebrek aan geld.                                                         For want of money.
Dat is alles ten gevolge van de oorlog.                                      It is all in consequence of the war.
Ten gunste van zijn kinderen.                                                In favour of his children.
Ten behoeve van onszelf.                                                     On our own behalf.
In het midden van de straat.                                                 In the middle of the street.
  1. 6

    beyond the Alps.

  2. 7

    they depart in eight days.

  3. 8

    to repent of.

  4. 9

    a book on Russia.

  5. 10

    the kettle hangs over the fire.

  1. 11

    he lives beyond the river.

  2. 12

    to keep a thing over winter.

  3. 13

    Lewes has written upon Goethe.

  4. 14

    to be enchanted with.

Lesson 37: Sedert may denote a duration, whereas since denotes a point of time only

Since for a point and for a length

English since names a point in time only. Dutch sedert can name a point in time or a length of time.

A point: Hij is mijn compagnon sedert 1870 means he has been my partner since 1870.

A length: Hij is sedert tien jaar dood means he has been dead these ten years.

So Sedert wanneer ben je hier? means how long have you been here?

  1. 15

    he has been my partner since 1870.

  2. 16

    since Easter, Whitsuntide.

  3. 17

    since my coming.

  4. 18

    from time immemorial.

  5. 19

    he has been dead these ten years.

  6. 20

    how long have you been here?

Lesson 37: Te = at, by, in, on, to

Te for place and manner

Te stands for English at, by, in, on or to. Te Vlissingen means at Flushing. Hier te lande means in this country.

Te often comes in fixed phrases. Te voet reizen means to travel on foot. Te bed liggen means to lie in bed. Te paard zitten means to sit on horseback.

Other fixed phrases: te koop means for sale, te huur means to let. Terzelfder tijd means at the same time.

Some English phrases with at or to take another Dutch word. Op uw kosten means at your expense. Naar de kerk gaan means to go to church.

Te = at, by, in, on, to

Iets tegemoet zien. to look forward to. Een schip te water laten. to launch a vessel. Ik moet tegen twaalven thuis zijn. I must be home by twelve o'clock. Teniet gaan. to go to wreck and ruin. Teniet doen. to annul. Thuis liggen. to lodge. Te scheep. aboard. Te koop, te huur. for sale, to let. Te weten. viz.

  1. 21

    at Flushing.

  2. 22

    we shall be at home to-morrow.

  3. 23

    at the same time.

  4. 24

    at your expense.

  5. 25

    to fall at one's feet.

  1. 26

    here there are three, at once, at a time.

  2. 27

    by sea and land.

  3. 28

    in London.

  4. 29

    in his honour.

  5. 30

    in this country.

  1. 31

    in due time.

  2. 32

    to lie in bed.

  3. 33

    to travel on foot.

  4. 34

    to sit on horseback.

Lesson 37: Tegen = against, about, at, by, in spite of, to, towards

Tegen for against and towards

The first meaning of tegen is against. Tegen de muur leunen means to lean against the wall.

Tegen can name a time close ahead. Tegen de avond means towards evening. Tegen elf uur means by eleven.

After a verb of speaking, tegen means to. Tegen iemand spreken means to speak to one.

Tegen in fixed phrases

Tegen also marks a price and a ratio. Tegen een matige prijs means at a moderate price. Het is honderd tegen een means it is a hundred to one.

Ik heb iets tegen mosterd means I dislike mustard. Ik kan niet tegen bier means beer does not agree with me.

Tegen wil en dank means in spite of oneself. Learn each of these phrases whole.

Tegen = against, about, at, by, in spite of, to, towards

Tegen het einde van de maand. towards the close of the month. Ik heb iets tegen mosterd. I dislike mustard. Ik kan niet tegen bier. beer does not agree with me.

  1. 35

    do not tear it against the grain.

  2. 36

    to lean against the wall.

  3. 37

    against all expectation.

  4. 38

    it happened about the evening hour.

  5. 39

    at a moderate price.

  1. 40

    by that time, by eleven.

  2. 41

    in spite of oneself.

  3. 42

    to say something to one.

  4. 43

    to speak to one.

  5. 44

    I have no objection to this proposal.

  1. 45

    it is a hundred to one.

  2. 46

    towards evening.

  3. 47

    towards the close of the month.

  4. 48

    I dislike mustard.

Lesson 37: Tot = to, till, among, into

Tot for an end point

Tot means to or till. It names the end of a distance or of a time. Van Gouda tot Rotterdam means from Gouda to Rotterdam. Tot een uur means till one o'clock.

Many examples have the pattern van, a start, tot, an end. Van zes tot zeven means from six to seven.

Tot aan, tot op, and tot for among

Tot can take aan or op after it. Tot aan het dak means up to the roof. Tot op de grond afgebrand means burnt to the ground.

Tot can also mean among or into. Het behoort tot zijn hoofdverdiensten means it is among his chief merits. Toegang tot de spreekkamer means entrance into the parlour.

A few from the list

  1. 49

    from Gouda to Rotterdam.

  2. 50

    down, to the bottom.

  3. 51

    burnt to the ground.

  4. 52

    up to the roof.

  5. 53

    they were up to their arms in water.

  1. 54

    wet to the skin.

  2. 55

    to the last farthing.

  3. 56

    from day to day.

  4. 57

    from six to seven.

  5. 58

    his name has not come down to us.

  1. 59

    they were slain to a man.

  2. 60

    from words they got to blows.

  3. 61

    incapable of.

  4. 62

    to his honour.

Lesson 37: Uit = out of, by, for, from, in, of, with

Uit for out of and from

The first meaning of uit is out of. Uit een glas drinken means to drink out of a glass. Uit het raam vallen means to drop out of the window.

Uit also names where a person or thing comes from. Hij is uit Parijs means he is from Paris. Zijde uit Duitsland means silk from Germany.

Uit for a reason or a material

Uit can name the reason for an act. Uit beleefdheid means out of politeness. Uit vriendschap means for friendship's sake.

Uit can name what a thing is made of. Uit klei gemaakt means made of clay.

In these phrases English uses out of, from, for or of. Dutch uses uit in each.

  1. 63

    father is out of town.

  2. 64

    to drop out of the window.

  3. 65

    to be out of joint.

  4. 66

    out of politeness.

  5. 67

    to know by experience.

  1. 68

    by virtue of the law.

  2. 69

    he did it for fun.

  3. 70

    for want of money.

  4. 71

    silk from Germany.

  5. 72

    I know it from the papers.

  1. 73

    he is from Paris.

  2. 74

    he is of noble blood.

  3. 75

    made of clay.

  4. 76

    on account of.

Lesson 37: Van = of, about, at, by, for, from, in, on, out, of, with

Van for of, by and from

Van stands for many English prepositions. The first is of. De vensters van het huis means the windows of the house.

Van also gives by. Een roman van Van Lennep means a novel by van Lennep.

Van also gives from. De pannen vielen van het dak means the tiles fell from the roof. Ik heb van mijn vriend gehoord means I have heard from my friend.

Van for a cause and a position

Van can name the cause of a feeling. Van vreugde schreeuwen means to shout for joy. Verkleumd van kou means benumbed with cold.

Van can name a position. Van boven means at the top. Van voren means in front. Van binnen means on the inside.

In some words van joins the next word. Hij kwam vanzelf means he came of his own accord. Vandaag means to-day.

  1. 77

    the windows of the house.

  2. 78

    that was stupid of him.

  3. 79

    he came of his own accord.

  4. 80

    rich by usury.

  5. 81

    a novel by van Lennep.

  1. 82

    to shout for joy.

  2. 83

    to account for.

  3. 84

    from morning till night.

  4. 85

    all blessings come from Heaven.

  5. 86

    to go from home.

  1. 87

    I have heard of it.

  2. 88

    to trespass on.

  3. 89

    will there be no objection on his part?

  4. 90

    all was done with the least difficulty.

Lesson 37: Voor = before, for, against, at, by, in front of, to

Voor for before and for

The first two meanings of voor are before and for. Before can be in place or in time. Ik stond voor hem means I stood before him. Het kwam voor Pasen means it came before Easter.

For: Ik zal het graag voor u doen means I'll do it willingly for you. Ik geef er een gulden voor means I will give a guilder for it.

Voor with houden

Houden with voor means to take a person or thing to be something. Iemand voor een Duitser houden means to take one for a German.

Iets voor onwaar houden means to consider a thing as not true.

Voor can also mean against. Het is goed voor kiespijn means it is good against tooth-ache.

Voor = before, for, against, at, by, in front of, to

De troepen waren voor het paleis opgesteld. the troops were drawn up in front of the palace. Van aanbelang voor. important to (for). Iemand voor een eerlijke man houden. to take one to be an honest man. Wat voor een man ben je? who are you? Voor de dag komen. to come forth, to appear. Iets voor onwaar houden. to consider a thing as not true.

  1. 91

    I stood before him.

  2. 92

    it came before Easter.

  3. 93

    I'll do it willingly for you.

  4. 94

    I will give a guilder for it.

  5. 95

    I, for one.

  1. 96

    for eight days.

  2. 97

    whom do you take me for?

  3. 98

    he feared for his life.

  4. 99

    to take one for a German.

  5. 100

    it is good against tooth-ache.

  1. 101

    I buy it at this rate.

  2. 102

    to sell one by one.

  3. 103

    the troops were drawn up in front of the palace.

  4. 104

    important to (for).

Lesson 37: Zonder = without, but for, of

Zonder for without

Zonder means without. Zonder enige twijfel means without any doubt. Hij ontving ons zonder complimenten means he received us without ceremony.

Zonder can also mean but for. Zonder u was ik verloren geweest means but for you I should have been lost.

In one example English uses of. Dit papier is zonder waarde means this paper is of no value.

  1. 105

    he received us without ceremony.

  2. 106

    without any doubt.

  3. 107

    but for you I should have been lost.

  4. 108

    this paper is of no value.

Lesson 37: Across = dwars door, dwars, over, kruiselings

Dutch for English across

This rule starts from the English word across and gives the Dutch for it. Dutch has no single word for across.

Hij reisde dwars door het land means he travelled straight across the country.

Hij overhandigde mij de krant dwars over de tafel means he handed me the paper across the table.

De jongens zaten kruiselings over de bank means the boys were sitting across the bench.

  1. 109

    He travelled straight across the country.

  2. 110

    He handed me the paper across the table.

  3. 111

    The boys were sitting across the bench.

  4. 112

    They talked across us.

Lesson 37: Beyond = aan gene zijde van, verder dan, boven, over

Dutch for English beyond

This rule starts from the English word beyond. Dutch gives it with aan gene zijde van, verder dan, boven or over.

Het bos ligt aan gene zijde van de rivier means the wood lies beyond the river. Verder dan dit kan ik niet gaan means beyond this I cannot go.

Dat is boven mijn bevatting means that is beyond my comprehension. Wij werden over de gewone tijd gehouden means we were kept beyond the usual time.

  1. 113

    The wood lies beyond the river.

  2. 114

    Beyond this I cannot go.

  3. 115

    That is beyond my comprehension.

  4. 116

    We were kept beyond the usual time.

  5. 117

    Beyond dispute.

Lesson 37: By = door, met, van

Dutch for English by

This rule starts from the English word by. Dutch gives it with door, met or van. Een les van buiten leren means to learn a lesson by heart.

Sometimes by is per, a word Dutch took from another language. Per has the sense of met.

Het werd per spoor, per stoomboot, per post, per extra post verzonden means it was sent by rail, by steamer, by post, by express.

Per uur betalen means to pay by the hour. Per dozijn verkopen means to sell by the dozen.

  1. 118

    It was sent by rail, by steamer, by post, by express.

  2. 119

    To pay by the hour.

  3. 120

    To sell by the dozen.

  4. 121

    To learn a lesson by heart.

Lesson 37: Off = van ... weg, van, voor, op de hoogte van

Dutch for English off

This rule starts from the English word off. Dutch gives it with van ... weg, van, voor or op de hoogte van.

Ga weg van die stoel means get off that chair. Van de been zijn means to be off one's legs.

Voor de vuist means off hand. De boot zonk op de hoogte van Vlissingen means the vessel sunk off Flushing.

  1. 122

    Get off that chair.

  2. 123

    To be off one's legs.

  3. 124

    Off hand.

  4. 125

    Off duty.

  5. 126

    The vessel sunk off Flushing.

Lesson 37: Prepositional phrases: as to, by means of, by way of, for want of, in consequence of, in favour of, in the middle of, in spite of, instead of, thanks to

A phrase that works as one preposition

A prepositional phrase is a group of words that does the work of one preposition. English has in spite of and instead of. Dutch has phrases of the same kind.

In plaats van means instead of. Hij werd tot secretaris benoemd in plaats van onze vriend N. means he was appointed secretary instead of our friend N.

In plaats van can also give English in his stead. N. werd tot secretaris benoemd in plaats van zijn vader means N. was appointed secretary in his father's stead.

More phrases of this kind

Door middel van means by means of. Bij wijze van means by way of. Bij gebrek aan means for want of.

Ten gevolge van means in consequence of. Ten gunste van means in favour of. Ten behoeve van means on behalf of.

In het midden van means in the middle of. Te midden van means in the midst of. Dank zij means thanks to.

Wat de Duitse romans betreft means as to the German novels.

  1. 127

    As to the German novels, I'll send you some of the best I possess.

  2. 128

    The thieves got into our room by means of a master-key.

  3. 129

    He said so by way of joke.

  4. 130

    By way of apology.

  5. 131

    I use this term for want of a better.

  1. 132

    For want of money.

  2. 133

    It is all in consequence of the war.

  3. 134

    In favour of his children.

  4. 135

    On our own behalf.

  5. 136

    In the middle of the street.

  1. 137

    In the middle of December.

  2. 138

    Between these two extremes truth lies in the middle.

  3. 139

    In the midst of the desert.

  4. 140

    In the midst of peace.

Waarom wordt men klerk?

  1. 141

    Why does one become a clerk?

  2. 142

    You must surely have once seen a school let out, an evening school for working people, I mean, even a school for the poor, and delighted in the matchless spectacle the young offered?

  3. 143

    What equality, and what diversity all at once! A world in miniature!

  4. 144

    Keep your eyes on it, if you can.

  1. 145

    Playing soldiers, any old stick is a general's staff for that sturdy fellow; playing at driving, who do you think will tire soonest, the coachman or the horses?

  2. 146

    Sailing toy boats, the wooden clog goes into the water, if only they can find a bit of string to let it out on, we have hardly noticed it, or the rowdiest are already out of our sight; sailors, carters, soldiers are hiding in them.

  3. 147

    There a curly-headed boy teases a pretty girl, but they will all do that some day, that is the universally human part, I wanted to point you to the particular nature, evident from the choice of this or that trade.

  4. 148

    Well then, we see laborers and craftsmen in plenty, future masons who look at that half-finished building as if they were reckoning the proportion of weight between beams and walls; future gardeners who watch whether the spring sun has made the buds of the trees sprout further since yesterday; future cabinet-makers who peer at a piece of furniture carried past, as if it ought to spring open before their curious gaze; but there would be no end to it, if we wanted to spy out everything that can be seen here in the bud.

Lesson 37: conversation

  1. 149

    However did you get the idea of taking that house?

  2. 150

    But the house is in poor condition, and the garden is a wilderness.

  3. 151

    Is the landlord having everything put in order?

  4. 152

    This place suits my wife and me fairly well.

  5. 153

    That will soon be taken care of.

  6. 154

    No, I'll have it done, but the landlord bears the cost.

  1. 155

    And what terms did you make? Did you also think about being transferred to another city?

  2. 156

    What do you plan to plant in the garden?

  3. 157

    I have rented for three years. In case of a transfer, the lease ends with the current three months.

  4. 158

    Along the walls some espaliered trees on the sunny side, and some shrubs on the other side.

  1. 159

    In the middle you ought to have a fine tree planted, for instance a copper beech.

  2. 160

    Later, after quite a few years, yes; but by then you probably won't be working in this garden anymore.

  3. 161

    I've thought about that too, but won't it cast too much shade?

  4. 162

    And what shall I plant on these round beds? I think some violets and forget-me-nots.

  1. 163

    Wouldn't you plant some monthly roses behind there, which bloom almost the whole year?

  2. 164

    When your little garden is ready, I'll come and have a look.

  3. 165

    That is a good idea, then I'll write to Boskoop sometime.

  4. 166

    Do that, you'll always be welcome.

Lesson 37: exercise 96

  1. 167

    We used to sit there of a Sunday.

  2. 168

    Upwards of a hundred years have elapsed since that memorable day.

  3. 169

    Of late years the traffic has considerably increased.

  1. 170

    He was made free of the City on this memorable occasion.

  2. 171

    They were married out of hand.

  3. 172

    I am out of all patience with him.

  1. 173

    His spirits were sadly out of tune.

  2. 174

    Here's to our kind hostess; more friends to her, and less need of them!

  3. 175

    Would to Heaven, this were our only ground of complaint.

  1. 176

    Speak little, but let that little be to the purpose.

  2. 177

    I cannot possibly enter into that subject just now.

  3. 178

    Many a man warms into kindliness with the blazing hearth of Merry Christmas.

  1. 179

    If you knew your instructions, why did you not act up to them?

  2. 180

    What's up now?

  3. 181

    I find he is well up in Grammar.

  4. 182

    English ministers often go about the country speechifying, when the house is up.

  5. 183

    Hot tears ran down his cheeks.

  1. 184

    The catchpolls were down upon him before another week had gone by.

  2. 185

    A family likeness prevailed through all, and properly speaking, they had but one character.

  3. 186

    This is a rule that will hold good through life.

  4. 187

    The most extraordinary thing is that I should live to be brought round through you.

  5. 188

    What I like above all things, is a ride across country.

  1. 189

    I feel rather stiff about the legs.

  2. 190

    He's the most expert swordsman about town.

  3. 191

    He went to town to see about a new piano for his brother.

Lesson 37: exercise 97

  1. 192

    The house stood within a few yards of the city gate.

  2. 193

    To my knowledge, I never saw him in my life.

  3. 194

    I can tell you to an hour, how long it will last.

  4. 195

    I have tried to talk him into reason.

  5. 196

    They tried to get round me, but soon found I was one too many for them.

  1. 197

    There's a fund of good feeling about him, which crops out where we should least have expected it.

  2. 198

    Against ill chances men are ever merry: But heaviness foreruns the good event.

  3. 199

    He wore a feather in his hat.

  4. 200

    Compliments are entirely lost upon our friend.

  5. 201

    We have been at great pains to find out the truth.

  1. 202

    The hounds were at fault.

  2. 203

    I confess I am not good at descriptions of female beauty.

  3. 204

    I believe the post-chaise is ready by this.

  4. 205

    It has always been a maxim with me that one man's money is as good as another's.

  5. 206

    We had but half a dozen shillings between us.

  1. 207

    So at last we were persuaded to buy the two gross of green spectacles between us.

  2. 208

    For shame, you a sailor, and carry sorrow aboard?

  3. 209

    The writer will do what he pleases in spite of me.

  4. 210

    A parrot who, for any signs of life she had previously given, might have been a wooden bird.

  5. 211

    To keep corn over winter.

  6. 212

    They quarrelled over their liquor.

  1. 213

    When a man is on business, he should be above such trifles.

  2. 214

    He has left us evidence under his own hand that he was of a very different opinion.

  3. 215

    There were some houses of the original settlers standing within a few yards.

Lesson 37: exercise 98

  1. 216

    Dordrecht, 4th January, 1912.

  2. 217

    Mr. H. Schermmeester, Gouda.

  3. 218

    Sir,

  1. 219

    Mr. L. Stole of this place has informed us that a short time back you established a business in Hardware, and as, without doubt, you are inclined to deal also in our articles, we beg to send you our last price-list, requesting you at the same time to examine it and, eventually, give us your orders, which we shall deem it our duty to dispatch promptly and to your entire satisfaction.

  2. 220

    Confining ourselves to manufacture one particular kind of wares, viz. Nickeled bindings, we may flatter ourselves to be able to produce articles unequalled as to their quality and for which, as you will see from our price-current, we nevertheless quote prices as low as those noted by any of our competitors.

  3. 221

    We hope shortly to receive an order from your respected house, and are ready to transmit you a collection of patterns upon your demand.

  4. 222

    Yours respectfully.

  5. 223

    De Erven Binnendijk.

Lesson 37: exercise 99

  1. 224

    He does not know a B from a bull's foot.

  2. 225

    He is always harping upon the same string.

  3. 226

    To buy a thing for an old song.

  4. 227

    To quarrel about nothing.

  5. 228

    Bitter pills may have sweet effects.

  6. 229

    To have several strings to one's bow.

  7. 230

    A tree is known by its fruit.

  1. 231

    An oak is not felled at one chop.

  2. 232

    Rome was not built in a day.

  3. 233

    To confess to the devil.

  4. 234

    Every man for himself, and, God for us all.

  5. 235

    A word is enough to the wise.

  6. 236

    One must take time by the fore-lock.

  7. 237

    To take the food out of one's mouth.

  1. 238

    Every cock is proud of his own dunghill.

  2. 239

    Between hawk and buzzard.

  3. 240

    They live from hand to mouth.

  4. 241

    To blow hot and cold with the same breath.

  5. 242

    He that ate the cow must not worry on the tail.

  6. 243

    When two dogs are over a bone, a third will snatch it away from them.

  7. 244

    Pride goes before, and shame follows after.

  1. 245

    To throw the helve after the hatchet.

  2. 246

    To hit the nail on the head.

  3. 247

    In the absence of water one must make a shift with wine.

  4. 248

    To a rude ass a rude keeper.

  5. 249

    Tit for tat.

  6. 250

    A cobbler should stick to his last.

  1. 251

    He has got out of bed the wrong foot foremost.

  2. 252

    Cunning is better than force.

  3. 253

    Every man may meet his match.

  4. 254

    This is a rule that works both ways.

  5. 255

    Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.

  6. 256

    To add fuel to the fire.

  7. 257

    Out of sight, out of mind.

  1. 258

    To put the cart before the horse.

  2. 259

    Out of the frying pan into the fire.

  3. 260

    To seek for a needle in a hay-stack.

  4. 261

    You must cut your coat according to your cloth.

  5. 262

    This is grist to his mill.

  6. 263

    All roads lead to Rome.

Lesson 38: List of verbs and adjectives used with prepositions

Words with a set preposition

Many Dutch verbs and adjectives take a set preposition after them. The list gives each word with its preposition, then the English meaning.

Read an entry as one phrase. Denken aan means think of. Wachten op means wait for. The Dutch preposition often differs from the English one.

Some lines give two prepositions. Bang voor, van means afraid of. Both voor and van are used after bang. Learn each word with its preposition.

List of verbs and adjectives used with prepositions

The following list of verbs and adjectives will give further assistance in the proper application of the prepositions.

  1. 264

    insist on, upon

  2. 265

    deprive of, rob of, strip of

  3. 266

    bark at

  4. 267

    dream of

  5. 268

    kind to (one)

List of verbs and adjectives used with prepositions

The following list of verbs and adjectives will give further assistance in the proper application of the prepositions.

Aandringen op                 insist on, upon
aangaan bij                   call on, at
aangenaam voor                pleasant to
aankomen te                   arrive at
aanspraak hebben op           entitled to
aanvangen met                 set about
aarden naar                   take after
adresseren aan                direct to
afhangen van                  depend on, upon
afhankelijk van               dependent on
afkerig van                   averse to
afleiden uit                  infer from
afpersen van                  extort from
afreizen naar                 depart for
afstammen van                 descend from
aftrekken van                 abstract from, subtract from
afwezig van                   absent from
afwijken van                  depart from
arm aan                       poor in
Bang voor, van                afraid of
barsten van                   burst with
beroemd door, om, wegens      famous for
zich beroemen op              boast of
zich beroepen op              appeal to
beroven van                   deprive of, rob of, strip of
berouw hebben over            repent of
berucht door, om, wegens      notorious for
beschermen voor               screen from, shield from
beschermen tegen              protect against
beschikken over               dispose of
beslissen over                decide on
besluiten tot                 determine on, resolve on, upon
besluiten uit                 conclude from
bestaan in                    consist in
bestaan uit                   consist of
betrokken in                  concerned in
beven van                     tremble with, shake with, shiver with
bevoegd tot                   qualified for
bevorderen tot                make
bevreesd voor, van            afraid of
bevrijd van                   rid of
bevrijden van                 deliver from
bewaren voor                  preserve from
bezig aan                     occupied with
bezwaard met                  oppressed with
bijdragen tot                 contribute to, tend to
bijten naar                   bite at
bleek van                     pale with
blaffen naar                  bark at
blijde over                   glad of, at
blind aan één oog             blind of (one eye)
blind van                     blind with
blind voor                    blind to
blozen van, over              blush at, for
boos op                       angry with
boos over                     angry at
branden van                   burn with
buigen voor                   bow to
iemand condoleren met         condole with a person for
Deelnemen aan                 partake of
denken aan                    think of
denken over                   think about
tot niets dienen              be of no use
doelen op                     aim at
dol van                       mad with
doof aan                      deaf of
doof van, met                 deaf with
doof voor                     deaf to
doordringen in                penetrate into
dorsten naar                  thirst after, for
drinken op                    drink to
dronken van                   intoxicated with
dromen van                    dream of
duizelig van                  giddy with
Eerzuchtig naar               ambitious of
eisen van                     require of
zich ergeren over             be offended at, with, be vexed at
ervaren in                    skilful at, in
gebrand zijn op               be fond of, be mad of
gebruikelijk bij              usual with
gekweld door                  tormented with
gelegen aan                   situated on
geloven aan iets              to believe in
gepast voor                   suitable to
gerust over, omtrent          easy about
geschikt tot, voor            fit for
getroffen door                moved at, struck with
getrouw aan                   faithful to
geven aan                     give to
geven om                      care for
gevoelig voor                 sensible of
gevoelloos voor               insensible to
glimlachen over, om           smile at
glinsteren van                sparkle with
gloeien van                   glow with
gluren naar                   peep at
goed voor iemand              kind to (one)
gooien naar                   throw at
grenzen aan                   border on, upon
gretig naar                   greedy of
grijpen naar                  grasp at, snatch at
grommen over                  grumble at
groots op                     proud of
Handelen overeenkomstig       act up to
hangen aan                    hang on
happen naar                   snap at
heilig door, van              sacred from
herinneren aan                remind of
herkennen aan                 know by
herstellen van                recover from
hijgen naar                   pant for
zich hoeden voor              beware of, guard against
horen van                     hear from, hear about, of
hopen op iemand               place one's hope in (one)
hopen op iets                 hope for
huiveren van                  shudder with
IJdel op                      vain of
ingenomen met                 pleased with
Jaloers op                    jealous of
Kiezen tot                    choose ..., choose for
kijken naar                   look at
klagen over                   complain of
kleven aan                    stick to
kloppen aan                   knock at, rap at
kloppen van                   palpitate with
knabbelen aan                 nibble at
knielen voor                  kneel to
knikken tegen                 nod to
koken van                     boil with
kopen van                     buy from, of
kwellen door iets             worry with
kwijnen om                    pine for
Lachen om                     laugh at
lam aan                       lame of
landen aan                    land on
lastig voor                   troublesome to
lenen van                     borrow of, from
leven van                     feed on, upon, live on
letten op                     attend to
lijden aan                    suffer from
losmaken uit                  disentangle from
luisteren naar                listen to
Merkwaardig voor, wegens      remarkable for
mikken op                     aim at
misnoegd met, over            displeased with
moede van                     sick of, weary of, tired of, with
mompelen over                 mutter at
Nadenken over                 ponder on, reflect on, upon
naijverig op                  jealous of
nat van                       wet with
neergedrukt door              oppressed with
noodlottig voor               fatal to
noodzakelijk voor             necessary for, to
Omkomen van                   perish with
omringd door                  surrounded by, with
onafhankelijk van             independent of
onafscheidelijk van           inseparable from
onbekend met                  ignorant of
onderhevig aan                liable to
onderrichten van              inform about, of
onderscheiden van             distinguish from
ongerust over                 uneasy about
ongevoelig voor               insensible to
onschuldig aan                innocent of
ontbloot van                  void of
ontheffen van                 relieve from
zich onthouden van            abstain from
ontkomen aan                  escape from
ontlast van                   discharged from
ontrukken aan                 tear from
ontslaan van                  absolve from, release from
ontslagen van                 exempt from
ontstaan uit                  arise from
ontvlamd van                  inflamed with
onverschillig voor            indifferent to
onwetend van                  ignorant of
onzichtbaar voor              invisible to
oordelen naar                 judge from
oordelen over                 decide on, judge of
opgetogen over                overjoyed at, with
opkomen bij iemand            occur to (one)
opmaken uit                   gather from
oprecht jegens                true to
overeenkomen omtrent          agree about
overeenkomen met              agree with
overeenkomstig met            agreeable to
overeenstemmen met            agree with
overstelpt door               overwhelmed with
overtuigen van                convince of
overweldigd door              oppressed with, overwhelmed with
Passend aan                   suitable to
peinzen over                  reflect on, upon
pikken naar                   peck at
pochen op                     boast of
praten over                   talk about, of
preken tot, voor              preach to
Rechtvaardig jegens           just to
redden uit                    rescue from
regeren over                  reign over, rule over
rekenen op                    depend on, upon
rieken naar                   savour of, smell of
rijk aan                      rich in
rijk zijn aan                 abound in, with
rillen van                    shiver with, shudder with
roemen op                     glory in
rukken uit                    snatch from
Samengesteld uit              composed of
schadelijk voor               hurtful to
schatten op                   estimate at
scheiden van                  part from
schenken aan                  bestow on, upon
schertsen over                jest at
schieten op                   shoot at, fire at
zich schikken naar            comply with
schoppen naar                 kick at
schreeuwen om                 cry for
schreien om                   cry for
schreien van                  cry with
schrikken bij, op             start at
schuimbekken van              foam with
schuldig aan                  guilty of
sidderen van                  quake with
slaan naar                    strike at
slingeren naar                hurl at
smaak voor                    taste for
smaken naar                   savour of, taste of
smartelijk voor               grievous to
smijten naar                  throw at
smoren door, van              smother with, stifle with, suffocate with
snakken naar                  gasp for
spotten met                   jest at, scoff at
spreken over                  speak about
spreken tot                   speak to
staren naar                   stare at
staren op                     gaze on
sterven aan                   die of, from
sterven van                   die with, of
stijf van                     stiff with
stikken door, van             smother with, stifle with, suffocate with
stoten aan                    push at
strekken tot                  tend to
streven naar                  aim at, aspire at, strive after
strijden tegen                contend with
strijdig met                  opposite to
Teleurgesteld in              disappointed in
terugdeinzen voor             to shrink from
tevreden met, over            contented with, satisfied with
tikken aan                    tap at
toegevend jegens              indulgent to
toekijken op                  look after
toestemmen in                 consent to
trachten naar                 aim at
treuren over                  mourn for
trots op                      proud of
trouweloos jegens             false to
twijfelen aan                 doubt of
Uitgeput van                  exhausted with, faint with
uitgesloten van               excluded from
uitvaren tegen                rail at, against
uitweiden over                descant on, upon, dwell on, expatiate on
uitzonderen van               except from
Vals jegens                   false to
vatbaar voor                  liable to
veilig voor                   safe from, secure from
veranderen in                 convert into
verbaasd over                 amazed at
verbannen uit                 banish from
verbergen voor                conceal from, hide from
zich verbergen voor           hide oneself from
verbitterd op                 embittered at, against, irritated against
verblinden door               dazzle with
verdedigen tegen              defend from, against
verdelen in                   divide into
verdenken van                 suspect of
verdiept in                   intent on
verdoofd door                 stunned with
verenigen met                 annex to, unite to, with
vergelijken met               compare to, with
zich verheugen over           rejoice at
verhit door                   inflamed with
verkiezen boven               prefer to
verkleumd van                 benumbed with
verkwikt door                 refreshed with
verlangen naar                long for, wish for
zich verlaten op              rely on, upon
verleid door iets             tempted with
verlokt door iets             tempted with
verliefd op                   amorous of, in love with
verlossen uit                 release from
verlossen van                 deliver from
vermaard om, wegens           famous for
vermaken met                  amuse with
zich vermaken over            make merry over, enjoy
vermoeid van                  fatigued with
zich verontschuldigen wegens  apologise for
verrast door                  surprised at
verre van                     far from
verrukt over                  delighted with
verschillen van               differ from, with
verschillend van              different from
verschonen van                excuse from
verschrikken van              frighten with
vertrekken naar               set out for, start for
vertrouwen op                 confide in
vertrouwen stellen op         confide in
verwijderd van                distant from, remote from
verwonderd door               surprised at
verwonderd over               astonished at
zich verwonderen over         wonder at
vestigen op                   fix upon
vluchten voor                 fly before, from
zich voeden met               feed on, upon
voegen bij                    annex to
voldaan over                  satisfied with
volharden in                  persist in
voorkomend jegens             kind to
voorstellen aan, bij          introduce to
voortvloeien uit              result from
voorzien van                  furnish with, provide with, supply with
vorderen van                  require of
vragen naar                   ask after, inquire after
vragen om                     ask for
vragen omtrent                inquire about
vragen over                   question on
vrezen voor                   fear for
vriendelijk jegens            kind to
vrij van                      exempt from, free from
vuren op                      fire at
Waarschuwen voor              warn against
wachten op                    wait for
zich wachten voor             beware of, guard against
wanhopen aan                  despair of
wenen om, van                 weep with, for
wenen over                    weep at
weergalmen van                resound with
wekken uit                    rouse from
zich wenden tot               apply to
werpen naar                   throw at
wijzen naar                   point at
wonen aan                     live by
Zinspelen op                  allude to, hint at
zoeken naar                   look for, seek for
zondigen tegen                trespass against
zorgen voor                   provide for
zorgvuldig voor               careful of
zuiveren van                  cleanse from

A few from the list
Aandringen op        insist on, upon
aangaan bij          call on, at
aangenaam voor       pleasant to
aankomen te          arrive at
aanspraak hebben op  entitled to
aanvangen met        set about
aarden naar          take after
adresseren aan       direct to
afhangen van         depend on, upon
afhankelijk van      dependent on
List of English words with prepositions

bijvoegen, vermeerderen              Add to
toelaten                             admit of
aannemen                             agree to
bepalen                              agree on
bedragen                             amount to
verantwoorden                        answer for
toepassen                            apply to
goedkeuren                           approve of
bedienen                             attend on, upon
verlenen, schenken                   bestow upon, on
dulden, verdragen                    Bear with
bestellen, afhalen                   Call for
toeroepen                            call to
berekenen                            charge for
opdragen                             charge with
afzetten                             cheat of
schenken, verlenen                   confer on, upon
behandelen                           Deal with
ontnemen                             deprive of
tegenvallen                          be disappointed in
ontberen                             dispense with
uitsluitend                          Exclusive of
uithelpen, uitredden                 extricate from
aanpassen                            Fit on
uitrusten                            fit out
in orde brengen                      fit up
aangapen                             Gape at
aanstaren                            gaze at
strak aanzien                        gaze on, upon
vluchtig aanzien                     glance at
betreuren, grieven                   grieve at
gissen, vermoeden                    guess at
aarzelen                             Hesitate at
beletten, hinderen                   hinder from
najagen, overal zoeken               hunt after
ontdekken, opsporen                  hunt down
bedriegen                            Impose upon
minder dan                           inferior to
iemand aanklagen                     inform against (one)
onderzoeken                          inquire into
uitlachen                            Laugh at
aangrijpen                           lay hold of
rondkijken, rondzien                 look about
nagaan                               look after
aankijken                            look at
onderzoeken                          look into
ontmoeten                            Meet with
tegenwerpen, ergens op tegen hebben  Object to
tegenoverstellen                     oppose to
tegenover                            opposite to
wegdoen                              Part with
volhouden                            persist in
kaart spelen                         play at (cards etc.)
overdenken                           ponder on
verhinderen                          prevent from
aangrijpen                           Seize upon
laten halen                          send for
iemand de hand schudden              shake hands with (one)
iemand vriendelijk toelachen         smile on (one)
toesnauwen                           snarl at
ontrukken                            snatch from
minachtend glimlachen                sneer at
aanstaren                            stare at
overtreden                           Trespass on
bedienen                             Wait on
beweenen                             weep for
oogluikend toelaten                  wink at
waardig                              worthy of

A few from the list
bijvoegen, vermeerderen  Add to
toelaten                 admit of
aannemen                 agree to
bepalen                  agree on
bedragen                 amount to
verantwoorden            answer for
toepassen                apply to
goedkeuren               approve of
bedienen                 attend on, upon
verlenen, schenken       bestow upon, on
  1. 269

    look at

  2. 270

    displeased with

  3. 271

    discharged from

  4. 272

    peck at

  5. 273

    cry for

  1. 274

    tend to

  2. 275

    convert into

  3. 276

    release from

  4. 277

    annex to

Lesson 38: List of English words with prepositions

Words without a preposition in Dutch

Some English words need a preposition where the Dutch word takes none. The list gives the Dutch first and the English second.

Goedkeuren means approve of. Toelaten means admit of. Aannemen means agree to. Use each Dutch word without a preposition after it.

Some lines give two Dutch words for one English phrase. Verlenen, schenken means bestow upon, on. Either Dutch word fits.

  1. 278

    Add to

  2. 279

    amount to

  3. 280

    attend on, upon

  4. 281

    call to

  5. 282

    confer on, upon

  1. 283

    dispense with

  2. 284

    fit out

  3. 285

    gaze on, upon

  4. 286

    Hesitate at

  5. 287

    Impose upon

  1. 288

    Laugh at

  2. 289

    look at

  3. 290

    oppose to

  4. 291

    play at (cards etc.)

Waarom wordt men klerk? (Vervolg.)

  1. 292

    Why does one become a clerk? (Continued.)

  2. 293

    And yet it is amusing to look at that group over there: one of the boys has found a piece of chalk, and just see how he draws, how he caricatures!

  3. 294

    He suffers from the same failing we all suffer from; he exaggerates!

  1. 295

    The master's nose makes a mockery of all proportion.

  2. 296

    But never mind, there are critics all around him, reviewers for everyone who exposes his work to public scrutiny; what could be fairer?

  3. 297

    If you find your future carpenter in that three-foot-high wisdom over there using a straw as a set square, allow me to take up for the quick one who a little further off is chasing a butterfly: he will burn with eagerness to undertake things; he will become a merchant; he will dare and win.

  1. 298

    The shopkeeper's spirit, which stays at home and waits, I see more than enough of in that marble-playing crowd.

  2. 299

    “Cheating!” I hear someone call out.

  3. 300

    Poor boy! you who get so angry about the wrong done; who shield the little cheated one; who, now that you have avenged him, look up so earnestly at the blue sky, future poet! what were you doing during the game?

  1. 301

    He has no answer, lost as he is in contemplating a flower growing by the road; love for the beautiful alongside a feeling for the noble, I like that boy.

  2. 302

    Yet I lose sight of him, for the sake of that lame boy over there; a crippled childhood is such a pitiful sight!

  3. 303

    But you are right, he can become a tailor or a cobbler, and if he has money and wit, just as well earn a degree at one of the three faculties, as one of these future lawyers, doctors, or teachers.

Lesson 38: conversation

  1. 304

    Do you know a good English work about the Netherlands and the Dutch?

  2. 305

    Surely a description of the provinces of Holland and the big cities that lie on the railway network?

  3. 306

    To my regret, no; but I have read a fairly good work about part of our country.

  4. 307

    Not at all; the greatest part of the work is devoted to a lesser-known region of Friesland.

  1. 308

    And what is that book called? Could I possibly borrow it from you?

  2. 309

    Oh, so not exclusively about the Frisian lakes! And what is this writer's judgment of our country?

  3. 310

    With great pleasure. I mean Doughty's Friesland Meres and through the Netherlands.

  4. 311

    On the whole fairly favourable; the writer has seen a great deal in a short time, and what is more, has generally seen it well.

  1. 312

    That pleases me, for some foreign writers often know how to tell strange things about our country and its inhabitants.

  2. 313

    But surely such books are not bought much, and certainly read even less?

  3. 314

    Tomorrow I'll come and fetch Doughty's work.

  4. 315

    Sometimes far too strange, especially for so-called educated people who travel through the whole country in a few hours or a couple of days.

  5. 316

    Alas, far too much! Some people like to see their own country extolled at the expense of another country.

  6. 317

    Good, it is at your disposal.

Lesson 38: exercise 100

  1. 318

    A dreadful instance of the ferocity of the shark once occurred at the Society Islands in the Pacific.

  2. 319

    Upwards of thirty natives were passing from one island to another in a large vessel, consisting of two canoes fastened together side by side.

  3. 320

    Being overtaken by a storm, the canoes were torn apart, and singly they could not be made to float upright.

  1. 321

    In vain the crew attempted to balance them.

  2. 322

    They were every moment overturned.

  3. 323

    The men then formed a hasty raft of such loose boards and spars as were in the canoes, and thus attempted to drift ashore.

  1. 324

    The raft was so deep in the water that the waves washed above the knees of the poor islanders.

  2. 325

    Tossed about thus, they soon became exhausted with hunger and fatigue; and at last the dreaded sharks began to collect around them.

  3. 326

    Soon these terrible creatures had the boldness to attack the men, and to drag one and another from the raft.

  1. 327

    The men had no weapons of defence, and they thus became an easy prey.

  2. 328

    The number and boldness of the monsters every moment increased.

  3. 329

    The forlorn wretches on the raft were one by one torn off, until only two or three remained.

  4. 330

    The raft, lightened of its load, then rose to the surface, and thus placed the survivors beyond the reach of their terrible foes.

  5. 331

    The tide at length bore the men to one of the islands, where they landed, and told of the fate of their companions.

Lesson 38: exercise 101

  1. 332

    Once the sailors on board a ship were allowed by their captain to try to catch a shark that had been following them for several days.

  2. 333

    A strong iron hook was fastened to a chain, and a piece of meat was fixed on it.

  3. 334

    Then a long rope was attached to the chain.

  4. 335

    When all was ready the bait was lowered into the sea in sight of the shark, which was seen gliding along near the surface of the water.

  5. 336

    In a moment there was a quick movement on the part of the fish.

  6. 337

    Down, down it sank in the clear water, and swam right below the ship.

  1. 338

    Turning on its back, it opened wide its jaws and swallowed both bait and hook.

  2. 339

    A strong pull at the rope by the sailors fastened the hook deep in the shark's body.

  3. 340

    At once the creature struggled desperately to get free.

  1. 341

    But the rope was strong, and the men held fast and pulled with a will.

  2. 342

    The shark was caught at last, and killed.

  3. 343

    Then once more the ship spread her sails to the breeze, and bounded on her way across the sea.

  4. 344

    This method of catching the shark is often practised on board ships sailing in the Tropics.

Lesson 38: exercise 102

  1. 345

    Utrecht, 2nd May, 1912.

  2. 346

    Messrs. Hermans & Co., Leiden.

  3. 347

    Gentlemen,

  4. 348

    The 10 Bales “Java-Speck-Coffee” invoiced in your favour of 21st ult., arrived here yesterday, and were examined by myself at once.

  1. 349

    To my regret I must inform you that the said coffee does not by any means come up to the said sample, and that I cannot understand how you were able to recommend that merchandise as something remarkably good.

  2. 350

    The coffee lies before me, which is rather calculated to drive away than to attract customers, and I have judged it superfluous to examine the coffee respecting its taste; for even in case that its taste is excellent, it is scarcely merchantable on account of its poor appearance, in particular in a recently established house.

  3. 351

    Although I am very sorry to be obliged to write to you such things in managing the first business in which we have engaged, I cannot help requesting you to dispose of the coffee in another way; I should not be able to accept it even at a lower price.

  1. 352

    In order that you may convince yourselves of my having grounds to complain, I send you one half of the sample you sent me and, besides, a sample taken from the bale No. 201; even without being a connoisseur, any one must observe immediately that the two coffees differ very much.

  2. 353

    The affair is disagreeable to me, inasmuch as I am just in want of the sort in question, and I request you immediately to send me:

  3. 354

    1 Bale Java Coffee fine blue No. 26 at 63, by the fast train. If it suits my turn, I shall order greater quantities.

  4. 355

    Expecting your early answer, I am, Gentlemen, Yours faithfully P. J. Meulenaar.

Lesson 38: exercise 103

  1. 356

    Mr. P. J. Meulenaar, Utrecht.

  2. 357

    Leiden, 4th May, 1912.

  3. 358

    Sir,

  4. 359

    We are very sorry that you are not satisfied with our “Java-Speck-Coffee”, and must admit that the sample which you sent us together with your favour of the 2nd inst., is of quite another quality than the original sample.

  5. 360

    Considering that, to our knowledge, we have no coffee agreeing with the sample which you have sent us, we cannot account for the fact than by supposing that one or several bales of inferior quality have found their way into the lot bought by us; and it appears that unfortunately it is just to your store that such bales have fallen; we are very sorry for it.

  1. 361

    As we could not understand from your letter whether it is the bale 201 alone or all 10 bales that you have opened we request you to open them all, in case that you have not yet done so, and to let us know what you have found.

  2. 362

    It is not likely at all that the 9 other bales should differ from the original sample. If such is not the case, we shall dispose of the whole parcel, and at once send you the quality you have desired.

  3. 363

    But in order to supply you for immediate wants, we send you a bale “Java-Speck-Coffee” No. 27, to-day by the mail-train, free of charges.

  4. 364

    Looking forward to your information, we subscribe ourselves, Sir, Yours respectfully Hermans & Co.

Lesson 38: exercise 104

  1. 365

    Messrs. Hermans & Co., Leiden.

  2. 366

    Utrecht, 7th May, 1912.

  3. 367

    Gentlemen,

  4. 368

    I am happy to inform you that the presumption you expressed to me in your favour of the 4th of May has turned out to be well founded, inasmuch as we have found no more than 2 bales of inferior quality, N°s 201 and 206; the 8 other bales come up to the sample, and I keep them, asking you at the same time to dispose of the 2 bales of inferior quality.

  5. 369

    Awaiting the rectification of your invoice, I am, Gentlemen, with great esteem, Yours truly P. J. Meulenaar.

Lesson 39: Construction: Woordschikking (and 3 more)

Word order in Dutch

Dutch word order differs much from English. The rules in this lesson give only the main patterns.

Careful reading of good authors teaches the rest. Lessons 5, 23 and 25 also treat word order.

Subject, verb, object

The plainest Dutch sentence has three parts in a set order. The subject comes first, the verb second, the direct object third.

Mijn broer ontving een brief. Mijn broer is the subject. Ontving is the verb. Een brief is the direct object.

The second verb at the end

Some tenses use an auxiliary and a second verb. The second verb is an infinitive or a participle. It stands at the end of the sentence.

Ik zal een brief ontvangen. Ik heb een brief ontvangen. In both, the auxiliary stands second and ontvangen stands last.

The receiver before the thing

Some verbs take two objects. One is the thing given or told. The other is the person who gets it.

The person comes first. The thing comes second.

Hij heeft mijn broer een lange brief geschreven. Mijn broer is the person. Een lange brief is the thing.

Wij hebben hem het nieuws medegedeeld follows the same order.

  1. 370

    my brother received a letter.

  2. 371

    I shall receive a letter.

  3. 372

    I have received a letter.

  4. 373

    he has written my brother a long letter.

  5. 374

    we have informed him of the news.

Construction: Woordschikking

Dutch construction differs very much from English, as the student may have observed already in some of the foregoing examples. Attentive reading of the best authors will be a good help in learning this part of the Dutch grammar, as the principal rules only can be stated here. See also Lesson 5, 23, 25.
In the simple sentence the order is subject, verb, direct object

In the regular order, the subject stands in the first place, the verb (in simple tenses) in the second, and the direct object in the third. Mijn broer ontving een brief. my brother received a letter.
With compound tenses the infinitive or participle stands at the end

With compound tenses the complement of the auxiliary, be it an Infinitive or a Participle, stands at the end of the sentence. Ik zal een brief ontvangen. I shall receive a letter. Ik heb een brief ontvangen. I have received a letter.
With two objects the dative precedes the accusative

When there are two objects in a sentence, the dative object precedes the accusative object. Hij heeft mijn broer een lange brief geschreven. he has written my brother a long letter. Wij hebben hem het nieuws medegedeeld. we have informed him of the news.
Two pronoun objects: the smaller first; two monosyllables: accusative before dative

When both objects are pronouns, the smaller comes first; when both are monosyllabic, the Accusative precedes the Dative. Ik heb hem alles medegedeeld. I have told him everything. Zeg het hem. Tell it to him. Hebt u het hem geschreven? Have you written it to him?
The indirect object follows the direct object

The indirect object follows the direct object. Ik heb de boeken aan mijn vriend gezonden. I have sent the books to my friend. Hij raadpleegde zijn broer bij alle gelegenheden. he consulted his brother on all occasions.
Adverbs of manner follow the direct object

Adverbs of manner follow the direct object. Hij ontving mij zeer vriendelijk. he received me very kindly. Hij heeft mij zeer vriendelijk ontvangen. he has received me very kindly. Hebt u het hem beleefd gevraagd? have you asked him politely?
Adverbs and adverbial expressions of time take the third place

Adverbs and adverbial expressions of time take the third place, immediately after the predicate or auxiliary. Except when the object is a personal pronoun without a preposition. Note. A simple adverb of time always precedes an adv. expression of time. Wij zijn onlangs naar Amsterdam gegaan. We have recently gone to Amsterdam. Wij zullen in een uur terug zijn. We shall be back in an hour. Hebt u hem gisteren gezien? Nee, ik zal hem morgen gaan bezoeken. Have you seen him yesterday? No, I shall go and visit him tomorrow. Komt u morgen om 4 uur? Are you coming tomorrow at 4 o'clock? Nee, ik ga nooit 's middags uit, maar wel 's avonds. No, I never go out in the afternoon, but I do in the evening.
Adverbs of place stand at the end of the sentence

Adverbs and adv. expressions of place are put at the end of a sentence, with compound tenses they precede the Participle. Waar was u toch? Men zocht u overal. Where were you? You were looked for everywhere. Men heeft u overal gezocht. You have been looked for everywhere.
The negation niet follows the direct object but precedes the adverbial adjuncts

The negation niet follows the direct object, but precedes the adverbial adjuncts. Mijn broer wint het proces niet. My brother is not winning the lawsuit. Mijn broer zal het proces niet winnen. My brother will not win the lawsuit. Mijn broer heeft het proces niet gewonnen. My brother has not won the lawsuit. Ga niet uit in zulk weer. Do not go out in such weather. Zij gaan niet naar A. They are not going to A.
In questions niet sometimes precedes the direct object

In questions niet sometimes precedes the direct object. But it need not. Hebt u niet het recht zo te spreken? Have you not the right to speak so? Heeft uw broer het proces niet gewonnen? Has your brother not won the lawsuit?
A detached separable prefix is placed at the end of the clause

When prefixes of separable compound verbs are detached from the verb, they are placed at the end of the clause. Hij nam zijn hoed af en deed zijn handschoenen uit. He took off his hat and took off his gloves. Schrijf deze brief nog eens over! Copy this letter over again!
Inversion of subject and verb

As in English the regular arrangement of words is often inverted by removing one of the parts of speech from its usual place. The inversion of the subject and verb appears almost as in English. Geloof je het? Do you believe it? Was hij maar hier! Would he were here! Intussen was de lente aangebroken. Meanwhile spring had broken.
Inverting the object throws stress on it; the subject then follows the verb

The object is inverted to lay more stress upon it; the subject is then placed after the verb or after the auxiliary. Ik heb deze brief niet geschreven. I have not written this letter. Deze brief heb ik niet geschreven. This letter I have not written. Hij heeft de brief, maar niet de boeken, ontvangen. He has received the letter, but not the books. De brief heeft hij ontvangen, maar de boeken niet. The letter he has received, but not the books.
Inverted adverbs put the verb before the subject

When adverbs or adv. expressions are inverted, the verb (or auxiliary) precedes the subject. Note. As in English a sentence may be expressed in various ways, according to the stress laid upon the words. Langzaam ging hij naar huis terug. Slowly he went back home. Onder een hevige hagelbui kwamen wij in de stad. Under a heavy hailstorm we arrived in the town. Wij hebben nog nooit zulke wonderlijke dingen hier gezien. We have never yet seen such wonderful things here. Zulke wonderlijke dingen hebben wij hier nog nooit gezien. Such wonderful things we have never yet seen here. Hier hebben wij zulke wonderlijke dingen nog nooit gezien. Here we have never yet seen such wonderful things. Nog nooit hebben wij zulke wonderlijke dingen hier gezien. Never yet have we seen such wonderful things here.
Co-ordinate compound sentences

Co-ordinating sentences (nevenschikkende zinnen) may be placed beside each other without any connection or connected with other words: demonstrative pronouns and conjunctions. The place of the different parts of speech will be seen from the following examples. Ga maar langzaam door, ik volg zo dadelijk. Go on slowly, I'll follow directly. De stoomfluit weerklonk, de trein zette zich in beweging. The steam whistle sounded, the train set itself in motion. Voltaire en Napoleon waren twee beroemde mannen. Voltaire and Napoleon were two famous men. Deze streed met het zwaard, gene met de pen. The latter fought with the sword, the former with the pen. Rijkdom en geluk gaan niet altijd samen. Riches and happiness do not always go together. Dit zien wij vaak in het dagelijkse leven. We see this often in daily life. De zon verdween aan de horizon en de duisternis viel plotseling in. The sun disappeared on the horizon and darkness fell suddenly. Hij kon niet komen, want er was geen boot meer om die tijd. He could not come, for there was no boat left at that time. Ik verwacht nog bezoek, daarom moet ik thuis blijven. I still expect a visit; therefore I must stay at home. Deze leerling is niet lui, maar integendeel zeer vlijtig. This pupil is not lazy, but on the contrary very diligent. Het is waar of het is niet waar. It is true or it is not true. Ik was wel op haar komst voorbereid. I was indeed prepared for her coming. Desondanks voelde ik mij bij haar verschijnen enigszins verlegen. Nevertheless I felt somewhat embarrassed when she appeared.
Compound sentences with subordinate clauses

Compound sentences with subordinate clauses (ondergeschikte zinnen) consist of a principal sentence (hoofdzin) and a subordinate clause (bijzin). They are connected by relative pronouns, relative or interrogative conjunctions or adverbs and subordinate conjunctions.
The subordinate clause: verb at the end, objects before the verb, no separated prefix

The subordinate clauses are characterised by the following particulars: the verb stands at the end. In compound tenses the auxiliary generally follows the participle. The verbs willen, mogen, moeten etc. are placed before the infinitive. In separable compound verbs the prefix is not separated. The objects are placed between the subject and the verb. Dit is de man, waarmee uw vader sprak. This is the man with whom your father spoke. Er was al veel gebeurd, toen de revolutie uitbrak. Much had already happened when the revolution broke out. Dat is de man, van wie ik gesproken heb. That is the man of whom I have spoken. Dat is de reden dat hij gezwegen heeft. That is the reason (why) he has kept silent. Hier is de eigenaar van het hotel, waarin ik mijn intrek heb genomen. Here is the owner of the hotel in which I have taken up my lodging. Wij gaan naar het koffiehuis, waar ik gisteren geweest ben. We are going to the coffee-house where I was yesterday. Geloof je dat hij zou kunnen liegen? Do you believe that he could lie? Hij vroeg mij, of ik met hem mee wilde gaan. He asked me whether I wanted to go with him. Hij vroeg mij, of ik met hem meeging. He asked me whether I was going with him. Weet u, of hij lang zal uitblijven? Do you know whether he will stay away long? Hij wist niet, of u deze boeken nog aan uw broer moest verzenden. He did not know whether you still had to send these books to your brother. Zij hebben op ons verzoek vergeten te antwoorden. They forgot to answer our request. Dat hebben wij hun altijd kwalijk genomen. which we have always held against them.
The subordinate clause may come first, and then the principal subject follows the verb

The subordinate sentence may be the first member as well as the second; if it comes first, the subject of the second (the principal sentence) is placed after the verb. Hij kon niet komen, daar hij geen tijd had. He could not come, as he had no time. Daar hij geen tijd had, kon hij niet komen. As he had no time, he could not come. Hij wist niet, of zijn broer heden nog zou vertrekken. He did not know whether his brother would still leave today. Of zijn broer heden nog zou vertrekken, wist hij niet. Whether his brother would still leave today, he did not know.
The subordinate clause may also be inserted inside the principal sentence

The subordinate sentence may also be inserted between the words of the principal sentence, without affecting the order of the latter. Hij vond, toen hij thuis kwam, al zijn papieren in wanorde. He found, when he came home, all his papers in disorder. Ik wist, voordat ik lang nagedacht had, de oplossing van het raadsel. I knew, before I had thought long, the solution of the riddle.
Als or indien may be left out; the verb then keeps second place

The conjunction als or indien is often omitted; in this case the verb is not removed to the end. Had ik alles geweten, ik zou niet gekomen zijn. Had I known everything, I should not have come. Waren alle mensen wijs, het leven zou veel aangenamer zijn. Were all men wise, life would be much more pleasant.
Objective clauses are generally preceded by dat

Objective clauses are generally preceded by dat, whereas in English this conjunction is frequently omitted. Ik vrees dat u te laat zult komen. I fear that you will come too late. Ik geloof dat hij naar de West gegaan is. I believe that he has gone to the West Indies. (Beets.) Ik hoop dat u het ondervinden zult. I hope that you will experience it. (Beets.) Jonathan kon het niet geloven dat zijn vader een meinedige zou zijn. Jonathan could not believe that his father would be a perjurer. (Van der Palm.)
Sometimes dat is omitted

Sometimes dat is omitted, i. e.: Ik zeg u: het zal dooien. I say to you: it will thaw. (Beets.) Het is de aangenaamste tijd van het leven, zegt men. It is the pleasantest time of life, they say. (Beets.) Geloof mij, hij zal het zwaard trekken. Believe me, he will draw the sword. (van Lennep.) Hij is, hoop ik, welvarend. He is, I hope, doing well. Dit is, meen ik, niet onbelangrijk. This is, I think, not unimportant.
Dat is always omitted when another person's words are quoted verbatim

Dat is always omitted, when the words of another person are quoted just as they were used. Mijn vader zegt altijd: “men moet maar gelukkig zijn.” My father always says: “one must simply be happy.” Vader Cats zei: “vroeg rijp, vroeg rot, vroeg wijs, vroeg zot.” Father Cats said: “soon ripe, soon rotten, soon wise, soon foolish.”

Lesson 39: Two pronoun objects: the smaller first; two monosyllables: accusative before dative (and 1 more)

Two pronouns together

When both objects are pronouns, the shorter one comes first.

Ik heb hem alles medegedeeld. Hem is shorter than alles, so hem comes first.

A monosyllable is a word with one syllable, such as het or hem. When both pronouns are monosyllables, the thing comes before the person.

Zeg het hem. Hebt u het hem geschreven? In both, het is the thing and hem is the person.

The object with a preposition

The indirect object stands after the direct object. Here it comes with a preposition, as in aan mijn vriend.

Ik heb de boeken aan mijn vriend gezonden. De boeken is the direct object. Aan mijn vriend follows it.

Hij raadpleegde zijn broer bij alle gelegenheden. The phrase bij alle gelegenheden also comes after the object.

  1. 375

    I have told him everything.

  2. 376

    Tell it to him.

  3. 377

    Have you written it to him?

  4. 378

    I have sent the books to my friend.

  5. 379

    he consulted his brother on all occasions.

Lesson 39: Adverbs of manner follow the direct object

How an action is done

An adverb of manner says how something is done. Zeer vriendelijk and beleefd are examples.

It stands after the direct object.

Hij ontving mij zeer vriendelijk. Mij is the object, and zeer vriendelijk follows it.

With two verbs, the adverb stays before the last verb. Hij heeft mij zeer vriendelijk ontvangen. Hebt u het hem beleefd gevraagd?

  1. 380

    he received me very kindly.

  2. 381

    he has received me very kindly.

  3. 382

    have you asked him politely?

Lesson 39: Adverbs and adverbial expressions of time take the third place (and 1 more)

When an action happens

An adverb of time says when. Gisteren, morgen and onlangs are examples. Right after the verb or the auxiliary is the usual place.

Wij zijn onlangs naar Amsterdam gegaan. Wij zullen in een uur terug zijn.

One exception exists. A pronoun object with no preposition comes before the time word. Hebt u hem gisteren gezien?

Two time words together

A short time word comes before a longer time phrase.

Komt u morgen om 4 uur? Morgen is a single word. Om 4 uur is a phrase, and it comes second.

Nee, ik ga nooit 's middags uit, maar wel 's avonds. Here the time words stand after the verb.

Where an action happens

An adverb of place says where. Overal is an example. It stands at the end of the sentence.

Men zocht u overal.

With two verbs, the adverb of place stands before the participle. Men heeft u overal gezocht. Overal comes before gezocht.

  1. 383

    We have recently gone to Amsterdam.

  2. 384

    We shall be back in an hour.

  3. 385

    Have you seen him yesterday? No, I shall go and visit him tomorrow.

  4. 386

    Are you coming tomorrow at 4 o'clock?

  5. 387

    No, I never go out in the afternoon, but I do in the evening.

  1. 388

    Where were you? You were looked for everywhere.

  2. 389

    You have been looked for everywhere.

Lesson 39: The negation niet follows the direct object but precedes the adverbial adjuncts (and 1 more)

Placing niet

Niet makes a sentence negative. It stands after the direct object and before words that tell where, when or how.

Mijn broer wint het proces niet. Het proces is the direct object, and niet follows it.

With two verbs, niet stays before the last verb. Mijn broer heeft het proces niet gewonnen.

Zij gaan niet naar A. Here niet comes before the place.

Niet in questions

In a question, niet sometimes stands before the direct object. It does not have to.

Hebt u niet het recht zo te spreken? Het recht is the direct object, and niet comes before it.

Heeft uw broer het proces niet gewonnen? Here niet follows the object as in a statement. Both orders are right.

  1. 390

    My brother is not winning the lawsuit.

  2. 391

    My brother will not win the lawsuit.

  3. 392

    My brother has not won the lawsuit.

  4. 393

    Do not go out in such weather.

  5. 394

    They are not going to A.

  1. 395

    Have you not the right to speak so?

  2. 396

    Has your brother not won the lawsuit?

Lesson 39: A detached separable prefix is placed at the end of the clause (and 1 more)

A prefix at the end

A separable verb can lose its prefix in a sentence. The prefix then goes to the end of its clause.

Hij nam zijn hoed af en deed zijn handschoenen uit. Af and uit stand last in each half.

Schrijf deze brief nog eens over! The prefix over stands last.

Turning subject and verb

Inversion means the verb stands before the subject. Dutch uses it almost as English does.

Geloof je het? Was hij maar hier! The verb comes first, and the subject follows.

Inversion also happens when another word opens the sentence. Intussen was de lente aangebroken. Intussen is first, so the verb was comes before the subject.

  1. 397

    He took off his hat and took off his gloves.

  2. 398

    Copy this letter over again!

  3. 399

    Do you believe it?

  4. 400

    Would he were here!

  5. 401

    Meanwhile spring had broken.

Lesson 39: Inverting the object throws stress on it; the subject then follows the verb

Stress on the object

A speaker can move the object to the front to give it more stress. The subject then comes after the verb or the auxiliary.

Ik heb deze brief niet geschreven. Deze brief heb ik niet geschreven. The object deze brief now opens the sentence, and ik follows heb.

De brief heeft hij ontvangen, maar de boeken niet.

  1. 402

    I have not written this letter.

  2. 403

    This letter I have not written.

  3. 404

    He has received the letter, but not the books.

  4. 405

    The letter he has received, but not the books.

Lesson 39: Inverted adverbs put the verb before the subject

Adverbs at the front

An adverb or an adverb phrase can also open the sentence. The verb then comes second, and the subject follows it.

Langzaam ging hij naar huis terug. Langzaam opens the sentence, then comes ging, then hij.

Onder een hevige hagelbui kwamen wij in de stad. The same rule holds for a whole phrase.

One sentence can be built in many ways. Each way puts the weight on a different word, as with hier and nog nooit in the examples.

  1. 406

    Slowly he went back home.

  2. 407

    Under a heavy hailstorm we arrived in the town.

  3. 408

    We have never yet seen such wonderful things here.

  4. 409

    Such wonderful things we have never yet seen here.

  5. 410

    Here we have never yet seen such wonderful things.

  6. 411

    Never yet have we seen such wonderful things here.

Lesson 39: Co-ordinate compound sentences

Two clauses side by side

Co-ordinate clauses stand next to each other, each a full sentence. They can have no link, as in De stoomfluit weerklonk, de trein zette zich in beweging.

They can also have a link, a demonstrative pronoun or a conjunction such as en, want, maar, of or daarom.

Read the examples for the order. After want the order does not change. After daarom the verb comes before the subject.

  1. 412

    Go on slowly, I'll follow directly.

  2. 413

    The steam whistle sounded, the train set itself in motion.

  3. 414

    Voltaire and Napoleon were two famous men.

  4. 415

    The latter fought with the sword, the former with the pen.

  5. 416

    Riches and happiness do not always go together.

  1. 417

    We see this often in daily life.

  2. 418

    The sun disappeared on the horizon and darkness fell suddenly.

  3. 419

    He could not come, for there was no boat left at that time.

  4. 420

    I still expect a visit; therefore I must stay at home.

  5. 421

    This pupil is not lazy, but on the contrary very diligent.

  1. 422

    It is true or it is not true.

  2. 423

    I was indeed prepared for her coming.

  3. 424

    Nevertheless I felt somewhat embarrassed when she appeared.

Lesson 39: The subordinate clause: verb at the end, objects before the verb, no separated prefix

The verb at the end of a dependent clause

In a dependent clause, the verb stands at the end. The objects stand between the subject and the verb.

Dit is de man, waarmee uw vader sprak. Sprak is last.

With two verbs, the auxiliary usually follows the participle. Dat is de man, van wie ik gesproken heb.

A verb such as willen, mogen or moeten stands before the infinitive. Hij vroeg mij, of ik met hem mee wilde gaan.

The joined prefix

In a dependent clause, a separable verb does not come apart.

Hij vroeg mij, of ik met hem meeging. The prefix mee stays on the verb gaan.

In a main clause the prefix would stand apart at the end.

  1. 425

    This is the man with whom your father spoke.

  2. 426

    Much had already happened when the revolution broke out.

  3. 427

    That is the man of whom I have spoken.

  4. 428

    That is the reason (why) he has kept silent.

  5. 429

    Here is the owner of the hotel in which I have taken up my lodging.

  1. 430

    We are going to the coffee-house where I was yesterday.

  2. 431

    Do you believe that he could lie?

  3. 432

    He asked me whether I wanted to go with him.

  4. 433

    He asked me whether I was going with him.

  5. 434

    Do you know whether he will stay away long?

  1. 435

    He did not know whether you still had to send these books to your brother.

  2. 436

    They forgot to answer our request.

  3. 437

    which we have always held against them.

Lesson 39: The subordinate clause may come first, and then the principal subject follows the verb (and 1 more)

The dependent clause first

A dependent clause can come before the main clause. Then the main clause begins with its verb.

Hij kon niet komen, daar hij geen tijd had. Here the main clause comes first.

Daar hij geen tijd had, kon hij niet komen. Now the dependent clause comes first, and kon stands before hij.

The same rule holds for Of zijn broer heden nog zou vertrekken, wist hij niet.

A clause inside a clause

A dependent clause can also stand in the middle of the main clause. The main clause keeps its order.

Hij vond, toen hij thuis kwam, al zijn papieren in wanorde. The inserted clause has commas on both sides.

Ik wist, voordat ik lang nagedacht had, de oplossing van het raadsel.

  1. 438

    He could not come, as he had no time.

  2. 439

    As he had no time, he could not come.

  3. 440

    He did not know whether his brother would still leave today.

  4. 441

    Whether his brother would still leave today, he did not know.

  5. 442

    He found, when he came home, all his papers in disorder.

  6. 443

    I knew, before I had thought long, the solution of the riddle.

Lesson 39: Als or indien may be left out; the verb then keeps second place (and 1 more)

Leaving out als

The words als and indien start a dependent clause. They can be left out.

When they are left out, the verb does not go to the end. It stands first in the clause.

Had ik alles geweten, ik zou niet gekomen zijn. Waren alle mensen wijs, het leven zou veel aangenamer zijn.

Dat before an object clause

When a clause is the object of the verb, Dutch normally puts dat before it. English often drops this word.

Ik vrees dat u te laat zult komen. Ik hoop dat u het ondervinden zult.

Jonathan kon het niet geloven dat zijn vader een meinedige zou zijn.

  1. 444

    Had I known everything, I should not have come.

  2. 445

    Were all men wise, life would be much more pleasant.

  3. 446

    I fear that you will come too late.

  4. 447

    I believe that he has gone to the West Indies. (Beets.)

  5. 448

    I hope that you will experience it. (Beets.)

  6. 449

    Jonathan could not believe that his father would be a perjurer. (Van der Palm.)

Lesson 39: Sometimes dat is omitted (and 1 more)

Leaving out dat

Sometimes dat is left out. The clause then keeps the order of a main clause.

Ik zeg u: het zal dooien. Geloof mij, hij zal het zwaard trekken.

A short remark can stand inside the sentence. Hij is, hoop ik, welvarend. Dit is, meen ik, niet onbelangrijk.

Quoted words

When the exact words of a speaker are quoted, dat is always left out.

Mijn vader zegt altijd: “men moet maar gelukkig zijn.” A colon opens the quote.

Vader Cats zei: “vroeg rijp, vroeg rot, vroeg wijs, vroeg zot.”

  1. 450

    I say to you: it will thaw. (Beets.)

  2. 451

    It is the pleasantest time of life, they say. (Beets.)

  3. 452

    Believe me, he will draw the sword. (van Lennep.)

  4. 453

    He is, I hope, doing well.

  5. 454

    This is, I think, not unimportant.

  1. 455

    My father always says: “one must simply be happy.”

  2. 456

    Father Cats said: “soon ripe, soon rotten, soon wise, soon foolish.”

Waarom wordt men klerk? (Slot.)

  1. 457

    Why does one become a clerk? (Conclusion.)

  2. 458

    But tell me, have you, in that motley bustle of ranks, in that world in miniature, seen anywhere a future office clerk?

  3. 459

    Alas, no!

  4. 460

    There is too little poetry in that condition for it to attract the unprejudiced gaze of youth.

  1. 461

    Picture youth to yourself, as you like, under the influence of notions akin to the state of nature, or already governed by the spirit that characterizes our civilization.

  2. 462

    The mechanical trade promises neither happiness nor pleasure; it guarantees as little freedom as the compensations for it: wealth, authority, fame.

  3. 463

    Do not think that I credit the young people of the common folk with such great philosophy that they are aware of that cause, that they account for it to themselves.

  1. 464

    Far from it.

  2. 465

    But nevertheless you must, as I have, often have noticed that they have sympathy only for everything in which strength is hidden, that the most popular figures are at the same time the most independent.

  3. 466

    It is as if, in the bosom of the people, an awareness of the original destiny of the male character is carried along: the development of all powers, of all gifts.

  4. 467

    Servant, clerk, steward, courtier, have you ever met a boy who told you he wanted to become one of those four things?

  5. 468

    Everyone learns soon enough, in the lowest circles soonest, that something, that a great deal of freedom must be sacrificed for the sake of money; but to give it up entirely, to set oneself the task of self-denial, and that for an entire lifetime, that is only at a later age the result either of necessity, or of fanaticism, or, in exceptional cases, of virtue. (E. J. Potgieter.)

Lesson 39: conversation

  1. 469

    Which Dutch work is probably read the most?

  2. 470

    Isn't Hildebrand a pseudonym?

  3. 471

    Without doubt Hildebrand's Camera Obscura (1839).

  4. 472

    Yes, the writer is Nicolaas Beets, who died in 1903.

  1. 473

    How do you know that this work is read the most?

  2. 474

    That is saying something for a small country like the Netherlands!

  3. 475

    And abroad it is surely hardly read?

  4. 476

    Because twenty-five editions have already appeared by now.

  5. 477

    The original probably rarely, but there are translations of it into French, German, and English.

  6. 478

    Certainly not; even the best translations leave something to be desired; sometimes whole sentences are left out, because the translators did not know what to do with them.

  1. 479

    It seems to me that it cannot be an easy work to translate the Camera Obscura.

  2. 480

    Some expressions surely cannot be rendered in any other language; but isn't that the case with every book?

  3. 481

    I believe that an ordinary novel loses little if it is well translated, but the Camera is a depiction of genuinely Dutch customs and manners.

  4. 482

    This work is certainly more suited to that than half a dozen descriptions by people who have been in the Netherlands for only a few hours or days.

  1. 483

    Then the Camera would surely give the foreigner a good look into our particular way of life, at least that of our parents!

  2. 484

    Is Dutch now beginning to be studied more abroad than before?

  3. 485

    Certainly, one is coming to see that Dutch is indispensable for a scholarly study of the Germanic languages.

  4. 486

    It forms a link in the chain that connects Germany with England.

  1. 487

    How is the Netherlands divided?

  2. 488

    How are these provinces further divided?

  3. 489

    The Kingdom of the Netherlands consists of the eleven provinces: North Brabant, Gelderland, South Holland, North Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Friesland, Overijssel, Groningen, Drenthe and Limburg.

  4. 490

    Into districts, and these into cantons.

  1. 491

    What is the capital of the country?

  2. 492

    And what is the seat of government?

  3. 493

    What is the form of government of the Netherlands?

  4. 494

    Amsterdam.

  5. 495

    The Hague ('s-Hage, Den Haag).

  6. 496

    The supreme government is in the hands of a hereditary sovereign (a sovereign lady), who bears the title of King (Queen).

  1. 497

    Who reigns at present?

  2. 498

    Is the King's (the Queen's) power unlimited?

  3. 499

    Queen Wilhelmina, daughter of the late King William III.

  4. 500

    No, it is subject to the Constitution; the King (Queen) takes counsel with a Council of State and appoints the Ministers, who are responsible for the execution of the laws.

  1. 501

    How is the people represented?

  2. 502

    Who represents the King (the Queen) in each province?

  3. 503

    By deputies, who are divided into a First and Second Chamber, together forming the States-General.

  4. 504

    The King's (Queen's) Commissioner, who also supervises the proceedings of the Provincial States.

  1. 505

    Is Dutch spoken the same way in every province, or are there also dialects?

  2. 506

    What other language is still spoken, besides Dutch?

  3. 507

    In Holland and Utrecht one hears Hollandish, in Zeeland Zeelandic, in North Brabant and Limburg Brabantish and Limburgish, in Gelderland, Overijssel and Drenthe Rhinelandish, in Groningen Groningish.

  4. 508

    In Friesland, Frisian, usually called Farmers' or Land Frisian; it is of the same stock as the Frisian of North Germany.

  1. 509

    What monetary standard does the Netherlands have?

  2. 510

    What gold coin is minted?

  3. 511

    The double standard.

  4. 512

    Only one kind: the ten-guilder piece or the Golden William (f. 10.- = 17 s.).

  1. 513

    And what silver coin?

  2. 514

    Are there also nickel coins?

  3. 515

    The rix-dollar (f. 2.50 = 4 s. 2 d.), the guilder (f. 1.- = 1 s. 8 d.), the half guilder (f. 0.50 = 10 d.), the quarter guilder (f. 0.25 = 5 d.), the ten-cent piece (f. 0.10 = 2 d.).

  4. 516

    Only one: the new five-cent piece (f. 0.05 = 1 d.).

  1. 517

    What are the bronze coins?

  2. 518

    What is the monetary unit?

  3. 519

    The half stuiver (f. 0.02½ = halfpenny), the cent (f. 0.01), 5 cents = 1 d., the half cent (f. 0.00½), 10 half cents = 1 d.

  4. 520

    The guilder = 100 cents.

Lesson 39: exercise 105

  1. 521

    He carefully noted the prices.

  2. 522

    He did his work carefully.

  3. 523

    She saw at once the cogency of this reasoning.

  4. 524

    He had, in general, a laudable confidence in his own judgment.

  5. 525

    He heard again the language of his childhood.

  6. 526

    Putting in his hand a small token of my gratitude and goodwill, I departed.

  1. 527

    This strange occurrence brings to my mind a marriage sermon of the famous Bishop Taylor, in which he thus alludes to ill-assorted matches.

  2. 528

    They cherished in their breasts all that they had heard of their valour and noble lineage.

  3. 529

    But what was my delight, at beholding on its cover the identical painting of which I was in quest.

  1. 530

    He looked to his friends for protection.

  2. 531

    His story agrees with yours on all points.

  3. 532

    He immediately complied with my request.

  4. 533

    They condoled with the father on his sad loss.

  1. 534

    His account differs from yours in several important particulars.

  2. 535

    He refrained from personal interference on this occasion.

  3. 536

    Yesterday I wrote him a letter.

  4. 537

    In that way he will never succeed.

  5. 538

    Rich he will never be.

  6. 539

    This letter she showed to her father.

  1. 540

    Them also had he shielded from tyranny.

  2. 541

    Seven times did this intrepid general renew the attack.

  3. 542

    In vain did he endeavour to make the egg stand on its end.

  4. 543

    In a few months there remained not a trace of it.

Lesson 39: exercise 106

  1. 544

    Not less strange to us seemed the garb and manners of the people, their language and religion.

  2. 545

    Shortly after, there happened another accident more terrible yet than the first.

  3. 546

    We did not proceed on our journey, because there arrived a messenger who brought evil tidings.

  4. 547

    This state of things might have lasted for a considerable time, if there had not arisen new complications.

  5. 548

    Here I was interrupted.

  6. 549

    Then I saw my mistake.

  7. 550

    Happy is the man that findeth wisdom.

  1. 551

    So great was the irritation, that no messengers could be found to carry the tidings.

  2. 552

    Poor he was, but honest too.

  3. 553

    Indignant as the officers were, they did not show it.

  4. 554

    It is not gold that I demand.

  5. 555

    It was to him that we looked for support.

  6. 556

    It was not such men I was taught to look up to.

  7. 557

    I can't tell you what is my name and who I am.

  1. 558

    Besides, I know what were her feelings, and what they are now.

  2. 559

    He demanded what was the moral of the story, and what it went to prove.

  3. 560

    Never has greater impudence gone together with more ignorance.

  4. 561

    No sooner had I given way, than he put in another claim.

  5. 562

    Never did he show greater presence of mind than on this memorable occasion.

  6. 563

    His plan, they said, would have succeeded but for some unforeseen circumstances.

  7. 564

    A fatal accident, he told them, had just occurred.

  1. 565

    This, my father answered me, is the real state of affairs.

  2. 566

    Never, I replied to this taunt, shall I suffer myself to be thus made a fool of.

Lesson 39: exercise 107

  1. 567

    The wolf has a hungry, skulking look.

  2. 568

    He is very fierce and very cunning; but he is at the time a great coward.

  3. 569

    His acute sense of smell enables him to scent his prey far off.

  1. 570

    His speed is not very great; but he never tires in the chase; and he steadily follows even the fleetest of his victims till he has wearied them out and run them down.

  2. 571

    In the great and gloomy forests of Russia, where the snow lies on the ground for at least eight months of the year, wolves roam about in vast troops; and it is a fearful thing for the traveller, especially if night has overtaken him, to hear their howlings in the distance.

  3. 572

    An English gentleman, who lived for some time in St. Petersburg, tells the following story:

  1. 573

    At no great distance from St. Petersburg a Russian peasant, when one day in his sledge, was pursued by eleven of these fierce animals.

  2. 574

    He was only about two miles from home, and as soon as he caught sight of the wolves, he urged his horse homeward at the very top of its speed.

  3. 575

    On reaching the gate at the entrance to his house, he found it closed.

  1. 576

    But the frightened horse dashed it open, and carried its master safely into the court-yard.

  2. 577

    They were followed by nine out of the eleven wolves; but most fortunately, at the very instant that the wolves entered, the gate swung back on its hinges, and thus they were caught as in a trap.

  3. 578

    In a moment the cowardly creatures, when they found escape to be impossible, became completely changed.

  4. 579

    So far from attacking any one, they shrank into holes and corners, and allowed themselves to be killed almost without making resistance!

The particulars

The course
Valette, Dutch Conversation-Grammar (1913) and its Key (1893); Defense Language Institute, Dutch Refresher Course, Books I to III (1961). Public domain. The teaching pages, the readings' English, the answers to the conversations and the narration are ours.
Reading aloud
Digital narration, directed by 1732 Studios.
The book
Max Havelaar, the work this course leads to, free to read here.
Data
JSON · Markdown · A guide for agents
Two whoopie pies and a pine. An inside joke.