Basic Permission Questions | Learn Dutch in English

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

EN → NL / Level: A1

About This Lesson

Use Basic Permission Questions to practice Dutch conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Kan ik dit gebruiken?

kahn ik diht khuh-BROY-kuh(n)? Can I use this?
B

Kan ik hier zitten?

kahn ik heer ZIH-tuh(n)? Can I sit here?
A

Mag ik binnenkomen?

mahkh ik bih-nun-KOH-muh(n)? Can I come in?
B

Kan ik het zien?

kahn ik ut ZEEN? Can I see it?
A

Kan ik het proberen?

kahn ik ut proh-BAY-ruh(n)? Can I try it?
B

Mag ik dit hebben?

mahkh ik diht HEB-uh(n)? Can I have this?

Word by Word

Kan “Kan” starts a question asking whether the speaker can or may do something, as in “Kan ik dit gebruiken?”. The complete request for permission comes from the whole question; “Kan” is reused at the beginning of “Kan ik hier zitten?” and “Kan ik het zien?”.
ik “ik” means “I” and identifies the person asking for permission in “Kan ik dit gebruiken?”. It comes after “Kan” in these questions and is reused in “Kan ik hier zitten?” and “Kan ik het zien?”. This form is useful when asking about an action you want to do yourself.
dit “dit” means “this” and points to the thing the speaker wants to use or have in “Kan ik dit gebruiken?” and “Mag ik dit hebben?”. It appears before the action word in these questions. Use “dit” when referring to the particular thing currently being indicated or discussed.
gebruiken “gebruiken” means “use” in “Kan ik dit gebruiken?”. It names the action the speaker is asking permission to perform and appears at the end of the question after “Kan ik dit”. This form is useful in a permission question about using an object.
hier “hier” means “here” and specifies the place in “Kan ik hier zitten?”. It appears before “zitten” to show where the speaker wants to sit. Use it when asking permission to do something at the place where the conversation is happening.
zitten “zitten” means “sit” in “Kan ik hier zitten?”. It names the requested action and appears at the end of the question after “Kan ik hier”. This form is useful when asking permission to sit in a particular place.
Mag “Mag” starts a question asking for permission, as in “Mag ik binnenkomen?” and “Mag ik dit hebben?”. The full permission meaning belongs to the whole question, while “Mag” introduces the request. It is useful when asking politely whether entering or having something is permitted.
binnenkomen “binnenkomen” means “come in” in “Mag ik binnenkomen?”. It names the action the speaker wants permission to perform and appears at the end of the question after “Mag ik”. Use it when asking someone at an entrance or doorway for permission to enter.
het “het” means “it” in “Kan ik het zien?” and “Kan ik het proberen?”. It refers to the thing the speaker wants to see or try and appears before the action word. Use “het” when the specific object is already clear from the situation.
zien “zien” means “see” in “Kan ik het zien?”. It names the action the speaker is asking permission to perform and appears at the end of the question after “Kan ik het”. This form is useful when asking to look at something.
proberen “proberen” means “try” in “Kan ik het proberen?”. It names the action the speaker wants permission to perform with the thing referred to by “het”. It appears at the end of the question and is useful when asking to try something.
hebben “hebben” means “have” in “Mag ik dit hebben?”. It names what the speaker wants permission to have and appears at the end of the question after “Mag ik dit”. Use it when asking whether you may have or take the particular thing indicated by “dit”.

Grammar Points

binnenkomen → ik kom binnen

Ik kom binnen.

ihk kawm BIH-nun.

I come in.

Bij het scheidbare werkwoord binnenkomen staat binnen aan het einde van de zin.

proberen + te + infinitief

Ik probeer dit te gebruiken.

ihk proh-BAYR diht tuh khuh-BROY-kuh(n).

I try to use this.

Na proberen gebruik je te en daarna het hele werkwoord: te gebruiken.

Dutch Vocabulary

binnenkomen verb
bih-nun-KOH-muh(n) to come in
dit pron
diht this
gebruiken verb
khuh-BROY-kuh(n) to use
hebben verb
HEB-uh(n) to have
het pron
heht it
hier adv
heer here
ik pron
ihk I
proberen verb
proh-BAY-ruh(n) to try
zien verb
zeen to see
zitten verb
ZIH-tuh(n) to sit

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Can I use this?

Show AnswerKan ik dit gebruiken?

Can I sit here?

Show AnswerKan ik hier zitten?

Can I come in?

Show AnswerMag ik binnenkomen?

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

here

Show Answerhier

to come in

Show Answerbinnenkomen

to use

Show Answergebruiken

to see

Show Answerzien