About This Lesson
Use Basic invitations and shared action to practice Dutch conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
Laten we nu gaan.
LAH-tun vuh nyoo GHAHN. Let us go now.
B
Laten we samen eten.
LAH-tun vuh SAH-mun AY-tun. Let us eat together.
A
Laten we nu beginnen.
LAH-tun vuh nyoo buh-GHIN-un. Let us start now.
B
Laten we hier stoppen.
LAH-tun vuh HEER STOP-un. Let us stop here.
A
Kom met mij mee.
KOM met MAY MAY. Come with me.
B
Wacht op mij.
WAHKT op MAY. Wait for me.Word by Word
Laten
In the exact expression “Laten we”, Laten helps make a suggestion meaning “let’s”. It is used before the action that the speaker proposes. A reusable pattern is “Laten we” plus a verb, as in the new example “Laten we lezen.”
we
In “Laten we”, we refers to the speaker and at least one other person. Together with Laten, it includes the people who are invited to do the action. Use it in the reusable pattern “Laten we” plus an action.
nu
In “Laten we nu gaan” and “Laten we nu beginnen”, nu means “now”, at the present time. It places the suggested action at this moment. It can be used before an action when you want to say that it should happen now.
gaan
In “Laten we nu gaan”, gaan means “go”. It follows “Laten we” as the action being suggested. A reusable pattern is “Laten we gaan” plus a destination or time when that information is needed.
samen
In “Laten we samen eten”, samen means “together”, showing that the people will do the action with one another. It specifies that the eating is shared. Use samen with an action when people participate in it together.
eten
In “Laten we samen eten”, eten means “eat”. It names the action suggested after “Laten we”. A reusable pattern is “samen eten” when people are going to eat together.
beginnen
In “Laten we nu beginnen”, beginnen means “start” or “begin”. It names the action that the speakers suggest starting now. Use it after “Laten we” when proposing that an activity should start.
hier
In “Laten we hier stoppen”, hier means “here”, referring to the current place. It tells the listener where the suggested stopping should happen. It can be placed before an action to identify the location connected with it.
stoppen
In “Laten we hier stoppen”, stoppen means “stop”. It is the action suggested after “Laten we” and is connected with the place hier. Use “Laten we stoppen” when suggesting that a shared activity or movement should end.
Kom
In “Kom met mij mee”, Kom directly tells one person to come. It is an invitation or instruction to move toward the speaker or along with the speaker. Use it with a person or direction when asking someone to come.
met
In “Kom met mij mee”, met means “with” and introduces the person accompanying the movement. Here it is followed by mij. A reusable pattern is “met” plus a person or thing to show who or what is together with someone.
mij
In “met mij”, mij means “me”, the person who is accompanying the listener. It follows met to identify that person. Use “met mij” when saying that someone is with me or comes along with me.
mee
In “Kom met mij mee”, mee adds the idea of coming along with the speaker. It completes the movement expression by showing shared movement. It is useful in expressions about joining someone’s movement, such as the new example “Ga je mee?”.
Wacht
In “Wacht op mij”, Wacht tells one person to wait. The expression is directed at someone who should pause instead of continuing. Use it with “op” and the person or thing being awaited.
op
In “Wacht op mij”, op is used with wachten to introduce the person being awaited, here mij. The combination “wachten op” means “wait for”. Keep op before the person or thing after this verb.
Grammar Points
Laten we + infinitief
Laten we nu samen eten.
LAH-tun vuh nyoo SAH-mun AY-tun.Let us eat together now.
Use Laten we followed by an infinitive to make a suggestion: “Let’s …”
wachten op + object
Wacht op mij.
WAHKT op MAY.Wait for me.
Dutch uses op after wachten to express “for”; the preposition belongs with the verb.
Dutch Vocabulary
beginnen
verb
buh-GHIN-un
to start
Laten we nu beginnen.
eten
verb
AY-tun
to eat
Laten we samen eten.
gaan
verb
GHAHN
to go
Laten we nu gaan.
hier
adv
HEER
here
Laten we hier stoppen.
Kom
verb
KOM
come
Kom met mij mee.
Laten we
phrase
LAH-tun vuh
Let us
Laten we nu gaan.
met
prep
met
with
Kom met mij mee.
mij
pron
MAY
me
Kom met mij mee.
nu
adv
nyoo
now
Laten we nu gaan.
samen
adv
SAH-mun
together
Laten we samen eten.
stoppen
verb
STOP-un
to stop
Laten we hier stoppen.
Wacht
verb
WAHKT
wait
Wacht op mij.
Quiz
Word Order
Arrange the words in the correct order.
Let us go now.
Show Answer
Laten we nu gaan.Let us eat together.
Show Answer
Laten we samen eten.Let us start now.
Show Answer
Laten we nu beginnen.Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
together
Show Answer
samento go
Show Answer
gaanhere
Show Answer
hierto eat