Basic messages and asking for help | Learn Dutch in English

About This Lesson

Use Basic messages and asking for help to practice Dutch conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Zeg het alstublieft nog een keer.

zehkh ut ahl-stoo-BLEEFT nokh uhn KAYR. Please say it again.

Schrijf het alstublieft op.

SKHRAIF ut ahl-stoo-BLEEFT op. Please write it down.

Laat het me alstublieft zien.

LAHT ut muh ahl-stoo-BLEEFT zeen. Please show me.

Help me alstublieft.

HELP muh ahl-stoo-BLEEFT. Please help me.

Hoe kan ik u helpen?

hoo kahn ik ew HELP-uhn? How can I help?

Bel me later alstublieft.

BEL muh LAH-tuhr ahl-stoo-BLEEFT. Please call me later.

Word by Word

Zeg “Zeg” means “say” in this polite request to repeat something. It is the imperative form related to zeggen, used to address one person directly. A reusable pattern is “Zeg het alstublieft nog een keer.” Use it when you did not hear or understand what someone said.

het “Het” means “it” here and refers to the thing or message that should be said again. It comes after “Zeg” as the object of the request. Use “het” for a previously mentioned thing in a pattern such as “Zeg het alstublieft nog een keer.”

alstublieft “Alstublieft” means “please” here and makes the request polite. In this dialogue it appears with requests such as “Zeg het alstublieft nog een keer” and “Help me alstublieft.” Use it when asking another person politely to do something.

nog “Nog” contributes the idea of doing something one more time in “nog een keer.” Together, “nog een keer” asks for a repetition, so “Zeg het alstublieft nog een keer” means to say it again. Use this expression when requesting another repetition.

een “Een” means “one” in the expression “een keer.” Together with “nog,” it helps form “nog een keer,” meaning another time or again. Use “een keer” when referring to one occurrence or one time.

keer “Keer” means “time” or “occasion” in “nog een keer.” The expression “nog een keer” asks for one additional occurrence, as in saying something again. Use it in this expression when asking someone to repeat an action.

Schrijf “Schrijf” means “write” in this direct request to record something. It is the imperative form related to schrijven. The reusable pattern is “Schrijf het alstublieft op,” used when asking someone to write something down.

op “Op” is the particle in “Schrijf het alstublieft op,” where it contributes the idea of writing something down. The meaning “write down” comes from the combination of “Schrijf” and “op,” not from “op” alone. Use this combination when asking someone to record information.

Laat “Laat” begins the request “Laat het me alstublieft zien,” which means “Please show it to me.” It is the imperative form related to laten; together with “zien,” it forms the expression for showing something. Use it when asking someone to show you an object or information.

me “Me” means “me” in “Laat het me alstublieft zien,” referring to the person who should receive the showing. It appears between the thing being shown and “zien” in this request. Use it when identifying yourself as the person to whom something should be shown.

zien “Zien” means “see,” but with “Laat” in “Laat het me alstublieft zien,” the combination means “show it to me.” It is the form used after “Laat” in this expression. Use “Laat het me alstublieft zien” when asking someone to show you something.

Help “Help” means “help” in this direct request for assistance. It is the imperative form related to helpen. The reusable pattern is “Help me alstublieft,” used when you need another person to assist you.

Hoe “Hoe” means “how” in the question “Hoe kan ik u helpen?” It asks about the way in which help can be given. Use it at the beginning of a question about how something can happen or be done.

kan “Kan” expresses “can” or ability in “Hoe kan ik u helpen?” It is the form related to kunnen and is used here with “ik” to ask what help the speaker is able to provide. Use the question “Hoe kan ik u helpen?” when offering assistance.

ik “Ik” means “I” and identifies the speaker in “Hoe kan ik u helpen?” It comes after “kan” in this question. Use it when referring to yourself, including when offering to help someone.

u “U” means “you” here and refers politely to the person receiving the help. In “Hoe kan ik u helpen?” it is the person whom the speaker can help. Use “u” when addressing someone politely in a request or offer of assistance.

helpen “Helpen” means “help” in “Hoe kan ik u helpen?” It follows “kan” in the verb position at the end of this question. Use the pattern “Hoe kan ik u helpen?” when asking what assistance someone needs.

Bel “Bel” means “call” in this request to contact someone by phone. It is the imperative form related to bellen. The reusable pattern is “Bel me later alstublieft,” used when asking someone politely to call you at a later time.

later “Later” means “later,” referring to a time after now. In “Bel me later alstublieft,” it tells the listener when to make the call. Use it after a request when the action should happen at a later time.

Grammar Points

Imperatief: werkwoord vooraan

Schrijf het alstublieft.

SKHRAIF ut ahl-stoo-BLEEFT.

Write it, please.

Dutch commands usually start with the verb and omit the subject pronoun.

Laat + pronomen + infinitief

Laat me zien.

LAHT muh ZEEN.

Let me see.

Laat + pronoun + infinitive expresses “let me …” in Dutch.

Dutch Vocabulary

alstublieft intj

ahl-stoo-BLEEFT please

Please say it again.

help verb

HELP help Help

Help me alstublieft.

het pron

ut it

Zeg het alstublieft nog een keer.

hoe adv

hoo how

Hoe kan ik u helpen?

ik pron

ik I

Hoe kan ik u helpen?

laat verb

LAHT show; let Laat

Laat het me alstublieft zien.

me pron

muh me

Laat het me alstublieft zien.

nog een keer phrase

nokh uhn KAYR again; one more time

Zeg het alstublieft nog een keer.

schrijf verb

SKHRAIF write Schrijf

Schrijf het alstublieft op.

u pron

ew you

Hoe kan ik u helpen?

zeg verb

zehkh say Zeg

Zeg het alstublieft nog een keer.

zien verb

zeen see; show

Laat het me alstublieft zien.

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Please say it again.

Show Answer

Zeg het alstublieft nog een keer.

Please write it down.

Show Answer

Schrijf het alstublieft op.

Please show me.

Show Answer

Laat het me alstublieft zien.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

show; let

Show Answer

Laat

write

Show Answer

Schrijf

please

Show Answer

alstublieft

see; show

Show Answer

zien