Mini les 3

Grammar - Verb/Tense: Dutch does not use the auxiliary do in questions or negatives, so beginners may produce sentences such as: Where you come from? / I drink not beer. There is no progressive form in Dutch, leading to errors such as: I had a bath when he phoned.

English requires the past simple where Dutch uses the present perfect or the present perfect where Dutch uses the present simple. Mistakes such as the following are common: I have played tennis yesterday / I am in Germany since 2003. Similarly, Dutch uses the present simple where English requires the auxiliary will: I meet you at the gate after school.

I played tennis yesterday.                        

Ik heb gisteren getennist.


Do you smoke?                                          

Rook jij?


No, I don't smoke                                      

Nee, ik rook niet.


I was having a bath when he phoned.        

Toen hij belde, zat ik in bad.


I have been in Germany since 2003.          

Ik ben sinds 2003 in Duitsland.


I will meet you at the theatre.                  

Ik zie je bij het theater.