Asking for Help with a Task | Learn Dutch in English

About This Lesson

Use Asking for Help with a Task to practice Dutch conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Ik heb hulp nodig bij deze taak.

ikh hep hülp NOH-dikh bay DAY-zuh tahk. I need help with this task.

Welk deel vind je moeilijk?

velk dayl vint yuh MOOY-luk? Which part feels difficult?

Het eerste deel is onduidelijk.

hut AYR-stuh dayl iz on-DOY-luk. The first part is unclear.

Ik kan je er stap voor stap doorheen leiden.

ikh kan yuh ur STAP fohr STAP dohr-HAYN LAY-duhn. I can walk you through it.

Moet ik met dit bestand beginnen?

MOOT ikh met dit buh-STAHNT buh-KHIN-uhn? Should I start with this file?

Begin daar en laat me daarna zien wat je hebt.

buh-KHIN dahr en laht muh dahr-NAH zayn vaht yuh hept. Start there, then show me what you have.

Ik ga dat nu proberen.

ikh khah daht noo PROH-bay-ruh(n). I'll try that now.

Ik kan daarna je werk controleren.

ikh kan dahr-NAH yuh verk kohn-troh-LAY-ruh(n). I can check your work after that.

Word by Word

Ik “Ik” means “I” and identifies the speaker in the dialogue. It is used before the verb in statements such as “Ik heb hulp nodig”. A new example is: “Ik begin nu.”

heb “heb” means “have” in “Ik heb hulp nodig”. Together with “nodig”, the expression says that the speaker needs something. A reusable pattern is “Ik heb ... nodig” for saying that you need something.

hulp “hulp” means “help” in the request for assistance with the task. It is used with “bij” to specify what the help concerns. A reusable pattern is “hulp bij + noun”, such as “hulp bij mijn werk” in a new example.

nodig “nodig” means “needed” in “hulp nodig” and shows that the speaker requires help. Its meaning here comes from the expression “heb ... nodig”. A reusable pattern is “Ik heb ... nodig” for requesting something necessary.

bij “bij” means “with” or “in connection with” in “bij deze taak”. It links the help to the task being discussed. A common reuse pattern is “hulp bij + noun”, as in “hulp bij een project” in a new example.

deze “deze” means “this” and points to the specific task being discussed. It appears directly before “taak” in “deze taak”. A reusable pattern is “deze + noun” when referring to a particular nearby thing.

taak “taak” means “task”, the piece of work for which help is needed. In “deze taak”, it identifies the specific work being discussed. A new example is “Ik begin aan deze taak.”

Welk “Welk” means “which” and asks the listener to select one part from the task. It appears at the beginning of the question “Welk deel vind je moeilijk?”. A reusable pattern is “Welk + noun?” when asking which item is meant.

deel “deel” means “part” or “section” of the task. In “Welk deel”, it identifies the part that may be difficult. A reusable pattern is “het eerste deel” or “een deel van ...” in a new example.

vind “vind” means “find” or “consider” in “vind je moeilijk”. The whole expression asks which part the listener considers difficult. A reusable pattern is “iets moeilijk vinden”, as in “Ik vind dit moeilijk” in a new example.

je “je” means “you” here and identifies the person being asked the question. In “vind je”, it appears with the verb to address one person. A reusable pattern is “vind je ...?” when asking someone’s assessment.

moeilijk “moeilijk” means “difficult” and describes the part that is not easy for the listener. With “vinden”, the phrase “vind je moeilijk” expresses considering something difficult. A reusable pattern is “iets moeilijk vinden” in a new example.

Het “Het” means “the” and introduces the specific part in “Het eerste deel”. It identifies the part that is being described as unclear. A reusable pattern is “Het + noun” when referring to a particular item.

eerste “eerste” means “first” and identifies the initial part of the task. In “het eerste deel”, it comes before the noun it describes. A reusable pattern is “het eerste + noun”, as in “het eerste bestand” in a new example.

is “is” connects “Het eerste deel” with the description “onduidelijk”. It states what the part is like in the dialogue. A reusable pattern is “X is Y” for describing something.

onduidelijk “onduidelijk” means “unclear” and describes the first part as not easy to understand. It follows “is” in “is onduidelijk”. A new example is “Deze uitleg is onduidelijk.”

kan “kan” means “can” and expresses ability or an offer in “Ik kan je ... leiden”. It is followed by an infinitive such as “leiden”. A reusable pattern is “Ik kan ... + infinitive” when offering or describing what you are able to do.

er “er” refers back to the task or part that is being worked through in “je er ... doorheen leiden”. Here it contributes the meaning “in it” or “through it”, while the full expression means guiding someone through something. A reusable pattern is “er ... doorheen” when referring back to something already mentioned.

stap voor stap “stap voor stap” means “step by step” and describes guidance given in a sequence. The components are “stap” (“step”), “voor” (“for” or “per”), and “stap” (“step”); together they form the repeated expression. A new example is “We doen het stap voor stap.”

doorheen “doorheen” means “through” in “er ... doorheen leiden”. It describes moving through the task or process under guidance. A reusable pattern is “iemand doorheen iets leiden” when guiding someone through a process.

leiden “leiden” means “lead” or “guide” in the offer to guide the listener through the task. It follows “kan” as the action being offered. A reusable pattern is “iemand door een proces leiden” in a new example.

Moet “Moet” means “should” or “must” in the question “Moet ik ... beginnen?”. It asks whether beginning with the file is the required or appropriate next action. A reusable pattern is “Moet ik ...?” when asking what action to take.

met “met” means “with” in “met dit bestand beginnen”. It identifies the file that should be used as the starting point. A common reuse pattern is “beginnen met + noun” for saying what you start with.

dit “dit” means “this” and points to the specific file being discussed. It appears directly before “bestand” in “dit bestand”. A reusable pattern is “dit + noun” when referring to a particular nearby thing.

bestand “bestand” means “file”, the item the speaker asks whether to start with. In “dit bestand”, it refers to a specific file. A new example is “Ik open het bestand.”

beginnen “beginnen” means “start” or “begin” in the question about starting with the file. It is the action that follows “Moet ik”. A common reuse pattern is “beginnen met + noun”, such as “beginnen met de taak” in a new example.

Begin “Begin” means “start” or “begin” and gives a direct instruction to start at the place just mentioned. It is the first word of the instruction “Begin daar”. A reusable pattern is “Begin met ...” when telling someone what to start with.

daar “daar” means “there” and points back to the file or place just mentioned. In “Begin daar”, it tells the listener where to start. A reusable pattern is “begin daar” when referring to a previously identified starting point.

en “en” means “and” and links the instruction to the next instruction. It connects “Begin daar” with “laat me daarna zien wat je hebt”. A reusable pattern is “clause en clause” for joining two related actions.

laat “laat” means “let” or “have someone do” in “laat me ... zien”. With “me” and “zien”, the whole construction asks the listener to show something to the speaker. A reusable pattern is “laat me ... zien” when asking someone to show you something.

me “me” means “me” and identifies the person who should see the result in “laat me ... zien”. It is the person receiving the showing action. A reusable pattern is “laat me ... zien” when asking someone to show something to you.

daarna “daarna” means “after that” and places the showing action after the listener has started. It makes the order of the two actions clear. A reusable pattern is “eerst ..., daarna ...” for describing a sequence.

zien “zien” means “see” in “laat me ... zien”, where the full construction means “show me”. It follows “laat” as the action the speaker is to carry out. A reusable pattern is “laat me ... zien” when asking to see something.

wat “wat” means “what” and introduces the thing or result that the listener has. In “wat je hebt”, it refers to whatever the listener has produced or completed. A reusable pattern is “wat je hebt” when referring to someone’s current result or material.

hebt “hebt” means “have” in “wat je hebt”. It describes what the listener currently has to show. A reusable pattern is “wat je hebt” when asking or referring to what someone possesses or has prepared.

ga “ga” means “go” in form, but in “Ik ga dat nu proberen” it signals the intention to try something now. It is followed by the action “proberen”. A reusable pattern is “Ik ga ...” for announcing what you are about to do.

dat “dat” means “that” and refers to the suggested action or approach just discussed. In “dat nu proberen”, it is the thing the speaker intends to try. A reusable pattern is “Ik ga dat ...” when referring back to a specific suggestion.

nu “nu” means “now” and places the attempt in the present moment. It emphasizes that the speaker will try the suggested approach immediately. A reusable pattern is “nu + verb” when saying that something is happening at this time.

proberen “proberen” means “try” and names the action the speaker intends to carry out. It follows “ga” in “Ik ga dat nu proberen”. A reusable pattern is “iets proberen” when attempting an action or method.

werk “werk” means “work” and refers to the result produced by the listener. In “je werk”, it is the listener’s work that will be checked. A reusable pattern is “iemand zijn werk controleren”, such as “Ik controleer je werk” in a new example.

controleren “controleren” means “check” and describes reviewing the listener’s work. It follows “kan” in “Ik kan daarna je werk controleren”. A reusable pattern is “je werk controleren” when checking someone’s completed work.

Grammar Points

stap voor stap

stap voor stap doorheen een bestand leiden

STAP fohr STAP dohr-HAYN uhn buh-STAHNT LAY-duhn

to guide through a file step by step

This fixed phrase functions as an adverbial expression and describes how an action happens.

daarna + werkwoord

daarna beginnen

dahr-NAH buh-KHIN-uhn

to start afterwards

Daarna means “after that” and links the next action in a sequence; it is an adverb.

Dutch Vocabulary

bestand noun

buh-STAHNT file

Moet ik met dit bestand beginnen?

deel noun

dayl part

Welk deel vind je moeilijk.

doorheen adv

dohr-HAYN through

Ik kan je er stap voor stap doorheen leiden.

eerste adj

AYR-stuh first

Het eerste deel is onduidelijk.

hulp noun

hülp help

Ik heb hulp nodig bij deze taak.

leiden verb

LAY-duhn to guide

Ik kan je er stap voor stap doorheen leiden.

moeilijk adj

MOOY-luk difficult

Welk deel vind je moeilijk?

nodig adj

NOH-dikh needed

Ik heb hulp nodig bij deze taak.

onduidelijk adj

on-DOY-luk unclear

Het eerste deel is onduidelijk.

stap voor stap phrase

STAP fohr STAP step by step

Ik kan je er stap voor stap doorheen leiden.

taak noun

tahk task

Ik heb hulp nodig bij deze taak.

welk det

velk which

Welk deel vind je moeilijk?

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Which part feels difficult?

Show Answer

Welk deel vind je moeilijk?

The first part is unclear.

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Het eerste deel is onduidelijk.

Should I start with this file?

Show Answer

Moet ik met dit bestand beginnen?

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

unclear

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onduidelijk

first

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eerste

difficult

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moeilijk

part

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deel