Lesson 12

12.1 Reflexive Verbs
12.2 The Passive Voice
12.3 New words 12
12.4 Mens talk

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12.1 Reflexive Verbs—-Reflexive Verbs
Verbs that are always reflexive and verbs that may be reflexive.
Always reflexive: e.g. zich schamen (to be ashamed)
Conjugation of zich schamen:

ik schaam me

jij schaamt je

hij schaamt zich

zij schaamt zich

wij schamen ons

jullie schamen je/jullie

zij schamen zich

Other verbs in this category are:

zich vergissen	to err, make a mistake
zich herinneren	to recall
zich verbazen	to be surprised
zich verheugen	to rejoice, to look forward to
zich haasten	to hurry

Verbs that are often reflexive are:

zich scheren	to shave
zich ergeren	to be irritated
zich bezeren	to hurt (oneself)

Exercise 86. Translate into English:
Hij schaamt zich voor zijn gedrag (behavior).
Ik herinner me zijn naam niet meer.
Zij verbaasden zich over het mooie weer.
Sommige mensen scheren zich ‘s avonds, andere ‘s morgens.
Heb je je geërgerd aan mijn opmerking (remark)?
Wij verheugen ons op de zomervakantie.
Ik verbaas me over je vraag.
Waarom haasten jullie je zo?
Het kind bezeerde zich aan een stukje glas.
Ik denk dat je je vergist.
Exercise 87. Translate into Dutch:
We must hurry!
When do you always shave?
She was surprised about how late it was.
They were irritated.
I remember that evening in May.
I think (that) you are making a mistake.
He hurt himself when he fell.
Are you (pl.) looking forward to the end of the year?
Hannie didn’t remember the number of the page.

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12.2 The Passive Voice —- The Passive Voice
(Present Tense)

1. Singular

Active:

We always bake our bread early in the morning.
Wij bakken ons brood altijd ‘s morgens vroeg.
Passive:

Our bread is always baked early in the morning.
Ons brood wordt altijd ‘s morgens vroeg gebakken.
2. Plural

Active:

They export these flowers five times a week.
Ze voeren deze bloemen vijf keer per week uit.
Passive:

The flowers are exported five times a week.
De bloemen worden vijf keer per week uitgevoerd.
The by-phrase: Sometimes it is important to mention the agent, the performer of the action, the real subject of the sentence. The Dutch equivalent of the English by, in this context, is door (not bij!)

Example:

The flowers are exported by the grower.
De bloemen worden door de kweker geëxporteerd.
The book is written by a well-known author.
Het boek wordt door een bekende schrijver geschreven.

Exercise 88. Rewrite the following sentences in the Passive Voice. (in English)
The students learn all the new words.
In The Netherlands they make good cheese.
They pump the water out of the polders.
The men repair the roads.
In Eindhoven they make the best TV’s in the world.
You must translate this sentence.
The Dutch grow beautiful flowers. (to grow – kweken)
They send them to New York by plane.
In the stores they sell them the same morning.
Everybody admires this product.
Exercise 89. Vertaal de bovenstaande zinnen in het Nederlands.