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Questions & Answers about Hoe lang duurt de film?
Why is it duurt and not is?
Dutch normally expresses duration with the verb duren. So you ask: Hoe lang duurt de film? literally: “How long does the film last?” You can hear Hoe lang is de film? in everyday speech, but duurt is the default and unambiguous for duration.
Can I say Hoe lang is de film? instead?
Yes, many people say it and everyone will understand it as duration. Just be aware that is can, in other contexts, refer to physical length, while duurt is only about time. For safest, most idiomatic Dutch, use Hoe lang duurt de film?
What verb is duurt from, and how do I use it?
- Infinitive: duren (to last)
- 3rd person singular (present): duurt (De film duurt…)
- Past: duurde (singular), duurden (plural)
- Past participle: geduurd (De film heeft twee uur geduurd.)
It’s intransitive and typically used with time expressions: Het duurt twee uur.
Why is the verb before the subject (… duurt de film)?
Dutch main clauses are verb-second (V2). In a wh-question, the wh-phrase counts as the first position, so the finite verb comes next:
- Hoe lang (position 1) duurt (verb) de film (subject)? In a subordinate clause, the verb goes to the end:
- Ik weet niet hoe lang de film duurt.
Is Hoe lang one word (Hoelang)?
Both are accepted, but hoe lang (two words) is the preferred spelling in standard writing. hoelang as one word is also correct and more common in some regions; choose one style and be consistent.
How do I pronounce the sentence?
- hoe: like English “who,” rounded [hu]
- lang: like “lung” but with a hard g-less ng, [lahng]
- duurt: long rounded vowel [uu] (lips rounded), roughly “doort” with a long u-sound
- film: often two syllables, like “FIL-um”
Say it smoothly: Hoe lang duurt de film?
How do I answer this question naturally?
Both short and full-sentence answers are fine:
- Short: Twee uur. / Ongeveer twee uur. / Een uur en drie kwartier. / Anderhalf uur.
- Full: De film duurt twee uur. / Hij duurt anderhalf uur. Notes:
- With numbers, Dutch usually keeps uur invariable: twee uur, drie uur (though uren exists in other contexts).
Can I ask a yes/no version like Duurt de film lang?
Yes. Duurt de film lang? means “Is the movie long (in duration)?” It expects a yes/no or graded answer, e.g. Niet zo lang, Best lang, Heel lang. The wh-question Hoe lang duurt de film? asks for a specific amount of time.
What’s the difference between Hoe lang duurt de film? and Hoe laat begint de film?
- Hoe lang duurt de film? asks for the duration.
- Hoe laat begint de film? asks for the start time.
You’ll also hear Hoe laat is de film? to ask when a screening is scheduled.
Is Hoeveel tijd duurt de film? acceptable?
No, that’s not idiomatic. Use Hoe lang duurt de film? If you want “how much time” in another context, you’d normally use Hoe lang…? as well.
How do I ask how much longer it will last?
- Hoe lang duurt de film nog?
- Hoe lang duurt het nog? (if the film is already playing)
- Hoeveel langer duurt de film? (asks for the remaining amount)
How do I talk about past or future duration?
- Past: Hoe lang duurde de film? — De film duurde twee uur.
- Future (neutral): Hoe lang zal de film duren?
- Future (colloquial/common): Hoe lang gaat de film duren?
How do I use this in an indirect question?
Keep the verb at the end:
- Ik weet niet hoe lang de film duurt.
- Weet je hoe lang de film duurt?
- Kun je me zeggen hoe lang de film duurt?
Is there a noun for “runtime”?
Yes:
- speelduur (very common)
- looptijd (also used)
Examples: Wat is de speelduur van de film? / Wat is de looptijd?
You may also see de duur (duration) in formal contexts: Wat is de duur van de film?
Does lang mean “tall/long” too?
Yes. lang can mean “long/tall” (adjective) or “for a long time” (adverb). In Hoe lang duurt…, lang is an adverb modifying the verb duren. As an adjective before a noun, it inflects: een lange film (“a long film”).
What article does film take? Can I use a demonstrative?
film is a de-word: de film.
- Indefinite: een film
- Demonstratives: die film (that movie), deze film (this movie)
Any common pitfalls for English speakers?
- Using “is” by default. Hoe lang duurt… is safest for duration.
- Calquing “how much time” as Hoeveel tijd duurt… (avoid; use Hoe lang…).
- Forgetting V2 word order in direct questions. It’s Hoe lang duurt de film?, not Hoe lang de film duurt?
Can I replace “the film” with “it”?
Yes:
- Hoe lang duurt het? (when context makes “it” clear)
- Het duurt twee uur. (answering without repeating “de film”)