Starting with a short sentence | Learn Dutch in English

About This Lesson

Use Starting with a short sentence to practice Dutch conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Eenvoudige woorden zijn makkelijker voor mij.

ay-VOWN-dih-ghuh VOHR-duhn zine MAK-uh-luh-kur vohr MAY. Simple words are easier for me.

We kunnen beginnen met een korte zin.

wuh KUN-uh buh-GHIN-uh(n) met un KOR-tuh zin. We can start with a short sentence.

Dat helpt me om het te begrijpen.

daht helpt muh um ut tuh buh-GHRAY-pun. That helps me understand.

Lees deze regel na.

lays DAY-zuh RAY-ghul nah. Read this line after me.

Ik ben klaar om het te proberen.

ik ben KLAHR um ut tuh proh-BAY-run. I am ready to try.

Neem de tijd en zeg het duidelijk.

NAYM duh TITE un ZEKH ut DUY-luhk. Take your time and say it clearly.

Word by Word

Eenvoudige “Eenvoudige” means simple and describes “woorden” in “Eenvoudige woorden zijn makkelijker voor mij.” It is the form of “eenvoudig” used before this plural noun. Use it before a noun when describing something as simple, especially when talking about language or instructions.

woorden “Woorden” means words in “Eenvoudige woorden zijn makkelijker voor mij.” It is the plural form of “woord” and is the subject of the sentence. Use it for units of spoken or written language, such as the words in a lesson.

zijn “Zijn” means are and links “Eenvoudige woorden” with the description “makkelijker voor mij.” It is the present form used with this plural subject. Use “zijn” to connect a plural subject with a description or state.

makkelijker “Makkelijker” means easier in “Eenvoudige woorden zijn makkelijker voor mij.” It presents simple words as easier from the speaker’s point of view. The form comes from “makkelijk”; a useful pattern is “makkelijker voor” followed by the person for whom something is easier.

voor “Voor” means for in “makkelijker voor mij.” It introduces the person whose experience or perspective is being described. Use “voor” before a person when saying that something is easier or useful for them.

mij “Mij” means me in “voor mij.” It identifies the person for whom the words are easier. Use it after “voor” to express whose experience or perspective is meant.

We “We” means we and is the subject in “We kunnen beginnen met een korte zin.” It refers to the speaker and the other person together. Use it at the beginning of a sentence when describing an action done by both people.

kunnen “Kunnen” means can in “We kunnen beginnen met een korte zin.” It expresses that the two people are able or allowed to start. It is followed here by the infinitive “beginnen”; this modal-plus-infinitive pattern is useful for talking about possible actions.

beginnen “Beginnen” means start in “We kunnen beginnen met een korte zin.” It is the infinitive used after “kunnen.” The pattern “kunnen beginnen met” introduces the activity or material with which someone starts.

met “Met” means with in “beginnen met een korte zin.” It introduces what the lesson will start with. Use “met” after “beginnen” to name the starting activity, object, or material.

een “Een” means a in “een korte zin.” It introduces one non-specific sentence. Use it before a singular noun when referring to one item without making it specific.

korte “Korte” means short in “een korte zin.” It describes the sentence and is the form of “kort” used before this noun. Use it before a noun when describing something as short in length or duration.

zin “Zin” means sentence in “een korte zin.” Here it refers to a short sentence that the learners can practise. Use it when talking about a sentence in a lesson or in written language.

Dat “Dat” means that in “Dat helpt me om het te begrijpen.” It refers to what was just suggested or said. Use it at the beginning of a sentence to refer back to a previous idea, action, or situation.

helpt “Helpt” means helps in “Dat helpt me om het te begrijpen.” It says that the previous idea provides assistance to the speaker. It is the form of “helpen” used with “Dat”; the pattern “helpt me om” introduces what the help enables the speaker to do.

me “Me” means me in “helpt me om het te begrijpen.” It identifies the person receiving the help. Use it after a verb when saying that an action helps or affects the speaker.

om “Om” is part of the purpose construction “om het te begrijpen.” It introduces the action that the help makes possible. Use “om” with “te” and an infinitive when explaining what someone is helped or enabled to do.

het “Het” means it in “om het te begrijpen.” It refers to the thing or content that the speaker wants to understand. Use it as the object before the action introduced by “te begrijpen” when the context already identifies that thing.

te “Te” marks the infinitive in “om het te begrijpen.” Together with “om” and “begrijpen”, it helps introduce the action the speaker wants to carry out. Use “te” before an infinitive in this type of purpose construction.

begrijpen “Begrijpen” means understand in “om het te begrijpen.” It is the infinitive after “te” and names the action the speaker wants to perform. Use it when talking about understanding an idea, sentence, or explanation.

Lees “Lees” means read in “Lees deze regel na.” It is an instruction telling one person to read the line. This is the imperative form of “lezen”; use it at the beginning of a direct instruction to one person.

deze “Deze” means this in “Lees deze regel na.” It points to the specific line the listener should read. Use “deze” before a noun when identifying a particular nearby or currently relevant item.

regel “Regel” means line in “deze regel.” Here it refers to a line of text in the lesson. Use it when directing someone to a particular line in written material.

na “Na” contributes the meaning of reading after the speaker in “Lees deze regel na.” It completes the instruction to repeat the line after another person. Use this pattern when asking someone to follow another person’s reading or action.

Ik “Ik” means I in “Ik ben klaar om het te proberen.” It is the subject and identifies the person who is ready. Use it at the beginning of a sentence when speaking about yourself.

ben “Ben” means am in “Ik ben klaar om het te proberen.” It is the first-person present form of “zijn” used with “Ik” and links the subject to the state “klaar.” Use “Ik ben” before a description of your state or condition.

klaar “Klaar” means ready in “Ik ben klaar om het te proberen.” It describes the speaker’s state before attempting the activity. The pattern “ben klaar om” introduces an action that the speaker is ready to do.

proberen “Proberen” means try in “om het te proberen.” It is the infinitive used after “te” and names the action the speaker is ready to attempt. Use it in an “om ... te” construction when explaining what someone intends or is ready to try.

Neem “Neem” means take in “Neem de tijd.” It is an instruction encouraging the listener not to hurry. This is the imperative form of “nemen”; “Neem de tijd” is used when telling someone to allow themselves enough time.

de “De” means the in “de tijd.” It introduces the specific time meant in the expression “Neem de tijd.” Use it before a definite noun when the listener can understand which thing is meant from the context or expression.

tijd “Tijd” means time in “Neem de tijd.” It is the object of the instruction and refers to the time the listener should allow themselves. Use it in “Neem de tijd” when encouraging someone to proceed without rushing.

en “En” means and in “Neem de tijd en zeg het duidelijk.” It joins the instruction to take time with the instruction to say it clearly. Use it to connect two related actions or instructions.

zeg “Zeg” means say in “zeg het duidelijk.” It instructs the listener to produce the words clearly. This is the imperative form of “zeggen”; use it before the thing being said, as in “zeg het.”

duidelijk “Duidelijk” means clearly in “zeg het duidelijk.” It describes how the listener should say it. Use it after a verb when giving guidance about performing an action in a clear or understandable way.

Grammar Points

om te + infinitief

Deze korte zin helpt mij om te begrijpen.

DAY-zuh KOR-tuh zin helpt MAY um tuh buh-GHRAY-pun.

This short sentence helps me to understand.

Gebruik om te vóór een infinitief om het doel of de handeling na een werkwoord uit te drukken.

eenvoudig → eenvoudige vóór een zelfstandig naamwoord

Eenvoudige woorden helpen mij.

ay-VOWN-dih-ghuh VOHR-duhn HELP-uh(n) MAY.

Simple words help me.

Een bijvoeglijk naamwoord krijgt vaak -e vóór een zelfstandig naamwoord: eenvoudig wordt eenvoudige.

Dutch Vocabulary

beginnen verb

buh-GHIN-uh(n) to start

We kunnen beginnen met een korte zin.

begrijpen verb

buh-GHRAY-puh(n) to understand

Dat helpt me om het te begrijpen.

dat pron

daht that

Dat helpt me om het te begrijpen.

eenvoudig adj

ay-VOWN-dikh simple Eenvoudige

Eenvoudige woorden zijn makkelijker voor mij.

helpen verb

HELP-uh(n) to help helpt

Dat helpt me om het te begrijpen.

kort adj

KORT short korte

We kunnen beginnen met een korte zin.

lezen verb

LAY-zuh(n) to read Lees

Lees deze regel na.

makkelijk adj

MAK-uh-luk easy makkelijker

Eenvoudige woorden zijn makkelijker voor mij.

mij pron

MAY me

Eenvoudige woorden zijn makkelijker voor mij.

om prep

awm to

Dat helpt me om het te begrijpen.

woord noun

VOHRT word woorden

Eenvoudige woorden zijn makkelijker voor mij.

zin noun

ZIN sentence

We kunnen beginnen met een korte zin.

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Simple words are easier for me.

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Eenvoudige woorden zijn makkelijker voor mij.

Read this line after me.

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Lees deze regel na.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

short

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korte

easy

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makkelijker

word

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woorden

to help

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helpt