Basic understanding and knowledge | Learn Dutch in English

Dutch lesson set in a contemporary Amsterdam everyday setting: A beginner practices six useful English phrases about basic understanding and knowledge..

EN → NL / Level: A1

About This Lesson

Use Basic understanding and knowledge to practice Dutch conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Ik begrijp het nu.

ik buh-GRYPE ut nyoo. I understand now.
B

Ik begrijp het niet.

ik buh-GRYPE ut NEET. I do not understand.
A

Ik weet het niet.

ik VAYT ut NEET. I do not know.
B

Wat bedoel je?

wut buh-DOOL yuh? What do you mean?
A

Begrijp je me?

buh-GRYPE yuh muh? Do you understand me?
B

Ken je hem?

ken yuh hem? Do you know him?

Word by Word

Ik “Ik” means “I” and is the subject form used when the speaker talks about themself. It comes before the verb in “Ik begrijp het nu.” and “Ik weet het niet.” Use “Ik” to state your own understanding, knowledge, or another action.
begrijp “begrijp” expresses understanding in “Ik begrijp het nu.” and “Ik begrijp het niet.” It is the form used with “Ik”; in “Begrijp je me?” the same verb form appears before “je” in the question. Reuse the pattern “Ik begrijp het” when saying that you understand or do not understand something.
het “het” means “it” here and refers to the thing or idea being understood or known. It follows the verb in “Ik begrijp het nu.” and “Ik weet het niet.” Use “het” for a thing or piece of information when its exact name is already clear.
nu “nu” means “now” and shows that the speaker understands at this moment in “Ik begrijp het nu.” It comes at the end of this sentence after “het.” Use “nu” when you want to mark the current time or a change that is happening at this moment.
niet “niet” makes the statement negative in “Ik begrijp het niet.” and “Ik weet het niet.” It comes after the object “het” in both expressions. Use the pattern “Ik begrijp het niet” to say that you do not understand, or “Ik weet het niet” to say that you do not know.
weet “weet” expresses knowing information in “Ik weet het niet.” It is the form used with “Ik,” and “het” identifies the information that is not known. In this dialogue, “weet” concerns knowledge, while “Ken” is used for being acquainted with a person.
Wat “Wat” means “what” and starts the question “Wat bedoel je?” It asks for the content or meaning of what another person said. Use “Wat bedoel je?” when you need someone to clarify their meaning.
bedoel “bedoel” expresses meaning or intending in “Wat bedoel je?” In this question, it comes before “je” because the verb and subject are inverted. Use the complete pattern “Wat bedoel je?” to ask another person to explain their meaning.
je “je” means “you” and refers to the person being addressed in “Wat bedoel je?” and “Begrijp je me?” It is the subject of the question and appears after the verb in both sentences. Use “je” when asking one person about their meaning or understanding.
me “me” means “me” and is the person being understood in “Begrijp je me?” It follows the subject “je” and functions as the person affected by understanding. Use “Begrijp je me?” to check whether another person understands what you are saying.
Ken “Ken” expresses knowing or being acquainted with a person in “Ken je hem?” It is the form used before “je” in this question. Use “Ken je hem?” to ask whether someone knows a particular man; this differs from “weet,” which concerns information.
hem “hem” means “him” and refers to the male person being asked about in “Ken je hem?” It comes after the verb and identifies the person known or not known. Use “hem” when referring back to a male person as the object of the question.

Grammar Points

Wat bedoel je?

Wat bedoel je?

wut buh-DOOL yuh?

What do you mean?

In een Nederlandse vraag staat het werkwoord vóór het onderwerp: bedoel je.

Dutch Vocabulary

bedoel verb
buh-DOOL mean

Wat bedoel je?

begrijp verb
buh-GRYPE understand

Ik begrijp het nu.

hem pron
hem him

Ken je hem?

het pron
ut it

Ik begrijp het nu.

ik pron
ik I

Ik begrijp het nu.

je pron
yuh you

Wat bedoel je?

ken verb
ken know

Ken je hem?

me pron
muh me

Begrijp je me?

niet adv
neet not

Ik begrijp het niet.

nu adv
nyoo now

Ik begrijp het nu.

wat pron
wut what

Wat bedoel je?

weet verb
vayt know

Ik weet het niet.

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

I understand now.

Show AnswerIk begrijp het nu.

I do not understand.

Show AnswerIk begrijp het niet.

I do not know.

Show AnswerIk weet het niet.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

not

Show Answerniet

know

Show Answerweet

mean

Show Answerbedoel

understand

Show Answerbegrijp