Learn Hardcore Dutch: De band test de microfoon op het podium terwijl het publiek wacht. - The band tests the microphone on the stage while the audience waits.

Because testen is the infinitive (“to test”). In the present tense for de band (3rd person singular), you drop -en and add -t, resulting in test.

Why isn’t it spelled testt when adding -t to a stem ending in t?

Dutch spelling rules forbid doubling a final t. If the stem ends in t, you still write only one t even after adding the 3rd-person ending.

Why does test come immediately after De band instead of at the end of the clause?

That’s because this is a main clause, and Dutch uses V2 word order: the finite verb must appear in second position. “De band” is first, so test follows.

Why does wacht appear at the end of the clause introduced by terwijl?

Terwijl is a subordinating conjunction. In Dutch subordinate clauses the finite verb moves to the end.

Why is it de microfoon but het podium? How can I tell which article to use?

Dutch has two noun genders: common (article de) and neuter (article het). Microfoon is common, so it takes de. Podium is neuter, so it takes het. Some word endings follow patterns (e.g. –ing/–ie → de; –um/–ment → het), but many nouns must simply be memorized.

Why do we say op het podium instead of in het podium or aan het podium?

We use op (“on”) for surfaces or platforms. A stage (podium) is considered a surface you stand on, hence op het podium.

What’s the difference between terwijl, als, and toen? Why is terwijl used here?

Terwijl = “while,” for two actions happening simultaneously (present or continuous).
Als = “when/if,” mostly for conditions or general truths.
Toen = “when,” but only for single events in the past.
Since the band is testing the mic at the same time the audience is waiting, terwijl is the correct choice.

Why is publiek treated as singular, with wacht instead of wachten?

Publiek is a collective noun (“audience”) and is grammatically singular in Dutch, so it takes the singular verb wacht.