Learn Hardcore Dutch: De cursus begint morgen om acht uur. - The course starts tomorrow at eight o’clock.

Because cursus is a common‑gender noun in Dutch, so it takes the article de, not het. There isn’t a reliable rule from the ending here—just learn it as de cursus.

Why is begint in the present tense if it refers to the future?

Dutch commonly uses the present tense for scheduled future events when a time expression is present. De cursus begint morgen ... is the natural choice; De cursus zal morgen beginnen also works but sounds less neutral here.

How is beginnen conjugated here, and why the -t?

The infinitive is beginnen. For third‑person singular, add -t to the stem: de cursus begint. Other key forms: ik begin, jij/je begint, wij/jullie/zij beginnen.

Can I change the word order, e.g., start with Morgen?

Yes. Dutch is verb‑second: the finite verb stays in second position. So: Morgen om acht uur begint de cursus. With the subject first: De cursus begint morgen om acht uur.

Is the order morgen om acht uur fixed?

It’s the most natural order (general → specific): morgen (day) before om acht uur (clock time). Om acht uur morgen is possible but sounds marked/poetic; everyday speech prefers morgen om acht uur.

Why use om with a clock time?

Dutch uses om before exact times: om acht uur. Use op with days/dates (op maandag, op 5 mei; for weekdays, op is often optional) and in for months/longer periods (in mei). For parts of the day, 's ochtends/'s middags/'s avonds are most idiomatic.

Do I need uur? Can I say om acht?

Standard is om acht uur. In casual speech, om acht is common, but in careful speech or writing include uur.

How do I express 8 a.m. vs 8 p.m.?

Dutch avoids a.m./p.m. Use the 24‑hour clock (om 08.00 uur, om 20.00 uur) or add a part of day: om acht uur 's ochtends vs om acht uur 's avonds.

How do I pronounce tricky parts like acht, uur, and cursus?

g/ch: guttural /[ɣ], not like English “g.”
acht: [ɑxt], with a harsh ch.
uu in uur: long front rounded vowel [yː] (say “ee” with rounded lips).
cursus: ['kʏrsʏs], the short u is [ʏ] (like German “ü” but short).

Why is it acht uur (singular) and not acht uren?

When telling the time, Dutch uses singular uur: acht uur, twee uur. For durations you also usually use singular (twee uur wachten); plural uren appears in expressions like na uren wachten (“after hours of waiting”).

Does morgen mean “tomorrow” or “morning”?

Here morgen is the adverb “tomorrow.” As a noun, de morgen can mean “the morning” (formal/poetic); everyday Dutch prefers de ochtend or 's ochtends.

What’s the difference between cursus, les, and college?

cursus: a course (series of lessons).
les: a single lesson/class session.
college: a lecture (often university‑level).

Can I use start instead of begint?

Yes: De cursus start morgen om acht uur is fine. Beginnen is very neutral; starten is common too, especially informally and in Belgian Dutch.

How do I ask “At what time does the course start?” in Dutch?

Use Hoe laat begint de cursus? (expects a clock time) or Wanneer begint de cursus? (expects a time or date).

How do I say “The course doesn’t start at eight”?

Place niet before the time phrase: De cursus begint morgen niet om acht uur (maar om negen uur).

What happens in a subordinate clause?

The finite verb goes to the end: Omdat de cursus morgen om acht uur begint, ... Similarly: Ik weet dat de cursus morgen om acht uur begint.

How do I write the time with numerals? Any abbreviations?

Common styles: om 8 uur, om 8.00 uur, om 08:00. In the Netherlands, uur is often written out; u. or 8u is more common in Belgium.