Advanced Dutch (B2–C2)
In-depth theory for upper-intermediate, advanced and near-native learners.
B2 · Upper intermediate 4
Participle constructions in formal Dutch: gezien, thuisgekomen, lachend
Master formal Dutch participle phrases like gezien, gelet op, uitgaande van, thuisgekomen and lachend, with word order rules, pitfalls and tables.
The advanced Dutch passive: modals, krijgen and er wordt
Go beyond the basic Dutch passive with modal verbs, every tense, the er-passive, the krijgen-passive and tips on when to avoid it.
Dutch conjunctions of condition and purpose: tenzij, mits, zodat and more
Learn tenzij, mits, indien, zolang, zodat, opdat, naarmate, voor zover and aangezien, with meanings, word order, register and common mistakes.
Er in complex Dutch sentences: combined functions and word order
Advanced guide to Dutch 'er': what happens when its functions combine, where er goes in long sentences, and how to split er, daar and waar.
C1 · Advanced 4
Formal written Dutch: nominal style, ter and ten, and formal connectors
Write Dutch like an official letter or report. Nominal style, ter/ten phrases, formal connectors and an impersonal tone, with plain equivalents.
Dutch collocations: which verb goes with which noun?
Een besluit nemen, een vraag stellen, aandacht besteden aan. Learn the verb–noun combinations that make Dutch sound native, and the English traps.
Hedging in Dutch: wellicht, vermoedelijk, naar verluidt and more
Soften and qualify your claims in Dutch with wellicht, vermoedelijk, enigszins, naar verluidt and the reporting zou, from news to academic writing.
Advanced Dutch connectors: desalniettemin, ofschoon, immers and more
Go beyond daarom and echter. Meaning, register and word order of desalniettemin, ofschoon, immers, althans, hetzij … hetzij, nochtans and more.
C2 · Mastery 4
The Dutch subjunctive: leve, het zij zo, men neme and more
Dutch has a subjunctive, but only in fixed formulas. Learn leve, moge, het zij zo, zij het, koste wat het kost and the genitives that go with them.
Dutch near-synonyms: blij or vrolijk, kijken or zien, zeggen or beweren?
Six sets of Dutch near-synonyms explained, from blij and vrolijk to beweren and stellen, so you can choose the exact word a native speaker would.
Legal and administrative Dutch: how to read an official letter
Understand Dutch official letters, from ingevolge, krachtens and onverminderd to beschikking, bezwaar maken, termijn and ter inzage.
Literary Dutch: style, word order and vocabulary of the novel
Read Dutch literature with confidence. Learn stylistic inversion, nauwelijks … of, and literary words like weldra, ternauwernood and onverhoeds.
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Lessons that go with these guides
Participle phrases
B2 · Read and write compact formal phrases like gezien de situatie and thuisgekomen.
Participles as adjectives
B1 · Say “the stolen bike”, “a boiled egg” and “a laughing child”.
Formal vs informal Dutch
B1 · Recognise and use the formal words of letters, forms and official emails.
Advanced passive
B2 · Use the passive with modals and in every tense, master the krijgen-passive, and know when to avoid it.
The passive
B1 · Focus on what happens, not who does it.
I had to / I could have
B1 · Say what you had to do, couldn't do — and should have done.