Hurrying to the train platform | Learn Dutch in English

About This Lesson

Use Hurrying to the train platform to practice Dutch conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

De weg is vandaag erg druk.

duh wekh iss fan-DAHKH erk-h druhk. The road is really busy today.

De spits is begonnen.

duh spits iss buh-KHOH-nun. Rush hour has started.

Kunnen we de volgende trein nog halen?

KUN-uh wuh duh VAWL-khen-duh trayn nawk HAH-luh? Can we still catch the next train?

Dat moet lukken. Het station is vlak voor ons.

daht moot LUHK-un. ut stah-SHYON iss vlahk vohr awns. We should. The station is just ahead.

Ik kan de ingang nu zien.

ik kahn duh ING-khahng noo zeen. I can see the entrance now.

Laten we direct naar het perron gaan.

LAH-tun wuh duh-REKT nahr ut puh-RON khahn. Let's head straight to the platform.

De trein komt al binnen.

duh trayn kawmt uhl BIN-uh. The train is pulling in already.

Blijf dicht bij me, dan stappen we samen in.

blyfe dikht bye muh, dahn STAH-pun wuh SAH-mun in. Stay close, and we'll board together.

Word by Word

De “De” and “de” mean “the” in the phrases “De weg” and “de ingang”. They are used before these specific nouns, for example when referring to the road or entrance during a journey.

weg “weg” means “road” in “De weg is vandaag erg druk.” It names the road whose traffic condition is being described, and “de weg” is useful when talking about a road while traveling.

is “is” states the condition of the road in “De weg is vandaag erg druk.” It connects the subject with information about its current state, as when describing what something is like.

vandaag “vandaag” means “today” in “De weg is vandaag erg druk.” It places the situation on the current day and is useful when describing something happening today.

erg “erg” means “really” or “very” in “vandaag erg druk.” It strengthens the description “druk”, so it is useful before a word describing a strong degree of a condition.

druk “druk” means “busy” or “crowded” in “De weg is vandaag erg druk.” Here it describes heavy traffic on the road, so it is useful when reporting crowded or busy conditions during travel.

spits “spits” means “rush hour” in “De spits is begonnen.” It names the busy period that has started, and it is useful when talking about increased traffic around commuting times.

begonnen “begonnen” means “started” in “De spits is begonnen.” It appears with “is” to say that rush hour has started; its citation form is “beginnen”. Use it when announcing that an activity or period has started.

Kunnen “Kunnen” asks whether the speakers are able to catch the train in “Kunnen we de volgende trein nog halen?” It begins a question about possibility or ability and is useful before the people and the action being considered.

we “we” means “we” in “Kunnen we de volgende trein nog halen?” It refers to the two speakers together and is used as the subject when a group includes the speaker.

volgende “volgende” means “next” in “de volgende trein”. It identifies the train that comes after the current one and is placed before the noun it describes when selecting the next item.

trein “trein” means “train” in “de volgende trein nog halen”. It names the vehicle the speakers are trying to catch, making it useful in a station or travel situation.

nog “nog” means “still” or “yet” in “de volgende trein nog halen”. It asks whether catching the train remains possible at this moment, so it is useful when checking if there is still enough time.

halen “halen” means “catch” or “make it to” in “de volgende trein nog halen”. The train is the object of the action, and this form is useful when talking about reaching transport before it leaves.

Dat “Dat” means “that” in “Dat moet lukken.” It refers back to the plan or possibility of catching the next train, and it is useful when responding to a situation just mentioned.

moet “moet” contributes the meaning “should” or “must” in “Dat moet lukken.” Together with “lukken”, the phrase expresses confidence that the plan should work out; its citation form is “moeten”. Use it to express expected success or necessity.

lukken “lukken” means “work out” or “succeed” in “Dat moet lukken.” It describes whether the plan will succeed, and it is useful when reassuring someone about an attempt or plan.

Het “Het” means “the” in “Het station”. It comes before “station” to refer to the specific station ahead, and it is useful as part of this noun phrase when identifying that place.

station “station” means “station” in “Het station is vlak voor ons.” It names the place the speakers are approaching, so it is useful when giving directions during a journey.

vlak “vlak” means “just” or “directly” in “vlak voor ons”. It emphasizes that the station is immediately ahead, and it is useful when describing a nearby location with “voor ons”.

voor “voor” means “in front of” or “ahead of” in “vlak voor ons”. It places the station relative to the speakers and is useful for describing where something is in relation to people.

ons “ons” means “us” in “voor ons”. It identifies the people whose position is the reference point, and it is useful after “voor” when describing something located ahead of the speakers.

Ik “Ik” means “I” in “Ik kan de ingang nu zien.” It identifies the speaker as the person who can see the entrance and is used as the subject for a statement about the speaker.

kan “kan” means “can” or “am able to” in “Ik kan de ingang nu zien.” It expresses the speaker’s ability to see something and is followed here by the action “zien”; its citation form is “kunnen”.

de ingang “de ingang” means “the entrance” in “Ik kan de ingang nu zien.” The component “de” marks the noun phrase and “ingang” names the entrance, so the whole expression is useful when identifying the way into a station or building.

nu “nu” means “now” in “Ik kan de ingang nu zien.” It shows that the entrance is visible at this moment and is useful when reporting a change in what someone can see.

zien “zien” means “see” in “Ik kan de ingang nu zien.” It names the action made possible by “kan”, and it is useful when saying that someone is able to see a person, place, or object.

Laten “Laten” begins the suggestion “Laten we direct naar het perron gaan.” In this construction it contributes “let’s” and proposes an action for the group, so it is useful when suggesting what to do next.

direct “direct” means “straight” or “directly” in “direct naar het perron”. It shows that the speakers should go there without taking another route, and it is useful before a destination phrase when giving travel directions.

naar “naar” means “to” or “toward” in “naar het perron”. It introduces the destination of going, and it is useful before a place when describing movement toward that place.

perron “perron” means “platform” in “naar het perron”. It names the station area where the train is boarded, so it is useful when giving directions inside or near a train station.

gaan “gaan” means “go” or “head” in “Laten we direct naar het perron gaan.” It names the proposed movement after “Laten we”, and it is useful when suggesting that people move to a destination.

komt “komt” means “comes” in “De trein komt al binnen.” Together with “binnen”, it describes the train pulling in; its citation form is “komen”. Use it when reporting an approaching train in this situation.

al “al” means “already” in “De trein komt al binnen.” It shows that the train’s arrival is happening sooner or by this point, and it is useful when emphasizing that an event has begun.

binnen “binnen” means “in” or “inside” in “De trein komt al binnen.” With “komt”, it contributes the idea that the train is coming into the station or platform area, so it is useful for describing a train pulling in.

Blijf “Blijf” means “stay” in “Blijf dicht bij me”. It gives a direct instruction to remain nearby; its citation form is “blijven”. Use it when asking someone not to move away in a busy place.

dicht “dicht” means “close” in “dicht bij me”. It describes a short distance from the speaker, and it is useful with “bij me” when asking someone to remain nearby.

bij “bij” means “near” in “dicht bij me”. It marks the person used as the reference point for being close, and it is useful before a person when describing location nearby.

me “me” means “me” in “bij me”. It identifies the speaker as the person to stay near, and it is useful after “bij” when referring to proximity to the speaker.

dan “dan” means “then” in “Blijf dicht bij me, dan stappen we samen in.” It links the instruction with what will happen next, and it is useful for introducing a consequence or next step.

stappen “stappen” means “step” in “stappen we samen in”, and with “in” the expression means “board” or “step into” the train. Its citation form is “stappen”; use this construction when entering a vehicle together.

samen “samen” means “together” in “stappen we samen in.” It shows that the speakers will board as a group, and it is useful when emphasizing that people perform an action jointly.

in “in” means “in” or “into” in “stappen we samen in.” With “stappen”, it completes the expression for entering or boarding, so it is useful when describing movement into a train or another vehicle.

Grammar Points

scheidbare werkwoorden: binnenkomen → komt ... binnen

De trein komt binnen.

duh trayn kawmt BIN-uh.

The train is pulling in.

In Dutch, separable verbs split in a main clause: the verb is conjugated and the prefix moves to the end.

Dutch Vocabulary

beginnen verb

buh-KHIN-un to start; to begin begonnen

De spits is begonnen.

druk adj

druhk busy

De weg is vandaag erg druk.

erg adv

erkh really; very

De weg is vandaag erg druk.

halen verb

HAH-luh to catch; to make it in time

Kunnen we de volgende trein nog halen?

lukken verb

LUHK-un to succeed; to work out

Dat moet lukken.

spits noun

spits rush hour

De spits is begonnen.

station noun

stah-SHYON station

Het station is vlak voor ons.

trein noun

trayn train

Kunnen we de volgende trein nog halen?

vandaag adv

fan-DAHKH today

De weg is vandaag erg druk.

vlak voor phrase

vlahk vohr just in front of; just ahead of

Het station is vlak voor ons.

volgende adj

VAWL-khen-duh next

Kunnen we de volgende trein nog halen?

weg noun

wekh road

De weg is vandaag erg druk.

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

The road is really busy today.

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De weg is vandaag erg druk.

Rush hour has started.

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De spits is begonnen.

I can see the entrance now.

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Ik kan de ingang nu zien.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to start; to begin

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begonnen

train

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trein

to catch; to make it in time

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halen

today

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vandaag