How to use The Dutch Learner’s Grammar
Welcome to the Dutch Learner’s Grammar. The site is currently being redeveloped, so apologies if something does not quite work. These instructions for using the grammar will be updated regularly. Important updates are given in bold.
The grammar is divided into a Beginners’ Grammar and an Advanced Grammar. You will find tabs for these at the top of every page. You will know best what level is right for you, or your teacher will tell you. If you are a beginner student of Dutch (working towards or at level A1 or A2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages or CEFR), you will obviously use the Beginners’ Grammar. Intermediate students can use the Advanced Grammar, especially if they are already working towards or at CEFR B2. Advanced students (CEFR C1 or C2) should use the Advanced Grammar. As part of the redevelopment the two grammars will merge. So far we have fully merged: Spelling and Pronunciation, Nouns, Numerals and Verbs.
Both parts of the grammar are structured in the same way. The Beginners’ Grammar has three sections (called ‘Collections’): Spelling and Pronunciation, Words and Sentences. The Advanced Grammar has four sections (also called ‘Collections’): in addition to Spelling and Pronunciation, Words and Sentences, it also has a section on Usage. Spelling and pronunciation speaks for itself. The Words sections are divided into so-called ‘courses’ about different types of words, for example nouns, verbs or conjunctions. If you click on the relevant sections, you will find links to these ‘courses’, e.g. pronouns. The Sentences sections have ‘courses’ about different types of sentences, sentence structure and constituents (the elements of a sentence). Usage has ‘courses’ about the cohesion of a text and politeness.
When you enter a ‘course’, you will land on the ‘Overview’ tab which tells you something about the topic in a few words. The ‘Curriculum’ tab is divided into several ‘lectures’, e.g. the different types of pronouns in the sub-section about pronouns. By clicking on a lecture, e.g. ‘personal pronouns’, you will be able to read everything you need to know about that topic.
The Exercises tab at the top of every page takes you to a list of all the exercises, beginning with those for the Beginners’ Grammar. Scroll down to the topic of your choice for exercises on that topic. As part of the redevelopment we are integrating the relevant exercises into each ‘course’. So far we have integrated all exercises for Spelling and Pronunciation, Nouns and Verbs, plus in the Beginners’ Grammar the exercises for: Adjectives, Adverbs, Articles, Comparative and Superlative, Constituents, Numerals and Particles.
About The Dutch Learner’s Grammar
Learn more about how The Dutch Learner’s Grammar was developed in the Colofon.
Find out more about Dutch Grammar
If you are interested in finding out more about the grammar of Dutch, you could visit the Elektronische ANS, the electronic version of the Algemene Nederlandse Spraakkunst or General Dutch Grammar. This is the most comprehensive Dutch reference grammar, published in two volumes in 1997.
