Dutch conditional tense
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Lesson outline
HideDefinition and usage of the Dutch conditional tense
The conditional tense is used to speculate about a situation. It is mostly used in an 'if' scenario. The past form of 'zullen' (to shall), 'zouden', is used, but the Dutch conditional sentence could be about the present or the future.
| Situation | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 'If' scenario |
|
|
| Circumstances about norms and expectations |
|
|
| Polite form |
|
|
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Conjugation of the Dutch conditional tense
The following rule is used to form the conditional tense:
'zouden' (to would) + infinitive
| Subject | Form | komen (to come) |
|---|---|---|
| Ik (I) | zou + infinitive | zou komen |
| Jij, u (You) | zou + infinitive | zou komen |
| Hij, zij, het (He, she, it) | zou + infinitive | zou komen |
| Wij (We) | zouden + infinitive | zouden komen |
| Jullie (You) | zouden + infinitive | zouden komen |
| Zij (They) | zouden + infinitive | zouden komen |
Train your skills by doing the exercises below!
Exercises
- Exercise to practice Dutch conditional tense 1
- Exercise to practice Dutch conditional tense 2
- Practice the Dutch conditional tense
- Train the Dutch conditional tense
Exercise to practice Dutch conditional tense 1
Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verb 'zouden' (to would) to complete the Dutch conditional tenses.
Tip: Dutch conditional tense = 'zouden' (to would) + infinitive
Ik graag een drankje willen bestellen. (I would like to order a drink.)
Jij vandaag bellen, maar had niet gebeld. (You would call today, but you had not called.)
Wij morgen naar de Efteling gaan, maar het regent. (We would go to the Efteling, but it rains.)
Als ik jou was, ik dat niet doen. (If I were you, I would not do that.)
Zij de trein nemen, maar kwam met de fiets. (She would take the train, but came by bike.)
Als hij weer te laat komt , hij ontslagen worden. (If he was late again, he would be fired.)
Jullie naar huis komen na het eten. (You would come home after dinner.)
Hij haar ophalen, maar was het vergeten. (He would pick her up, but he forgot.)
Kim huiswerk maken, maar ging naar de stad. (Kim would do her homework, but went to the city.)
ik je een vraag mogen stellen? (Could I ask you a question?)
Exercise to practice Dutch conditional tense 2
Practice the Dutch conditional tense
Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verb 'zouden' (to would) to complete the Dutch conditional tenses.
Tip: Dutch conditional tense = 'zouden' (to would) + infinitive
Hij de boodschappen doen als hij niet ziek was geweest. (He would have done the groceries if he had not been sick.)
Wij je graag helpen. (We would be happy to help you.)
Jullie mijn voorbeeld moeten volgen. (You should follow my example.)
Ik iedere dag fruit moeten eten. (I should eat fruit every day.)
U graag een afspraak willen maken. (You would like to make an appointment.)
Als je de loterij winnen, wat je dan kopen? (If you would win the lottery, what would you buy?)
Zij samen gaan ontbijten. (They were going to have breakfast together.)
Ik graag willen weten hoe je dat maakt. (I would like to know how you make that.)
Jij de foto's van de klassen nemen. (You would take the pictures of the classes.)
Dat niet eerlijk zijn voor haar. (That would not be fair for her.)
Train the Dutch conditional tense
Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verb 'zouden' (to would) to complete the Dutch conditional tenses.
Tip: Dutch conditional tense = 'zouden' (to would) + infinitive
Hij zei dat hij komen. (He said he would come.)
Wij onze ouders bellen. (We would call our parents.)
je nog iets te eten willen? (Would you like something else to eat?)
Zij ook met ons mee gaan op vakantie. (She would also join us on holiday.)
Ik een nieuwe laptop kopen als ik genoeg geld had. (I would buy a new laptop if I had enough money.)
Zij nog even langs komen, maar kwamen niet. (They were supposed to come today, but did not.)
Jullie toch niet meer samenwerken? (You were not going to work together anymore right?)
Jij dat liedje beter niet kunnen zingen. (You should not sing that song.)
Wij al samen afspreken vandaag. (We would already have an appointment together today.)
Zij later nog komen. (She would come later today.)
Exercises
- Exercise to practice Dutch conditional tense 1
- Exercise to practice Dutch conditional tense 2
- Practice the Dutch conditional tense
- Train the Dutch conditional tense
Exercise to practice Dutch conditional tense 1
Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verb 'zouden' (to would) to complete the Dutch conditional tenses.
Tip: Dutch conditional tense = 'zouden' (to would) + infinitive
Ik graag een drankje willen bestellen. (I would like to order a drink.)
Jij vandaag bellen, maar had niet gebeld. (You would call today, but you had not called.)
Wij morgen naar de Efteling gaan, maar het regent. (We would go to the Efteling, but it rains.)
Als ik jou was, ik dat niet doen. (If I were you, I would not do that.)
Zij de trein nemen, maar kwam met de fiets. (She would take the train, but came by bike.)
Als hij weer te laat komt , hij ontslagen worden. (If he was late again, he would be fired.)
Jullie naar huis komen na het eten. (You would come home after dinner.)
Hij haar ophalen, maar was het vergeten. (He would pick her up, but he forgot.)
Kim huiswerk maken, maar ging naar de stad. (Kim would do her homework, but went to the city.)
ik je een vraag mogen stellen? (Could I ask you a question?)
Exercise to practice Dutch conditional tense 2
Practice the Dutch conditional tense
Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verb 'zouden' (to would) to complete the Dutch conditional tenses.
Tip: Dutch conditional tense = 'zouden' (to would) + infinitive
Hij de boodschappen doen als hij niet ziek was geweest. (He would have done the groceries if he had not been sick.)
Wij je graag helpen. (We would be happy to help you.)
Jullie mijn voorbeeld moeten volgen. (You should follow my example.)
Ik iedere dag fruit moeten eten. (I should eat fruit every day.)
U graag een afspraak willen maken. (You would like to make an appointment.)
Als je de loterij winnen, wat je dan kopen? (If you would win the lottery, what would you buy?)
Zij samen gaan ontbijten. (They were going to have breakfast together.)
Ik graag willen weten hoe je dat maakt. (I would like to know how you make that.)
Jij de foto's van de klassen nemen. (You would take the pictures of the classes.)
Dat niet eerlijk zijn voor haar. (That would not be fair for her.)
Train the Dutch conditional tense
Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verb 'zouden' (to would) to complete the Dutch conditional tenses.
Tip: Dutch conditional tense = 'zouden' (to would) + infinitive
Hij zei dat hij komen. (He said he would come.)
Wij onze ouders bellen. (We would call our parents.)
je nog iets te eten willen? (Would you like something else to eat?)
Zij ook met ons mee gaan op vakantie. (She would also join us on holiday.)
Ik een nieuwe laptop kopen als ik genoeg geld had. (I would buy a new laptop if I had enough money.)
Zij nog even langs komen, maar kwamen niet. (They were supposed to come today, but did not.)
Jullie toch niet meer samenwerken? (You were not going to work together anymore right?)
Jij dat liedje beter niet kunnen zingen. (You should not sing that song.)
Wij al samen afspreken vandaag. (We would already have an appointment together today.)
Zij later nog komen. (She would come later today.)
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The focus is on conversation (so pronunciation!) and understanding but also reading and writing are important to improve active vocabulary.
Now grammar is also important to understand the structure of a language, but I only touch grammar when needed, so that depends a lot on the level (from A1 to C2).
For lower-level students who still need some native language in class, I speak fluently Spanish, Dutch and some German and French.
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Hi, Mi name is Paul. I'm a certified (TEFL, ELE) teacher with over 10 years of experience in language teaching. I am actually teaching business clients and individuals.
I always try to keep the classes informal and relaxed. It's important that the students like the class, and that they feel comfortable. That results in progress, and that's exactly what we want.
The focus is on conversation (so pronunciation!) and understanding but also reading and writing are important to improve active vocabulary.
Now grammar is also important to understand the structure of a language, but I only touch grammar when needed, so that depends a lot on the level (from A1 to C2).
For lower-level students who still need some native language in class, I speak fluently Spanish, Dutch and some German and French.
The first class is free of charge, so just try it! I'm sure you'll like it.
A. .
Paul has done well gauging my level and then setting up lessons to match. With a combination of grammar, pronunciation, and learning new words. And now with more focused work and being able to come up with sentences.
Paul K.
Hello, my name is Michel and I'm a Dutch primary school language teacher. I lived in France for 7 years and I worked for an international school that is well known all over France. I moved to Madeira, Portugal and started to work as online Dutch language teacher 4 years ago. Teaching children and adults is my passion aswel as having fun with learning a new language.
My lessons are adapted to your level and due to my job and experience I have acces to teaching methodes to learn you the basics of the Dutch language or to improve your level. I can help you to improve your level of writing and speaking or help you learn your first words and phrases.
Z. Z.
Michel is a great teacher, professional, with a lot of patience, and knows how to teach. I made progress with him and really enjoyed the lessons.
Michel B.
I want to help people to improve the level of their chosen language.
K. L.
Nancy is an exceptional teacher with a remarkable ability to tailor her approach to suit the individual needs and proficiency level. I've truly appreciated the diverse range of topics we've been able to explore and the various class formats she employs. Nancy is also an incredibly warm and nice person, I highly recommend her without hesitation!
Thank you Katsia for your positive kind words. It's a pleasure working with you.
L. T.
Linda has been an amazing teacher and completely adapted to my needs! :) I would totally recommend her.
Linda R.