Basic needs and preferences | Learn Dutch in English

Dutch lesson set in a contemporary Amsterdam everyday setting: A beginner practices six useful English phrases about basic needs, wishes, and preferences..

EN → NL / Level: A1

About This Lesson

Use Basic needs and preferences to practice Dutch conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Ik heb wat hulp nodig.

ik hep wuht hulp NOH-dikh. I need some help.
B

Ik heb wat water nodig.

ik hep wuht WAH-ter NOH-dikh. I need some water.
A

Ik wil deze.

ik wil DAY-zuh. I want this one.
B

Ik wil die.

ik wil dee. I want that one.
A

Ik vind deze leuk.

ik vint DAY-zuh luhk. I like this one.
B

Ik vind het niet leuk.

ik vint uht neet luhk. I do not like it.

Word by Word

Ik "Ik" means "I" and is the speaker who has the need, want, or preference in these lines. It is used as the subject at the start of "Ik heb wat hulp nodig." and "Ik wil deze." Use "Ik" when stating your own need or choice.
heb "heb" means "have" in "Ik heb wat hulp nodig."; with "Ik," it is the first-person form of "hebben." Together with the surrounding words, it helps express needing help, so "heb" alone is not the whole meaning "need." The same pattern appears in "Ik heb wat water nodig." when saying that something is needed.
wat "wat" means "some" here: it gives an unspecified amount in "wat hulp" and "wat water." It comes before the noun whose amount is unspecified. Use it when mentioning or asking for an unspecified amount, as in "Ik heb wat water nodig."
hulp "hulp" means "help" and names the assistance needed in "Ik heb wat hulp nodig." It is the thing that "wat" and "nodig" relate to in that sentence. Use it when saying that you need assistance, as in "Ik heb wat hulp nodig."
nodig "nodig" means "needed" here and completes the Dutch way of expressing a need in "Ik heb wat hulp nodig." The needed item appears before it, as in "wat hulp" or "wat water," while "nodig" comes at the end. Use the same pattern when saying that something is required, for example "Ik heb wat water nodig."
water "water" means "water" in "Ik heb wat water nodig." and is the thing that is needed. With "wat" before it, "wat water" refers to some water rather than a fixed amount. Use it when asking for water or saying you need it, as in "Ik heb wat water nodig."
wil "wil" means "want" with the subject "Ik," as in "Ik wil deze." It comes after "Ik" and before the chosen item; the same form appears in "Ik wil die." Use it when stating a choice or asking for an item.
deze "deze" means "this one" in "Ik wil deze." and identifies the chosen item without naming it. It can stand as the item after "Ik wil," and it also appears in "Ik vind deze leuk." Use it when selecting or commenting positively on the item you are indicating.
die "die" means "that one" in "Ik wil die." and identifies the other indicated choice. It stands alone after "Ik wil," contrasting with "deze" in the dialogue. Use it when choosing or referring to an item you indicate as that one.
vind "vind" is the first-person form of "vinden" used with "Ik" in the liking expression "Ik vind deze leuk." It contributes the "find" element, but the whole expression means "I like this one"; the same form appears in "Ik vind het niet leuk." Use it to state your opinion about whether something is liked.
leuk "leuk" means "likeable" or "enjoyable" in the expression "Ik vind deze leuk."; with "vind," the whole expression says that the speaker likes the item. It describes the item after "deze" or "het," as seen in "Ik vind het niet leuk." Use it when giving an opinion about something with the "vind ... leuk" pattern.
het "het" means "it" in "Ik vind het niet leuk." and refers to the thing being evaluated. It is placed after "vind" and before "niet leuk" in this expression. Use it when the thing being discussed is already clear and you do not name it again.
niet "niet" means "not" and makes the evaluation negative in "Ik vind het niet leuk." It appears before "leuk," so the sentence says that the thing is not likeable to the speaker; "niet" itself does not carry the whole meaning "dislike." Use it to negate this liking expression when saying you do not like something.

Grammar Points

iets nodig hebben

Ik heb wat hulp nodig.

ik hep wuht hulp NOH-dikh.

I need some help.

Dutch expresses need with hebben ... nodig: literally “have ... needed.”

iets leuk vinden

Ik vind het leuk.

ik vint uht luhk.

I like it.

Dutch uses vinden + het + leuk to say that something is nice or enjoyable.

Dutch Vocabulary

deze pron
DAY-zuh this one

Ik wil deze.

die pron
dee that one

Ik wil die.

heb verb
hehp have

Ik heb wat hulp nodig.

het pron
het it

Ik vind het niet leuk.

hulp noun
hulp help

Ik heb wat hulp nodig.

ik pron
ik I

Ik heb wat hulp nodig.

leuk adj
luhk nice; likeable

Ik vind deze leuk.

nodig adj
NOH-dikh needed

Ik heb wat hulp nodig.

vind verb
vint find; think

Ik vind deze leuk.

wat det
wuht some

Ik heb wat hulp nodig.

water noun
WAH-ter water

Ik heb wat water nodig.

wil verb
wil want

Ik wil deze.

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

I need some help.

Show AnswerIk heb wat hulp nodig.

I need some water.

Show AnswerIk heb wat water nodig.

I want this one.

Show AnswerIk wil deze.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

needed

Show Answernodig

help

Show Answerhulp

water

Show Answerwater

this one

Show Answerdeze