Learn to describe and compare sensory experiences in Dutch through practical vocabulary on tastes, smells, sounds, and touch. This beginner-level lesson covers essential sensory verbs like zien, ruiken, horen, and voelen with example sentences, dialogues, and exercises to improve your speaking and comprehension skills.
Listening & reading materials
Practice vocabulary in context with real materials.
Vocabulary (17) Share Copied!
Exercises Share Copied!
These exercises can be done together during conversation lessons or as homework.
Exercise 1: Reorder sentences
Instruction: Make correct sentences and translate.
Exercise 2: Match a word
Instruction: Match the translations
Exercise 3: Cluster the words
Instruction: Divide the following words into two groups: words related to tastes and words related to sounds.
Smaken
Geluiden
Exercise 4: Translate and use in a sentence
Instruction: Pick a word, translated and use the word in a sentence or dialogue.
1
Lekker
Tasty
2
Hard
Hard
3
Zien
See
4
De stilte
The silence
5
Zoet
Sweet
Oefening 5: Gespreksoefening
Instructie:
- Beschrijf het tegenovergestelde in de afbeeldingen met vergelijkingen (meer dan, evenveel als, minder dan). (Describe the opposite in the pictures using comparatives (more than, as, less than).)
- Vraag aan de persoon die naast je zit of ze de voorkeur geven aan zoet of zout eten, zoete of bittere drankjes,... (Ask the person sitting next to you, if they prefer sweet or salty food, sweet or bitter drinks,...)
Teaching guidelines +/- 10 minutes
Example phrases:
Koffie is bitterder dan thee. Coffee is more bitter than tea. |
Een appel is harder dan een banaan. An apple is harder than a banana. |
Bloemen ruiken beter dan sokken. Flowers smell better than socks. |
Zout voedsel smaakt net zo goed als zoet voedsel. Salty food tastes as good as sweet food. |
Heb je liever de geur van koffie of thee? Do you prefer the smell of coffee or tea? |
Ik geef de voorkeur aan de bittere geur van koffie. I prefer the bitter smell of coffee. |
... |
Exercise 6: Dialogue Cards
Instruction: Select a situation and practice the conversation with your teacher or fellow students.
Exercise 7: Multiple Choice
Instruction: Choose the correct solution
1. Ik ____ de zon achter de wolken.
(I ____ the sun behind the clouds.)2. Je ____ de bloemen in de tuin.
(You ____ the flowers in the garden.)3. Wij ____ het geluid van de vogels.
(We ____ the sound of the birds.)4. Zij ____ de zachte stof van de jas.
(She ____ the soft fabric of the coat.)Exercise 8: A Walk in the Park
Instruction:
Verb Tables
Zien - See
Onvoltooid tegenwoordige tijd
- ik zie
- jij ziet
- hij/zij/het ziet
- wij zien
- jullie zien
- zij zien
Ruiken - Smell
Onvoltooid tegenwoordige tijd
- ik ruik
- jij ruikt
- hij/zij/het ruikt
- wij ruiken
- jullie ruiken
- zij ruiken
Horen - Hear
Onvoltooid tegenwoordige tijd
- ik hoor
- jij hoort
- hij/zij/het hoort
- wij horen
- jullie horen
- zij horen
Voelen - Feel
Onvoltooid tegenwoordige tijd
- ik voel
- jij voelt
- hij/zij/het voelt
- wij voelen
- jullie voelen
- zij voelen
Exercise 9: Trappen van vergelijking
Instruction: Fill in the correct word.
Grammar: Degrees of comparison
Show translation Show answerszachter, liefste, zuurste, zoetst, luider, beter, minst, zouter
Grammar Share Copied!
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Verb conjugation tables for this lesson Share Copied!
Zien see Share Copied!
Onvoltooid tegenwoordige tijd (OTT)
Dutch | English |
---|---|
(ik) zie | I see |
(jij) ziet/zie | you see/see |
(hij/zij/het) ziet | he/she/it sees |
(wij) zien | we see |
(jullie) zien | you see |
(zij) zien | they see |
Ruiken to smell Share Copied!
Onvoltooid tegenwoordige tijd (OTT)
Dutch | English |
---|---|
(ik) ruik | I smell |
(jij) ruikt | you smell |
(hij/zij/het) ruikt | he/she/it smells |
(wij) ruiken | we smell |
(jullie) ruiken | you smell |
(zij) ruiken | They smell |
Horen to hear Share Copied!
Onvoltooid tegenwoordige tijd (OTT)
Dutch | English |
---|---|
(ik) hoor | I hear |
(jij) hoort / hoor | you hear / I hear |
(hij/zij/het) hoort | he/she/it hears |
(wij) horen | we hear |
(jullie) horen | you hear |
(zij) horen | they hear |
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Understanding Senses and Perception in Dutch
Welcome to the lesson on Senses and Perceiving in Dutch. This A1-level course focuses on everyday vocabulary and simple sentence structures that describe sensory experiences such as taste, smell, sound, and touch. You will learn how to express and compare sensory details, boosting your ability to engage in common conversations about food, nature, and daily sensations.
Key Vocabulary and Expressions
Throughout this lesson, you will encounter useful words related to tastes like zoet (sweet), bitter (bitter), and zuur (sour), as well as sound-related terms such as het geluid (the sound) and hard (loud). Practice grouping sensory words and use them to describe objects and environments.
Comparative Sentences and Dialogue Practice
This lesson introduces you to comparatives through sentences such as "Deze appel is zoeter dan die sinaasappel" (This apple is sweeter than that orange) and "Het geluid is harder dan de televisie" (The sound is louder than the television). You will also find practical dialogues situated in familiar settings like supermarkets, coffee places, and restaurants, which encourage you to describe tastes, smells, and sounds more naturally.
Verb Conjugation and Usage
An important part covers the conjugation of sensory verbs like zien (to see), ruiken (to smell), horen (to hear), and voelen (to feel) in the present tense. Exercises offer multiple-choice questions helping reinforce correct verb forms within sensory contexts.
Story and Practical Application
The included mini-story "Een wandeling in het park" (A walk in the park) combines sensory vocabulary with simple Dutch grammar and offers gap-fill activities to improve your comprehension and speaking skills. You will also explore word clusters and sentence comparisons to deepen your understanding of sensory descriptions.
Language Notes
In Dutch, sensory verbs like zien, ruiken, and horen function similarly to their English equivalents but conjugate according to Dutch grammar rules. Unlike English, Dutch often uses direct comparisons with dan (than), e.g., "zoeter dan" (sweeter than). Useful phrases to remember include Ik ruik een zoete geur (I smell a sweet scent) and Dit geluid is harder dan... (This sound is louder than...). Understanding these subtle differences will enhance your ability to describe your sensory experiences authentically in Dutch.