Breakdown of De les duurt ongeveer één uur.
één
one
het uur
the hour / o'clock
duren
to last / to take time
de les
the lesson / the class
ongeveer
approximately / about (quantity)
Questions & Answers about De les duurt ongeveer één uur.
This lesson is about time prepositions for duration, like van and tot. Why aren't we using them here?
Van ... tot means 'from ... to' (like van twee tot drie uur). When you want to state the total amount of time an event takes, you do not need a preposition. You just use the verb duren (to last) followed by the time.
Why does één have accent marks on the vowels?
The accents show that it means the number 'one' rather than the word for 'a' or 'an' (een). It reminds you to pronounce it with a long 'ay' sound instead of a short, relaxed 'uh' sound.
In English we often say a lesson 'takes' an hour. Can I use the Dutch verb for 'to take' (nemen) here?
No, for time duration you must use duren (to last). If you say a lesson 'takes' an hour using nemen, it sounds like the lesson is physically grabbing a clock! Always use duren for how long an event goes on.
Where does the word ongeveer usually go in a sentence?
Ongeveer means 'approximately' or 'about'. It usually goes right before the amount, time, or number it describes, just like in English: ongeveer één uur (about one hour).
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