Following signs to the registration desk | Learn Dutch in English

About This Lesson

Use Following signs to the registration desk to practice Dutch conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Ik zie het bord voor het evenement op de muur.

ik ZEE ut BAWRT vur ut ay-vay-NEM-unt awp duh MYUR I can see the event sign on the wall.

Er staat dat de balie boven is.

ur STAHN daht duh BAH-lee BOH-vun iss It says the desk is upstairs.

De weg naar boven is makkelijk te volgen.

duh WEKH nahr BOH-vun iss MAHK-uh-luk tuh VOL-ghun The way upstairs is easy to follow.

Het bord helpt ons enorm.

ut BAWRT HELPT awns ay-NOR-um The sign helps a lot.

De overloop is vlak voor ons.

duh OH-vur-LOHP iss VLAHK vohr awns The landing is just ahead.

Dan zou de inschrijfbalie dichtbij moeten zijn.

DAHN zow duh IN-skh-RAYF-bah-lee dikht-BYE MOO-tun zine Then the registration desk should be close.

Laten we gaan voordat de rij langer wordt.

LAH-tun vuh GHAHN vohr-DAHT duh RAY LAHNG-ur vawrt Let's go before the line gets longer.

Ik houd het formulier klaar.

ik HOWT ut fawhr-muh-LEER KLAHR I will keep the form ready.

Word by Word

Ik “Ik” means “I” and refers to the speaker in “Ik zie het bord voor het evenement op de muur.” It is used as the subject when talking about your own action or observation, such as seeing a sign.

zie “zie” means “see” here: the speaker can see the sign. It is the form of zien used with “Ik” in “Ik zie het bord voor het evenement op de muur.” Use it to describe what you can see.

het “het” means “the” in both “het bord” and “het evenement.” It is placed before these nouns, so a useful reuse pattern is “het + noun” when referring to a specific thing.

bord “bord” means “sign” here, specifically the event sign on the wall. The phrase “het bord voor het evenement” identifies what the sign is for. Use “bord” when following written information in a public place.

voor “voor” means “for” in “het bord voor het evenement”; it shows the event the sign is intended for. A useful pattern is “voor + noun” to express purpose or intended connection. Use it when identifying what a sign, message, or service is for.

evenement “evenement” means “event” in “het evenement.” Together with “voor,” “het bord voor het evenement” means the sign for the event. Use it when referring to an organized public activity or occasion.

op “op” means “on” in “op de muur,” describing the sign’s position on the wall. A useful location pattern is “op + place or surface.” Use it when saying where something is positioned on a surface.

de “de” means “the” before “muur” in “de muur.” It identifies a specific wall known in the situation. Reuse “de + noun” when referring to a particular person, place, or thing.

muur “muur” means “wall” in “op de muur.” The phrase tells us where the sign can be seen. Use it when describing a vertical surface inside or outside a building.

Er “Er” introduces the statement in “Er staat dat de balie boven is”; it does not refer to a physical place here. This pattern presents what a sign or written message says. Use “Er staat dat + clause” when reporting information displayed somewhere.

staat “staat” means “says” or “states” in “Er staat dat de balie boven is,” referring to information written on the sign. It is the form of staan used in this expression about written text. Use “Er staat dat + clause” to report what a notice or sign says.

dat “dat” means “that” and introduces the information reported in “dat de balie boven is.” It connects the reporting expression with a complete clause. Use “dat + clause” when stating what someone or something says.

balie “balie” means “desk” or “counter” in “de balie boven.” Here it refers to the desk that the sign directs them to. Use it for a service or reception desk where people are helped.

boven “boven” means “upstairs” in “de balie boven is.” It gives the location of the desk rather than describing an object above another object. Use “naar boven” for movement upstairs and “boven” for being upstairs.

is “is” links “de balie” with its location in “de balie boven is,” meaning that the desk is upstairs. It is the form of zijn used for this statement. Use it to connect a person or thing with a location or state.

weg “weg” means “way” or “route” in “De weg naar boven.” It refers to the route leading upstairs. A useful pattern is “de weg naar + destination or direction” when describing how to get somewhere.

naar “naar” means “to” in “naar boven,” showing direction toward upstairs. It is used with a destination or direction of movement. Use “naar + destination or direction” when saying where someone is going.

makkelijk “makkelijk” means “easy” in “makkelijk te volgen,” describing the route as easy to follow. It combines naturally with “te” and an infinitive in this phrase. Use this pattern to describe an action that is not difficult.

te “te” marks the infinitive in “makkelijk te volgen,” which means “easy to follow.” The pattern “adjective + te + infinitive” describes how easy or difficult an action is. Use it when evaluating an action rather than naming a completed action.

volgen “volgen” means “follow” in “makkelijk te volgen,” referring to following the route upstairs. It appears after “te” as the action being evaluated. Use it when following a route, sign, instruction, or person.

helpt “helpt” means “helps” in “Het bord helpt ons enorm,” describing the sign as useful to the speakers. It is the form of helpen used with “Het bord.” Use it when saying that something makes an action or situation easier.

ons “ons” means “us” in “Het bord helpt ons enorm”; it identifies the people receiving the help. It follows “helpt” as the people who benefit. Use it after a verb when the action is directed toward the speaker and others.

enorm “enorm” means “a lot” or “enormously” in “helpt ons enorm,” strongly emphasizing how much the sign helps. It intensifies the verb phrase rather than describing the sign itself. Use it to emphasize a very large degree of help or effect.

overloop “overloop” means “landing,” the area between or at the top of flights of stairs. In “De overloop is vlak voor ons,” it identifies the nearby part of the staircase. Use it when directing someone through a building with stairs.

vlak “vlak” means “just” or “right” in “vlak voor ons,” emphasizing that the landing is immediately ahead. It adds closeness to the location phrase. Use “vlak voor + person or place” when something is directly in front of someone.

Dan “Dan” means “then” in “Dan zou de inschrijfbalie dichtbij moeten zijn.” It connects the nearby landing with the conclusion about where the registration desk should be. Use it at the start of a sentence when one result follows from what was just observed.

zou “zou” makes the conclusion in “zou de inschrijfbalie dichtbij moeten zijn” tentative: the desk is expected to be nearby, but this is not stated as certain. It is useful when making a cautious expectation or inference. Reuse the pattern “zou ... moeten zijn” for a similarly cautious conclusion.

inschrijfbalie “inschrijfbalie” means “registration desk,” the desk where people register for the event. It is a compound referring to a specific service desk. Use it when asking for or locating the place where event registration takes place.

dichtbij “dichtbij” means “nearby” or “close” in “de inschrijfbalie dichtbij moeten zijn.” It describes the expected distance to the registration desk. A useful pattern is “dichtbij zijn” when saying that a person or place is near.

moeten “moeten” contributes the idea of “should” or expected necessity in “zou de inschrijfbalie dichtbij moeten zijn.” Together with “zou,” it expresses the conclusion that the desk is expected to be nearby, while “zou” makes it less certain. Use “zou ... moeten + infinitive” for a cautious expectation.

zijn “zijn” means “be” in “dichtbij moeten zijn,” completing the statement about the registration desk’s location. It follows “moeten” as the state being expected. Use it when describing where something is or what state it is in.

Laten “Laten” contributes the suggestion in “Laten we gaan,” meaning “let’s go.” This expression invites the speaker and listener to do something together. Use “Laten we + infinitive” when proposing a joint action.

we “we” means “we” in “Laten we gaan” and includes the speaker and the person being addressed. It is the group invited to act together. Use it with “Laten we” to make a shared suggestion.

gaan “gaan” means “go” in “Laten we gaan,” naming the action being suggested. It follows “Laten we” in this invitation. Use it when proposing that you and another person move somewhere.

voordat “voordat” means “before” and introduces the event that should not happen first in “voordat de rij langer wordt.” It links the suggestion to a time condition. Use “voordat + clause” when one action should happen before another event.

rij “rij” means “line” or “queue” in “de rij.” Here it refers to the people waiting for registration. Use it when talking about a line of people waiting for a service.

langer “langer” means “longer” and describes the line in “de rij langer wordt.” It shows that the line may increase in length. The reusable pattern “langer worden” means “get longer” or “become longer.”

wordt “wordt” means “gets” or “becomes” in “de rij langer wordt,” describing a change in the line’s length. It is the form of worden used in this clause. Use it with an adjective when describing something becoming a new state, as in “langer wordt.”

houd “houd” means “keep” in “Ik houd het formulier klaar,” describing the speaker’s intention to keep the form ready. It is the form of houden used after “Ik.” Use it when saying that you keep an object in a particular useful state.

formulier “formulier” means “form” in “het formulier.” It refers to the document needed for the registration process. Use it when talking about a document that someone must complete or hand in.

klaar “klaar” means “ready” in “Ik houd het formulier klaar,” describing the form’s prepared state. The full pattern shows that the speaker keeps the document available for use. Use it when preparing something before handing it in or using it.

Grammar Points

makkelijk te + infinitief

makkelijk te volgen

MAHK-uh-luk tuh VOL-ghun

easy to follow

Dutch uses te before the infinitive after an adjective such as makkelijk.

voordat + bijzin: werkwoord achteraan

voordat de rij langer wordt

vohr-DAHT duh RAY LAHNG-ur vawrt

before the line gets longer

In a subordinate clause with voordat, the conjugated verb usually comes at the end.

Dutch Vocabulary

balie noun

BAH-lee desk; counter

Er staat dat de balie boven is.

bord noun

BAWRT sign

Ik zie het bord voor het evenement op de muur.

boven adv

BOH-vun upstairs; above

Er staat dat de balie boven is.

evenement noun

ay-vay-NEM-unt event

Ik zie het bord voor het evenement op de muur.

helpen verb

HELP-un to help helpt

Het bord helpt ons enorm.

makkelijk adj

MAHK-uh-luk easy

De weg naar boven is makkelijk te volgen.

muur noun

MYUR wall

Ik zie het bord voor het evenement op de muur.

naar boven phrase

nahr BOH-vun upstairs; upward

De weg naar boven is makkelijk te volgen.

staan verb

STAHN to say; to stand staat

Er staat dat de balie boven is.

volgen verb

VOL-ghun to follow te volgen

De weg naar boven is makkelijk te volgen.

weg noun

WEKH way

De weg naar boven is makkelijk te volgen.

zien verb

ZEEN to see zie

Ik zie het bord voor het evenement op de muur.

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

The sign helps a lot.

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Het bord helpt ons enorm.

The landing is just ahead.

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De overloop is vlak voor ons.

I will keep the form ready.

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Ik houd het formulier klaar.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

upstairs; above

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boven

desk; counter

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balie

sign

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bord

event

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evenement