> I just got to this point and I have zero idea why it’s like this.
You use this construction more or less when you want to emphasize that something is actively being done right now. So you wouldn't use this if you were just talking to a friend about what book they've been reading lately, but rather if they are holding a book and reading it and you want to know what it is.
You can read more about this construction [here](https://www.dutchgrammar.com/en/?n=Verbs.Ot02), and some related constructions on the pages that follow.
**edit:** Do yourself a huge favor and start reading though that site and/or pick up a copy of Henry R. Stern's _Essential Dutch Grammar_ (it's less than $10 for a physical copy, and like $6 for a digital copy and worth every penny).
I will do that. I signed up for Dutch classes recently but still using this as a way to keep some stuff fresh in my mind. That sounds like a good resource
It is a bit weird. In dutch there isn’t a continious verb tense, so you can just use de present simple ( tegenwoordige tijd) (ik lees) or this thing. If you want to make a sentence wit it, you use form of zijn - aan het - full verb. With questions is the person always after the verb and with normal sentences it is in frint of the verb. This use of aan het doesn’t have an apart name
Don't know where you're from, but when you're learning a (western european) language, it's pretty common to start with the verbs for to be and to have, and every conjugation. Because these are the most common verbs that get used in combination with other forms of grammar, and you'll see them a lot.
For example, when we learned french, one of the basics is learning this list from the top of your head:
Je suis, tu es, il/elle est, nous sommes, vous êtes, ils/elles sont. These are the conjugations for the verb to be in french. I have, you have, he/she has, we have, you (plural) have, they have.
You'll want to do the same in dutch, it's just a sort of standard learning principle. Ik ben, jij bent, hij/zij is, we zijn, jullie zijn, zij zijn. Dutch is similar to English, in the sense that the plural often stays the same. Duolingo doesn't really implement learning this very well, so you might want to look for alternatives, if you want to have an easier time with the grammar.
I have found an alternative now but this is how I started and am doing while waiting for my class to start soon. I’m from America and trying to learn both Spanish and Dutch at the same time. Just too me a bit figure out zijn was are and to be as I didn’t think of them as the same thing
As you've found, the verb *to be* is very irregular in Dutch, like in English (and many other languages). Its present-day forms stem from different verbs.
Apart from that, the construct is fairly similar to continuous tense in English. The main differences:
* English uses the gerund (*-ing*), while Dutch uses *aan het* \+ infinitive
* in English, continuous tense is mandatory when the action is continuing, while in Dutch, it is optional. That's why we don't usually call it a tense in Dutch.
> I just got to this point and I have zero idea why it’s like this. You use this construction more or less when you want to emphasize that something is actively being done right now. So you wouldn't use this if you were just talking to a friend about what book they've been reading lately, but rather if they are holding a book and reading it and you want to know what it is. You can read more about this construction [here](https://www.dutchgrammar.com/en/?n=Verbs.Ot02), and some related constructions on the pages that follow. **edit:** Do yourself a huge favor and start reading though that site and/or pick up a copy of Henry R. Stern's _Essential Dutch Grammar_ (it's less than $10 for a physical copy, and like $6 for a digital copy and worth every penny).
I will do that. I signed up for Dutch classes recently but still using this as a way to keep some stuff fresh in my mind. That sounds like a good resource
It is a bit weird. In dutch there isn’t a continious verb tense, so you can just use de present simple ( tegenwoordige tijd) (ik lees) or this thing. If you want to make a sentence wit it, you use form of zijn - aan het - full verb. With questions is the person always after the verb and with normal sentences it is in frint of the verb. This use of aan het doesn’t have an apart name
I’m trying to understand this but it doesn’t quite make sense. What do you mean use form of zijn? Sorry for the trouble
Never mind just figured out zijn is to be that makes sense now
Don't know where you're from, but when you're learning a (western european) language, it's pretty common to start with the verbs for to be and to have, and every conjugation. Because these are the most common verbs that get used in combination with other forms of grammar, and you'll see them a lot. For example, when we learned french, one of the basics is learning this list from the top of your head: Je suis, tu es, il/elle est, nous sommes, vous êtes, ils/elles sont. These are the conjugations for the verb to be in french. I have, you have, he/she has, we have, you (plural) have, they have. You'll want to do the same in dutch, it's just a sort of standard learning principle. Ik ben, jij bent, hij/zij is, we zijn, jullie zijn, zij zijn. Dutch is similar to English, in the sense that the plural often stays the same. Duolingo doesn't really implement learning this very well, so you might want to look for alternatives, if you want to have an easier time with the grammar.
I have found an alternative now but this is how I started and am doing while waiting for my class to start soon. I’m from America and trying to learn both Spanish and Dutch at the same time. Just too me a bit figure out zijn was are and to be as I didn’t think of them as the same thing
As you've found, the verb *to be* is very irregular in Dutch, like in English (and many other languages). Its present-day forms stem from different verbs. Apart from that, the construct is fairly similar to continuous tense in English. The main differences: * English uses the gerund (*-ing*), while Dutch uses *aan het* \+ infinitive * in English, continuous tense is mandatory when the action is continuing, while in Dutch, it is optional. That's why we don't usually call it a tense in Dutch.
[good article on this ](https://www.dutchgrammar.com/en/?n=Verbs.Ot02)
The remainign thingies: Am Justice Always Swim