Basics 2 is the second (assuming left to right) skill in the Dutch (Netherlands) language tree. In these five lessons, the student of Dutch builds on the sentences of Basics 1 and begins to make new sentences with new verbs and ideas. There is the introduction to irregular verbs and plurals in this skill.
Tips and notes
Irregular verbs
In Basics 1, there was an introduction to regular verbs. But Dutch has irregular verbs as well. Most of these irregular verbs are completely normal, except in the past tense. But a select few are irregular in the present, these verbs being:
- Zijn (to be)
- Hebben (to have)
- Mogen (to be allowed to)
- Willen (to want)
- Kunnen (to be able to)
- Zullen ("will")
For now, we'll deal with the ones in this skill, hebben and zijn.
| Pronoun | Hebben | Zijn |
|---|---|---|
| ik | heb | ben |
| jij, u | hebt | bent |
| hij, zij, es | heeft | is |
| wij | hebben | zijn |
| jullie | hebben | zijn |
| zij | hebben | zijn |
Lessons
Lesson 1
- boterham = sandwich
- rijst = rice
- we = we (unstressed)
- jullie = you (plural informal)
- eten = eat (plural)
- drinken = drink (plural)
Lesson 2
- vrouwen = women
- mannen = men
- meisjes = girls
- krant = newspaper
- lezen = read (plural)
Lesson 3
- jongens = boys
- menu = menu
- dat = that
- zijn = are (plural)
- ze = they (unstressed)
Lesson 4
- heb = have (1st person singular)
- heeft = has (3rd person singular)
- hebt = have (2nd person singular)
- hebben = have (plural)
- boek = book
Lesson 5
- lees = read (1st person singular)
- leest = read(s) (2nd and 3rd person singular)
- kinderen = children
- spreken = speak (plural)
- spreek = speak (1st person singular)
- spreekt = speaks (3rd person singular)
References
Duolingo Lesson: www.duolingo.com/skill/dn/Basics-2