About This Lesson
Use Basic checks and status questions to practice Dutch conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
Is dit oké?
iss dit oh-KAY? Is this okay?
B
Is dit jouw tas?
iss dit yow tahss? Is this your bag?
A
Zit hier iemand?
zit heer EE-mahnt? Is anyone sitting here?
B
Ben je nu druk?
behn yuh nyoo druhk? Are you busy now?
A
Ben je nu klaar?
behn yuh nyoo klahr? Are you ready now?
B
Heb je hulp nodig?
hehp yuh HUHLP NOH-dikh? Do you need help?Word by Word
Is
In Is dit oké? and Is dit jouw tas?, Is starts a yes-or-no question and means “is.” It comes before dit because these sentences are questions. Use the same opening when checking what something is or whether it belongs to someone.
dit
In Is dit oké? and Is dit jouw tas?, dit refers to the thing being pointed to or checked and means “this.” It appears after Is in these questions. Use dit when asking about a nearby or indicated thing.
oké
In Is dit oké?, oké means “okay” or “acceptable.” It completes the question about whether something is fine. Use Is dit oké? when checking whether something is acceptable.
jouw
In Is dit jouw tas?, jouw identifies the bag as belonging to the person being addressed and means “your.” It comes directly before tas. Use jouw before a noun when identifying something as belonging to the person you are speaking to.
tas
In Is dit jouw tas?, tas means “bag” and names the item being identified. It follows jouw in the question. Use it when checking or talking about a bag, as in Is dit jouw tas?
Zit
In Zit hier iemand?, Zit expresses being seated and begins the question about whether someone is sitting here. It comes before hier iemand in this question. Use it when checking whether a place is occupied by someone sitting there.
hier
In Zit hier iemand?, hier means “here” and identifies the place being checked. It appears between Zit and iemand. Use hier when referring to the place where the speaker and listener are.
iemand
In Zit hier iemand?, iemand refers to an unspecified person and means “anyone” in this question. It follows hier and is the person whose presence is being checked. Use iemand when asking about or referring to a person whose identity is not specified.
Ben
In Ben je nu druk? and Ben je nu klaar?, Ben is a form of zijn and, together with je, means “are.” It begins these questions because they ask about the listener’s state. Use Ben je ...? to ask about someone’s current condition or status.
je
In Ben je nu druk?, Ben je nu klaar?, and Heb je hulp nodig?, je refers to the person being addressed and means “you.” It follows Ben or Heb in these questions. Use je when speaking directly to the person whose status or need you are asking about.
nu
In Ben je nu druk? and Ben je nu klaar?, nu means “now” and limits the question to the present time. It comes after je and before druk or klaar. Use nu when asking about someone’s status at this moment.
druk
In Ben je nu druk?, druk describes the listener’s current status as busy. It follows nu and completes the question. Use Ben je nu druk? to check whether someone is occupied now.
klaar
In Ben je nu klaar?, klaar describes whether the listener is ready now. It follows nu and completes the question about readiness. Use Ben je nu klaar? to check whether someone is ready to continue or begin.
Heb
In Heb je hulp nodig?, Heb is a form of hebben and contributes the meaning “have.” Together with je and hulp nodig, it forms the question about needing help. A reusable pattern is Heb je + an item + nodig?; keep the item between je and nodig.
hulp
In Heb je hulp nodig?, hulp means “help” and names what may be needed. It appears after je and before nodig. Use hulp when asking whether someone needs help, as in Heb je hulp nodig?
nodig
In Heb je hulp nodig?, nodig contributes to the construction that asks whether help is needed. The complete expression gives the meaning; nodig alone does not express the whole question. It follows the item being needed, and a reusable pattern is Heb je + an item + nodig?
Grammar Points
Ben je ...?
Ben je nu druk?
behn yuh nyoo druhk?Are you busy now?
In a Dutch yes/no question, the verb comes before the subject: ben je, not je ben.
hulp nodig hebben
Heb je hulp nodig?
hehp yuh HUHLP NOH-dikh?Do you need help?
Dutch expresses “need help” with hulp nodig hebben; nodig is an adjective, not an adverb.
Dutch Vocabulary
ben
verb
behn
am
dit
pron
dit
this
demonstrative pronoun
druk
adj
druhk
busy
hier
adv
heer
here
iemand
pron
EE-mahnt
someone
je
pron
yuh
you
jouw
det
yow
your
nu
adv
nyoo
now
oké
adj
oh-KAY
okay
tas
noun
tahss
bag
zijn
verb
zine
to be
is
zitten
verb
ZIT-uhn
to sit
zit
Quiz
Word Order
Arrange the words in the correct order.
Is this okay?
Show Answer
Is dit oké?Is this your bag?
Show Answer
Is dit jouw tas?Is anyone sitting here?
Show Answer
Zit hier iemand?Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
here
Show Answer
hieryour
Show Answer
jouwsomeone
Show Answer
iemandbusy