Werkcollege 1
Dutch VS English
Dutch: Groot-Brittannië
English: Great Britain
Dutch: één euro – twee euro’s
English: one euro – two euros
Dutch: één CV – twee CV’s
English: one CV – two CVs
Dutch: één hobby – twee hobby’s
English: one hobby – two hobbies
Spelling – plural nouns
Common spelling mistakes:
Note the difference:
• there (= er / daar) We have never been there.
• they’re = they are (= zij zijn) They’re my colleagues.
• their (= hun) We have received their invitation.
• it’s (= het is) It’s important to provide proper service.
• its (= z’n, van hem/haar/het) The board has made its decision.
• where (= waar) Where have you been?
• we’re = we are (= wij zijn) We’re not satisfied with this product.
• were (= waren) We were wondering if you could help us.
,Than and then
• This building is taller than that building. (= dan)
• Then we left the building. (= toen / op dat moment)
, Verbs versus nouns
Some verbs and nouns are homophones, which means that they sound the same. Yet, the spelling
differs in British English.
Look at the following examples:
Advice/advise
• He gave me some advice. (advice – noun) (= advies)
• I hate people who advise me. (advise – verb) (= adviseren)
Practice/practise
• I practise the piano every day. (practise – verb) (= oefenen)
• You just need some practice. (practice – noun) (= oefening/training)
Genitive (Unit 22 – Bezitsvorm)
• Our customers need additional information. (geen bezitsvorm)
• We focus on our customers’ needs. (bezitsvorm)
• We did not listen to our employees’ advice. (bezitsvorm)
• Our employees advised us to change our strategy. (geen bezitsvorm)
• one customer my customer’s needs
• many customers my customers’ needs
• one colleague my colleague’s ideas
• many colleagues my colleagues’ ideas
• one man man’s e.g. one man’s trash is another man’s treasure
• many men men’s e.g. men’s clothing / men’s wear (herenmode)
• one year one year’s experience (one year of experience)
• three years three years’ experience (three years of experience
Genitive (1)
You have to use a genitive ’s with the following:
Option 1: proper nouns (names) of people (or animals)
• Donald Trump’s campaign
• Meghan Markle’s career switch
• Prince Charles’ wife
• Beyonce’s website
Note: a name that ends in –s is merely followd by an apostrophe (’)
Option 2: some words of time (last/ next week, today, yesterday an hour)
• Yesterday’s newspaper (de krant van gisteren)
• An hour’s delay (een vertraging van een uur)
Genitive (2)
If you would like to emphasise duration, you may either use a genitive (’s) or a hypen (-):
– An hour’s delay (een vertraging van een uur)
– A one-hour delay (een vertraging van een uur)
– A six weeks’ course (een cursus van zes weken)
– A six-week course (een cursus van zes weken)
– A two hours’ walk (een wandeling van twee uur)
– A two-hour walk (een wandeling van twee uur)
Note: after a plural –s, you merely add an apostrophe (’)
Dutch VS English
Dutch: Groot-Brittannië
English: Great Britain
Dutch: één euro – twee euro’s
English: one euro – two euros
Dutch: één CV – twee CV’s
English: one CV – two CVs
Dutch: één hobby – twee hobby’s
English: one hobby – two hobbies
Spelling – plural nouns
Common spelling mistakes:
Note the difference:
• there (= er / daar) We have never been there.
• they’re = they are (= zij zijn) They’re my colleagues.
• their (= hun) We have received their invitation.
• it’s (= het is) It’s important to provide proper service.
• its (= z’n, van hem/haar/het) The board has made its decision.
• where (= waar) Where have you been?
• we’re = we are (= wij zijn) We’re not satisfied with this product.
• were (= waren) We were wondering if you could help us.
,Than and then
• This building is taller than that building. (= dan)
• Then we left the building. (= toen / op dat moment)
, Verbs versus nouns
Some verbs and nouns are homophones, which means that they sound the same. Yet, the spelling
differs in British English.
Look at the following examples:
Advice/advise
• He gave me some advice. (advice – noun) (= advies)
• I hate people who advise me. (advise – verb) (= adviseren)
Practice/practise
• I practise the piano every day. (practise – verb) (= oefenen)
• You just need some practice. (practice – noun) (= oefening/training)
Genitive (Unit 22 – Bezitsvorm)
• Our customers need additional information. (geen bezitsvorm)
• We focus on our customers’ needs. (bezitsvorm)
• We did not listen to our employees’ advice. (bezitsvorm)
• Our employees advised us to change our strategy. (geen bezitsvorm)
• one customer my customer’s needs
• many customers my customers’ needs
• one colleague my colleague’s ideas
• many colleagues my colleagues’ ideas
• one man man’s e.g. one man’s trash is another man’s treasure
• many men men’s e.g. men’s clothing / men’s wear (herenmode)
• one year one year’s experience (one year of experience)
• three years three years’ experience (three years of experience
Genitive (1)
You have to use a genitive ’s with the following:
Option 1: proper nouns (names) of people (or animals)
• Donald Trump’s campaign
• Meghan Markle’s career switch
• Prince Charles’ wife
• Beyonce’s website
Note: a name that ends in –s is merely followd by an apostrophe (’)
Option 2: some words of time (last/ next week, today, yesterday an hour)
• Yesterday’s newspaper (de krant van gisteren)
• An hour’s delay (een vertraging van een uur)
Genitive (2)
If you would like to emphasise duration, you may either use a genitive (’s) or a hypen (-):
– An hour’s delay (een vertraging van een uur)
– A one-hour delay (een vertraging van een uur)
– A six weeks’ course (een cursus van zes weken)
– A six-week course (een cursus van zes weken)
– A two hours’ walk (een wandeling van twee uur)
– A two-hour walk (een wandeling van twee uur)
Note: after a plural –s, you merely add an apostrophe (’)
