Dutch Conversation-Grammar 1732 Studios

Dutch · Unit 28

Book III, Unit 1: Unit 1

Refresher Course, Books II and III

Unit 1

158 lines

Op het Reisbureau

A conversation to listen to

A spontaneous conversation between two educated Dutch speakers, recorded in 1961 without a script. The text keeps what they said as they said it: hesitations, repeated words, words left out.

Listen first with the text, then without it. The aim is to follow the whole conversation by ear.

  1. 1

    Good morning, sir. Can I help you?

    Goedemorgengood morning
    mijnheer,sir!; Mr. (as a title before a name)
    kanto be able (can)
    ikI
    Uyou (polite)
    vanof, from
    dienstservice
    zijn?to be (irregular)
  2. 2

    Eh, good morning, sir. I have come to ask your advice. My wife and I are planning a trip in the near future.

  3. 3

    Well, how long do you want to make it?

  4. 4

    We have about one month's time.

  5. 5

    Were you thinking of a trip abroad or a trip through the Netherlands?

  6. 6

    Eh, we really wanted to combine the two.

  7. 7

    Well, we have autumn now and in a few weeks it'll probably be colder, so what would you say to crossing the border after about a week in the Netherlands and then traveling to the South?

I. Dialog for Listening

DLI Dutch Refresher Course (1961), Book III, Lesson 1. Op het Reisbureau

This is a spontaneous conversation between educated and imaginative Dutch speakers. No scripts were used in recording. The result is natural spoken Dutch.

All the dialogs entitled Dialog for Listening have been reproduced in your text in such a way as to capture their spontaneity. This includes hesitation sounds, repetitions, omitted words and other features that are characteristic of unrehearsed, non-selfconscious, conversational-style speech.

The Dialog for Listening section is for oral comprehension. The student should follow this section in his text, as he listens to it on tape, until such time as he can dispense with the text and understand everything from the tape alone.
  1. 8

    Would you say that we cut straight through Belgium or Germany, to the South as fast as possible?

  2. 9

    Yes, oh, yes.

  3. 10

    We could arrange it that way, yes?

  4. 11

    Then you bring your car home, and then you start out again on your trip to France. Would you like to include the French Riviera or, eh. . . .

  5. 12

    Yes, the French Riviera.

  6. 13

    Hm, I think we can arrange that very nicely. Shall I write up an itinerary for you?

  7. 14

    Yes, do that, I'll give you my telephone number and then you can reach me every evening after eight; and, eh, then as soon as I give my permission, will you get everything in order? Could you do that?

  8. 15

    Yes, certainly, that would be best.

  9. 16

    Good. Thank you, sir.

De Souvernierszaak

  1. 17

    Can I help you, sir?

  2. 18

    Oh, I'm only looking around a little. No, thank you.

  3. 19

    Are you looking for something special?

  4. 20

    Well, really, I'm looking for something for my wife. But I'll look around a little first.

  5. 21

    Eh, what are you trying to find for your wife? Something in jewelry, scarfs or . . .

  6. 22

    Well, I'd rather have some Delft blue. What really do you have?

  7. 23

    Oh, Delft blue! Oh, we have a large collection of Delft blue, sir. Would you like to see?

I. Dialog for Listening

DLI Dutch Refresher Course (1961), Book III, Lesson 2. De Souvernierszaak

This is a spontaneous conversation between educated and imaginative Dutch speakers. No scripts were used in recording. The result is natural spoken Dutch.

All the dialogs entitled Dialog for Listening have been reproduced in your text in such a way as to capture their spontaneity. This includes hesitation sounds, repetitions, omitted words and other features that are characteristic of unrehearsed, non-selfconscious, conversational-style speech.

The Dialog for Listening section is for oral comprehension. The student should follow this section in his text, as he listens to it on tape, until such time as he can dispense with the text and understand everything from the tape alone.
  1. 24

    I saw something in the store window. Eh, those tiles, those tiles with those landscapes, I liked a lot.

  2. 25

    It's nice, of course, for example, to give six small tiles and to make a small coffee table out of them.

  3. 26

    That was my idea.

  4. 27

    Look sir. Here is one with a windmill, which, of course, is something truly Dutch.

  5. 28

    Yes, I like that. Some with costumes and windmills on them. That my wife would like. Yes, I think I will take these then. Then I am happy and my wife is happy.

  6. 29

    Of course.

  7. 30

    That's always best.

  1. 31

    Then I'll first check whether or not we have six different ones. Otherwise it wouldn't be nice. I'm sorry, sir, but we only have three different ones.

  2. 32

    Only three different ones!

  3. 33

    But we can order one or three more. Only that takes about three weeks before we get them from the blue . . .

  4. 34

    But I think it's worth while. Let's do that. I'll give you my address and I'll pay you now. Could you send them to me then?

In de Meubelzaak

  1. 35

    Good afternoon, miss.

  2. 36

    Good afternoon, sir. Do you mind if I browse around a little?

  3. 37

    No, go ahead.

  4. 38

    We are busy right now redecorating our apartment and we really don't know what we want.

  5. 39

    Well, we have new, modern Dutch furniture, now, but that is in real conservative style, if I may express it in this manner.

  6. 40

    Yes, yes, I understand what you mean. Our apartment is very modern, glass everywhere, and such things.

  7. 41

    You have to watch out with the colors, of course, of the furniture; if you color it very dark in a light place like that, or vice versa, then often it doesn't harmonize.

I. Dialog for Listening

DLI Dutch Refresher Course (1961), Book III, Lesson 3. In de Meubelzaak

This is a spontaneous conversation between educated and imaginative Dutch speakers. No scripts were used in recording. The result is natural spoken Dutch.

All the dialogs entitled Dialog for Listening have been reproduced in your text in such a way as to capture their spontaneity. This includes hesitation sounds, repetitions, omitted words and other features that are characteristic of unrehearsed, non-selfconscious, conversational-style speech.

The Dialog for Listening section is for oral comprehension. The student should follow this section in his text, as he listens to it on tape, until such time as he can dispense with the text and understand everything from the tape alone.
  1. 42

    Yes, well, I didn't want the light kind of wood.

  2. 43

    Yes, well, look around at our furniture and, you'll find them there.

  3. 44

    Is that Swedish import?

  4. 45

    Yes, that's Swedish import.

  5. 46

    Those chairs, I like them a lot, but I don't like the upholstery.

  6. 47

    Yes, that can be altered.

  7. 48

    How long does it take, do you have any idea?

  1. 49

    We can do it in about ten days, but that is the minimum.

  2. 50

    We have rented the apartment for the first of November, you see, and now it's already mid-October, so I'd like to have them in the apartment by the first of November.

  3. 51

    Well, if you insist; you can have them.

  4. 52

    Those chairs I like, I don't like the table belonging to it very much.

  5. 53

    Well, you can, of course, get it in teakwood and then unpolished.

  6. 54

    Yes, I'd rather have that. Fine, then I'll come this afternoon, yes . . . Are you open until six o'clock?

  7. 55

    We are open until six o'clock.

  1. 56

    Then I'll come around at five-thirty with my husband, then we can arrange everything, is that all right?

  2. 57

    Yes, certainly, madam.

  3. 58

    Fine, thank you.

Sinterklaastijd

  1. 59

    Well, Shuul, and are the children nicer now that Santa Claus time is coming nearer?

  2. 60

    Yes.

  3. 61

    Or are they still so naughty?

  4. 62

    Well, they are never really naughty, of course, but you can notice that they do their best.

  5. 63

    Yes, it really is a handy time for us fathers, this Santa Claus period and the time before.

  6. 64

    Yes, yes, of course, it requires some exertion, not to know what they would like to get, but to know what you can leave out without disappointing them too much.

  7. 65

    Yes, that is certainly true.

I. Dialog for Listening

DLI Dutch Refresher Course (1961), Book III, Lesson 4. Sinterklaastijd

This is a spontaneous conversation between educated and imaginative Dutch speakers. No scripts were used in recording. The result is natural spoken Dutch.

All the dialogs entitled Dialog for Listening have been reproduced in your text in such a way as to capture their spontaneity. This includes hesitation sounds, repetitions, omitted words and other features that are characteristic of unrehearsed, non-selfconscious, conversational-style speech.

The Dialog for Listening section is for oral comprehension. The student should follow this section in his text, as he listens to it on tape, until such time as he can dispense with the text and understand everything from the tape alone.
  1. 66

    Yes, it comes from Santa Claus, of course, I mean, if they knew that daddy has to pay for it, they would take it a little easier.

  2. 67

    Well, of the three little ones I have at home, only the eldest one is already seven, so she doesn't believe in Santa Claus anymore. The other two, they are still firmly convinced that they get everything they want if they are nice. This, of course, helps at home.

  3. 68

    Yes, yes, it is really a pleasant time. It makes for a, eh, this homey atmosphere. This only happens during these few weeks of the year the same way and later it doesn't come back anymore.

  4. 69

    He, hm. I notice it sometimes, too. Yes, and then every night, of course, singing songs around the stove that is . . .

  5. 70

    Every night singing songs . . .

  6. 71

    That is, of course, . . . Then, of course, we always join in. My wife sits at the piano.

  7. 72

    That's nice . . .

  8. 73

    And, it is really a pleasant time, this Santa Claus time.

Het Nederlandse Geld

  1. 74

    The two-and-a-half paper guilders are still current, but now silver two-and-a-half guilder coins are being made.

  2. 75

    I have also read about that, that the two-and-a-half guilder will be issued in silver as well.

  3. 76

    Those silver two-and-a-half coins are so big. You need a purse . . . for almost no money at all.

  4. 77

    Those were the gripes, when the guilder, the silver guilder, was first issued. Almost no one had a purse strong enough to put all those guilders in.

  5. 78

    No, but you get used to that. The only disadvantage is, I find them so heavy.

  6. 79

    And also a guilder is still worth quite a lot in the Netherlands, and if you have a pocket full of change, then you don't look too closely. But now that you have guilder coins, and two-and-a-half guilder coins in your change, I think that you should have a safer place for your small change.

  7. 80

    Oh, yes, of course, but if you have a few guilders in your pocket, then you lean over to one side, if they're all on one side.

I. Dialog for Listening

DLI Dutch Refresher Course (1961), Book III, Lesson 5. Het Nederlandse Geld

This is a spontaneous conversation between educated and imaginative Dutch speakers. No scripts were used in recording. The result is natural spoken Dutch.

All the dialogs entitled Dialog for Listening have been reproduced in your text in such a way as to capture their spontaneity. This includes hesitation sounds, repetitions, omitted words and other features that are characteristic of unrehearsed, non-selfconscious, conversational-style speech.

The Dialog for Listening section is for oral comprehension. The student should follow this section in his text, as he listens to it on tape, until such time as he can dispense with the text and understand everything from the tape alone.
  1. 81

    You certainly notice that if you have to run for a streetcar or a bus. Then all your change shakes so much in your pocket that half of it falls out sometimes.

  2. 82

    You said it!

  3. 83

    And also the holes in your pockets!

  4. 84

    Yes, they don't help either.

  5. 85

    Well, I mean your pockets wear out sooner.

  6. 86

    Oh!

  7. 87

    If you have all that loose change in it.

  8. 88

    Oh, yes. Of course!

Substitution drill 1, part 1

Substitution drills

A drill starts from one sentence of the dialogs. Each turn gives a new word or phrase to put in the sentence in place of one of its parts.

Say the whole sentence again with the new part in place. The shape of the sentence does not change. Only the one part does.

  1. 89

    Had U gedacht aan een buitenlandse reis of een reis in Nederland?

    Were you thinking of a trip abroad or a trip through the Netherlands?

  2. 90

    Had U gedacht aan een buitenlandse reis naar Frankrijk?

    Were you thinking of a trip abroad to France?

  3. 91

    Had U gedacht aan een buitenlandse reis naar Duitsland?

    Were you thinking of a trip abroad to Germany?

  4. 92

    Had U gedacht aan een buitenlandse reis naar België?

    Were you thinking of a trip abroad to Belgium?

  5. 93

    Had U gedacht aan een buitenlandse reis naar de Azurenkust?

    Were you thinking of a trip abroad to the Riviera?

  6. 94

    Had U gedacht aan een buitenlandse reis naar Oostenrijk?

    Were you thinking of a trip abroad to Austria?

  7. 95

    Had U gedacht aan een buitenlandse reis naar Noorwegen?

    Were you thinking of a trip abroad to Norway?

Substitution Drills

DLI Dutch Refresher Course (1961), Book III, Lesson 6. Substitution Drill 1.

Listen to and repeat the first sentence of the drill on tape. Your voice will be followed by a low voice on tape to correct any mistakes in your utterance. You will now immediately hear a word or phrase that you are to substitute into the original sentence. Without hesitating, say the entire sentence again, this time with the new element in place of an element in the original sentence. You will again be corrected. Then you will hear, as before, another element for substitution. Again you will repeat the entire sentence, dropping the old element and substituting the new element in its place.

They are based on the previous five dialogs. Their purpose is to give you fluency in controlling sentences of the dialogs with additional variations provided by the substitution elements. You will observe that the basic structure of the dialog sentences does not change in these drills.

Substitution drill 1, part 2

  1. 96

    Had U gedacht aan een buitenlandse reis of een reis in Nederland?

    Were you thinking of a trip abroad or a trip through the Netherlands?

  2. 97

    Had U gedacht aan een buitenlandse reis naar Spanje?

    Were you thinking of a trip abroad to Spain?

  3. 98

    Had U gedacht aan een buitenlandse reis naar Denemarken?

    Were you thinking of a trip abroad to Denmark?

  4. 99

    Had U gedacht aan een buitenlandse reis of een reis in Nederland?

    Were you thinking of a trip abroad or a trip through the Netherlands?

Substitution drill 2, part 1

  1. 100

    Maar we kunnen er wel één of drie bij bestellen.

    But we can order one or three more.

  2. 101

    Maar we kunnen er wel een paar voor U maken.

    But we can make a few for you.

  3. 102

    Maar we kunnen er wel enkele voor U bewaren.

    But we can save a few for you.

  4. 103

    Maar we kunnen er wel enige exemplaren van voor U drukken.

    But we can print a few copies for you.

  5. 104

    Maar we kunnen er wel even naar toe lopen.

    But we can walk over to it.

  6. 105

    Maar we kunnen er wel even naar toe rijden.

    But we can drive over to it.

  7. 106

    Maar we kunnen er wel even met de bus heen.

    But we can take the bus over to it.

Substitution Drills

DLI Dutch Refresher Course (1961), Book III, Lesson 6. Substitution Drill 2.

Listen to and repeat the first sentence of the drill on tape. Your voice will be followed by a low voice on tape to correct any mistakes in your utterance. You will now immediately hear a word or phrase that you are to substitute into the original sentence. Without hesitating, say the entire sentence again, this time with the new element in place of an element in the original sentence. You will again be corrected. Then you will hear, as before, another element for substitution. Again you will repeat the entire sentence, dropping the old element and substituting the new element in its place.

They are based on the previous five dialogs. Their purpose is to give you fluency in controlling sentences of the dialogs with additional variations provided by the substitution elements. You will observe that the basic structure of the dialog sentences does not change in these drills.

Substitution drill 2, part 2

  1. 107

    Maar we kunnen er wel één of drie bij bestellen.

    But we can order one or three more.

  2. 108

    Maar we kunnen er wel even langs lopen.

    But we can walk past it.

  3. 109

    Maar we kunnen er wel met z'n allen in.

    But we can all get in it.

  4. 110

    Maar we kunnen er wel één of drie bij bestellen.

    But we can order one or three more.

Substitution drill 3, part 1

  1. 111

    Heeft U er bezwaar tegen als ik een beetje rondloop?

    Do you mind if I walk around a little?

  2. 112

    Heeft U er bezwaar tegen als ik een kwartier vroeger weg ga?

    Do you mind if I leave fifteen minutes early?

  3. 113

    Heeft U er bezwaar tegen als ik een half uur later kom morgen?

    Do you mind if I come half an hour later tomorrow?

  4. 114

    Heeft U er bezwaar tegen als ik het raam een beetje open doe?

    Do you mind if I open the window a little bit?

  5. 115

    Heeft U er bezwaar tegen als ik de verwarming wat hoger stel?

    Do you mind if I raise the heat a little?

  6. 116

    Heeft U er bezwaar tegen als ik de deur op een kier laat staan?

    Do you mind if I leave the door open a little?

  7. 117

    Heeft U er bezwaar tegen als ik Uw schaatsen gebruik vanmiddag?

    Do you mind if I use your skates this afternoon?

Substitution Drills

DLI Dutch Refresher Course (1961), Book III, Lesson 6. Substitution Drill 3.

Listen to and repeat the first sentence of the drill on tape. Your voice will be followed by a low voice on tape to correct any mistakes in your utterance. You will now immediately hear a word or phrase that you are to substitute into the original sentence. Without hesitating, say the entire sentence again, this time with the new element in place of an element in the original sentence. You will again be corrected. Then you will hear, as before, another element for substitution. Again you will repeat the entire sentence, dropping the old element and substituting the new element in its place.

They are based on the previous five dialogs. Their purpose is to give you fluency in controlling sentences of the dialogs with additional variations provided by the substitution elements. You will observe that the basic structure of the dialog sentences does not change in these drills.

Substitution drill 3, part 2

  1. 118

    Heeft U er bezwaar tegen als ik een beetje rondloop?

    Do you mind if I walk around a little?

  2. 119

    Heeft U er bezwaar tegen als ik Uw fiets leen?

    Do you mind if I borrow your bicycle?

  3. 120

    Heeft U er bezwaar tegen als ik met U een eindje meeloop?

    Do you mind if I accompany you a little while?

  4. 121

    Heeft U er bezwaar tegen als ik een beetje rondloop?

    Do you mind if I walk around a little?

Substitution drill 4, part 1

  1. 122

    Het kost je natuurlijk toch ook wel heel wat inspanning.

    Of course, it involves a lot of effort for you, too.

  2. 123

    Het kost je natuurlijk een hele hoop geld.

    Of course, it involves a lot of money for you, too.

  3. 124

    Het kost je natuurlijk heel veel moeite.

    Of course, it involves a lot of effort for you, too.

  4. 125

    Het kost je natuurlijk heel veel tijd.

    Of course, it involves a lot of time for you, too.

  5. 126

    Het kost je natuurlijk al je vrije tijd.

    Of course, it involves all your free time, too.

  6. 127

    Het kost je natuurlijk heel je vacantie.

    Of course, it involves your whole vacation, too.

  7. 128

    Het kost je natuurlijk al gauw over de honderd gulden.

    Of course, it involves a hundred right away for you, too.

Substitution Drills

DLI Dutch Refresher Course (1961), Book III, Lesson 6. Substitution Drill 4.

Listen to and repeat the first sentence of the drill on tape. Your voice will be followed by a low voice on tape to correct any mistakes in your utterance. You will now immediately hear a word or phrase that you are to substitute into the original sentence. Without hesitating, say the entire sentence again, this time with the new element in place of an element in the original sentence. You will again be corrected. Then you will hear, as before, another element for substitution. Again you will repeat the entire sentence, dropping the old element and substituting the new element in its place.

They are based on the previous five dialogs. Their purpose is to give you fluency in controlling sentences of the dialogs with additional variations provided by the substitution elements. You will observe that the basic structure of the dialog sentences does not change in these drills.

Substitution drill 4, part 2

  1. 129

    Het kost je natuurlijk toch ook wel heel wat inspanning.

    Of course, it involves a lot of effort for you, too.

  2. 130

    Het kost je natuurlijk een maand salaris.

    Of course, it involves a month's salary for you, too.

  3. 131

    Het kost je natuurlijk je hele avond.

    Of course, it involves a whole evening for you, too.

  4. 132

    Het kost je natuurlijk toch ook wel heel wat inspanning.

    Of course, it involves a lot of effort for you, too.

Substitution drill 5, part 1

  1. 133

    Het enige nadeel is, ik vind ze zo zwaar.

    The only disadvantage is, I find them so heavy.

  2. 134

    Het enige nadeel is, dat hij er niet goed voor geschikt is.

    The only disadvantage is, that he isn't too qualified for it.

  3. 135

    Het enige nadeel is, dat het te laat zal worden.

    The only disadvantage is, that it will get very late.

  4. 136

    Het enige nadeel is, dat het te lang zal duren.

    The only disadvantage is, that it'll last too long.

  5. 137

    Het enige nadeel is, zij zijn niet erg opgewekt.

    The only disadvantage is, that they aren't very pleasant.

  6. 138

    Het enige nadeel is, zij spelen niet goed kaart.

    The only disadvantage is, that they don't play cards very well.

  7. 139

    Het enige nadeel is, zij spreken niet goed Nederlands.

    The only disadvantage is, that they don't speak Dutch very well.

Substitution Drills

DLI Dutch Refresher Course (1961), Book III, Lesson 6. Substitution Drill 5.

Listen to and repeat the first sentence of the drill on tape. Your voice will be followed by a low voice on tape to correct any mistakes in your utterance. You will now immediately hear a word or phrase that you are to substitute into the original sentence. Without hesitating, say the entire sentence again, this time with the new element in place of an element in the original sentence. You will again be corrected. Then you will hear, as before, another element for substitution. Again you will repeat the entire sentence, dropping the old element and substituting the new element in its place.

They are based on the previous five dialogs. Their purpose is to give you fluency in controlling sentences of the dialogs with additional variations provided by the substitution elements. You will observe that the basic structure of the dialog sentences does not change in these drills.

Substitution drill 5, part 2

  1. 140

    Het enige nadeel is, ik vind ze zo zwaar.

    The only disadvantage is, I find them so heavy.

  2. 141

    Het enige nadeel is, zij spreken geen Engels.

    The only disadvantage is, that they don't speak any English.

  3. 142

    Het enige nadeel is, ik vind de kleur te donker.

    The only disadvantage is, I find the color too dark.

  4. 143

    Het enige nadeel is, ik vind ze zo zwaar.

    The only disadvantage is, I find them so heavy.

Unit 1 test, part 1

The unit's test

Fifteen sentences from the unit's dialogs, heard once each.

Write the English for each. Any English that says the same thing is right. The test asks only whether the sentence was understood.

  1. 144

    Well, how long are you considering making it?

  2. 145

    Shall I write up an itinerary for you?

  3. 146

    Were you thinking in terms of a trip abroad or a trip through the Netherlands?

  4. 147

    We have a very large selection of blue Delft, sir.

  5. 148

    I like those tiles with the landscapes a lot.

  6. 149

    But we could order one or three more.

  7. 150

    I'll give you my address and I'll pay you now.

Test on the Unit

DLI Dutch Refresher Course (1961), Book III, Lesson 7. Test on Unit 1.

The test tape consists of a translation drill containing fifteen sentences taken from the dialogs of the unit. This is a test for comprehension.

Have pencil and paper ready. Listen to the sentences and write an English equivalent in the time allotted.

The test tape tests only your comprehension of dialog sentences. The English provided in these answers is an equivalent and not a literal translation. Any parallel English sentence would be acceptable.

Unit 1 test, part 2

  1. 151

    Do you mind if I browse around a little?

  2. 152

    Our apartment is very modem, all glass and things like that everywhere.

  3. 153

    We can do it in about ten days, but that's the limit, too.

  4. 154

    But you can really tell that they're doing their best.

  5. 155

    My wife goes and sits at the piano.

  6. 156

    The only disadvantage is, I find them so heavy.

  7. 157

    No, but you get used to it.

  8. 158

    All that small change shakes so much in your pocket, that, sometimes, half of it falls out.

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.