Dutch For Dummies

Whether you want to speak Dutch for business or leisure, this easy–to–use guide will get you up to scratch in no time. The companion CD helps you master Dutch pronunciation, and the book takes you step–by–step through the theory behind written and spoken Dutch. Covering everything from grammar and vocabulary to popular expressions and local etiquette, this is the essential guide for everyone wanting to get to grips with this wonderful language.

Introduction 1 Part I: Getting Started 7 Chapter 1: You Already Know Some Dutch 9 Chapter 2: Low–cal Grammar: Just the Basics 27 Chapter 3: Number Magic: All Kinds of Counting 49 Part II: Dutch in Action 65 Chapter 4: Greetings and Introductions 67 Chapter 5: Getting to Know Each Other Better 85 Chapter 6: Enjoying a Meal and Eating Out 99 Chapter 7: Shopping ’til You Drop 131 Chapter 8: Making Leisure a Top Priority 149 Chapter 9: When You Have to Work 177 Part III: Dutch on the Go 199 Chapter 10: Money, Banks, and Post Offices 201 Chapter 11: Asking for Directions 215 Chapter 12: Staying in a Hotel 231 Chapter 13: Using Transport 249 Chapter 14: Coping with Emergencies 283 Part IV: The Part of Tens 303 Chapter 15: Ten Ways to Pick Up Dutch Quickly 305 Chapter 16: Five Things You Should Never Say 309 Chapter 17: Ten Favourite Dutch Expressions 311 Chapter 18: Ten Public Holidays to Remember 315 Chapter 19: Ten Phrases That Make You Sound Professional 321 Part V: Appendixes 325 Appendix A: Dutch Verbs 327 Appendix B: Minidictionary 341 Appendix C: About the CD 355 Index 357

Margreet Kwakernaak has taught Dutch to foreign students for over ten years. She is the founder and director of Suitcase Talen, a language school in Almere, the Netherlands.