Writing and speaking (detailed study)
Writing and speaking in Dutch
The writing and speaking sections assess your ability to produce coherent Dutch for different purposes and audiences. You must write texts such as letters, articles, reviews, and stories, and give an oral presentation or participate in a discussion based on your detailed study.
Concepts to understand
- Text structure: Introduction, body, conclusion; paragraphs with topic sentences; cohesive devices (ten eerste, daarnaast, tot slot).
- Register and style: Formal vs informal; appropriate greetings and closings (Met vriendelijke groet vs Groetjes).
- Grammatical accuracy: Verb conjugation, word order (especially verb-second in main clauses, verb-final in subordinate clauses), use of er, om te + infinitive, zou + infinitive for politeness/hypotheticals.
- Varied vocabulary and sentence structures: Avoid repetition; use synonyms and complex sentences.
- Detailed study: For speaking, you must have studied a topic in depth (e.g., a book, film, or cultural theme) and be able to discuss it, express opinions, and answer questions.
Traps in questions
- Ignoring the audience: Writing a formal letter? Use u, not jij.
- Word order errors: In subordinate clauses, the verb goes to the end (...omdat ik ziek ben).
- False friends and anglicisms: e.g., realiseren (to realize) is correct, but eventueel means possibly, not eventually.
- Insufficient preparation for speaking: The detailed study requires specific knowledge; generic answers score poorly.
- Not answering the question: Stay on topic; address all bullet points.
Worked example
Writing task: Schrijf een formele brief aan de gemeente om een vergunning aan te vragen. (Write a formal letter to the municipality to apply for a permit.)
Rule of thumb: Follow the formal letter structure:
- Geachte heer/mevrouw,
- Introduction: state purpose (Hierbij wil ik een vergunning aanvragen voor...)
- Body: provide details and reasons.
- Closing: Ik hoop spoedig van u te horen.
- Met vriendelijke groet,
- Your name.
Check verb placement in subordinate clauses and use formal vocabulary (verzoeken instead of vragen).