Changing the meeting place | Learn Dutch in English

About This Lesson

Use Changing the meeting place to practice Dutch conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Ik moet het plan veranderen.

ik MOOT ut plahn vur-AHN-duh-run. I need to change the plan.

Welk deel werkt niet?

velk DAYL werkt nit? What part is not working?

Het is te lawaaierig bij de ontmoetingsplek.

ut iz tuh lah-VYE-uh-rikh bye duh ont-MOOT-ingz-plek. The meeting spot feels too noisy.

Laten we binnen naar een rustigere plek gaan.

LAH-tun vuh BIN-nun nahr un RUS-tuh-ghuh-ruh plek ghahn. Let's move somewhere quieter inside.

Kunnen we net binnen bij de ingang afspreken?

KUN-nun vuh net BIN-nun bye duh ING-ahng af-SPRAY-kun? Can we meet just inside the entrance?

Dat werkt voor mij.

daht werkt vohr MAY. That works for me.

Ik wacht daar als ik aankom.

ik VAHKH-tun dahr ahls ik AHNG-kohm. I'll wait there when I arrive.

Dan kunnen we samen een rustige plek vinden.

dahn KUN-nun vuh SAH-mun un RUS-tuh plek VIN-dun. Then we can find a quiet place together.

Word by Word

Ik “Ik” means “I” in “Ik moet het plan veranderen.” It identifies the speaker as the person who needs to change the plan. Use “Ik” when talking about yourself, for example in a new sentence such as “Ik wacht hier” (“I wait here”).

moet “Moet” means “need to” in “Ik moet het plan veranderen.” With “Ik”, it expresses a need or obligation, and it is followed here by “het plan veranderen”. Use it to say what you need to do in a practical situation.

het “Het” means “the” in “het plan”, referring to the specific plan already being discussed. It is part of the noun phrase “het plan” and does not mean “it” here. Use “het” before a noun when that noun takes this article.

plan “Plan” means “plan” in “het plan veranderen”. It is the plan that the speakers are discussing and want to change. Use “plan” for an intended arrangement or course of action, such as a meeting plan.

veranderen “Veranderen” means “to change” in “het plan veranderen”. It names the action that is needed after “Ik moet”. Use “veranderen” with an object when you say what is being changed, as in “het plan veranderen”.

Welk “Welk” means “which” or “what” in the question “Welk deel werkt niet?” It asks the listener to identify one part of something. Use “welk” directly before a noun when asking which specific item is meant.

deel “Deel” means “part” in “Welk deel werkt niet?” It refers to one part of the plan or arrangement that may not be working. Use “deel” after a word such as “welk” to ask about a particular part.

werkt “Werkt” means “works” or “is working” in “Welk deel werkt niet?” Here it asks whether the part functions successfully. Use “werkt” with a subject to ask or state whether something works.

niet “Niet” means “not” in “werkt niet”, making the statement negative. It shows that the part does not work as expected. Use “niet” to negate an action or description, as in “werkt niet” (“does not work”).

is “Is” means “is” in “Het is te lawaaierig bij de ontmoetingsplek.” It links “Het” with the description “te lawaaierig”; the full expression says that it is too noisy there. Use “is” to connect a subject with a description or situation.

te “Te” means “too” in “te lawaaierig”. It shows that the noise is excessive for the situation. Use “te” before an adjective when something has more of a quality than is acceptable, such as “te lawaaierig” (“too noisy”).

lawaaierig “Lawaaierig” means “noisy” in “Het is te lawaaierig”. It describes the meeting place as having too much noise. Use “lawaaierig” to describe a place or situation where there is a lot of unwanted sound.

bij “Bij” means “at” or “by” in “bij de ontmoetingsplek”. It locates the noise near the meeting spot. Use “bij” with a place or person to indicate where something happens or is located.

de “De” means “the” in “de ontmoetingsplek”. It introduces the specific meeting spot being discussed. Use “de” before a noun when that noun takes this article.

ontmoetingsplek “Ontmoetingsplek” means “meeting spot” in “de ontmoetingsplek”. It names the place where the speakers planned to meet. Use it for a location chosen as a meeting point.

Laten “Laten” helps make the suggestion “Laten we binnen naar een rustigere plek gaan”, meaning “Let’s go inside to a quieter place.” Together with “we”, it invites the other person to do something with the speaker. Use “Laten we” to suggest a shared action.

we “We” means “we” in “Laten we binnen naar een rustigere plek gaan.” It refers to the speaker and the other person together. Use “we” when describing an action carried out by the speaker and at least one other person.

binnen “Binnen” means “inside” in “Laten we binnen naar een rustigere plek gaan.” It indicates that the suggested destination is indoors. Use “binnen” when directing someone into or identifying an indoor place.

naar “Naar” means “to” or “toward” in “naar een rustigere plek gaan”. It introduces the destination of going. Use “naar” before a destination, such as “naar een plek gaan” (“go to a place”).

een “Een” means “a” or “an” in “een rustigere plek”. It introduces a place that is not specified as one particular known place. Use “een” before a singular noun when referring to one non-specific item.

rustigere “Rustigere” means “quieter” in “een rustigere plek”. It describes a place with less noise than the first meeting spot; it is the comparative form related to “rustig”. Use it before a noun when comparing one possible place with another.

plek “Plek” means “place” or “spot” in “een rustigere plek”. It refers to a possible new location inside. Use “plek” for a location, especially in expressions such as “een plek vinden” (“find a place”).

gaan “Gaan” means “go” or “move” in “naar een rustigere plek gaan”. It describes moving to the suggested quieter place. Use “gaan” after a destination phrase such as “naar ...” when saying where someone will go.

Kunnen “Kunnen” means “can” in “Kunnen we net binnen bij de ingang afspreken?” It asks whether meeting at that location is possible. Use “Kunnen we” at the start of a polite question about doing something together.

net “Net” means “just” in “net binnen bij de ingang”. It places the meeting point immediately inside the entrance. Use “net” before a location phrase when you mean “just” or “right” at that point.

ingang “Ingang” means “entrance” in “bij de ingang”. It identifies the place where people enter the building. Use “bij de ingang” when giving an exact meeting location near an entrance.

afspreken “Afspreken” means “meet” or “arrange to meet” in “bij de ingang afspreken”. It describes agreeing to meet at a particular place. Use it with a location, as in “bij de ingang afspreken” (“arrange to meet at the entrance”).

Dat “Dat” means “that” in “Dat werkt voor mij.” It refers to the proposed meeting arrangement just mentioned. Use “Dat” to respond to or point back to an idea, plan, or suggestion.

voor “Voor” means “for” in “voor mij”. It shows whose preference or suitability is being described. Use “voor” with a person when saying that something works for or is intended for that person.

mij “Mij” means “me” in “Dat werkt voor mij.” It identifies the speaker as the person for whom the arrangement is acceptable. Use “voor mij” to express your own view of whether an option suits you.

wacht “Wacht” means “wait” in “Ik wacht daar”. With “Ik”, it says that the speaker will wait at that place. Use it with a location, such as “daar wachten” (“wait there”), when telling someone where you will remain.

daar “Daar” means “there” in “Ik wacht daar”. It points back to the meeting place already discussed, near the entrance. Use “daar” to refer to a location that is known from the conversation or context.

als “Als” means “when” in “als ik aankom”. It introduces the time at which the speaker arrives. Use “als” before a situation or event that determines when something happens.

aankom “Aankom” means “arrive” in “als ik aankom”. Together with “als”, it says when the speaker reaches the meeting place; it is the form related to “aankomen”. Use it in a time clause such as “als ik aankom” (“when I arrive”).

Dan “Dan” means “then” in “Dan kunnen we samen een rustige plek vinden.” It connects the next action with the earlier plan to meet at the entrance. Use “Dan” to introduce what will happen next or as a result.

samen “Samen” means “together” in “samen een rustige plek vinden”. It shows that the speakers will search as a group. Use “samen” when people carry out an action with one another.

rustige “Rustige” means “quiet” in “een rustige plek”. It describes the place they want to find. Use it before a noun when describing a place or situation that is calm and not noisy.

vinden “Vinden” means “find” in “samen een rustige plek vinden”. It describes locating a suitable quiet place together. Use “vinden” with the thing being located, keeping the object in a pattern such as “een plek vinden” (“find a place”).

Grammar Points

laten we + infinitief

Laten we binnen gaan.

LAH-tun vuh BIN-nun ghahn.

Let's go inside.

Use “laten we” followed by the infinitive to make a suggestion for doing something together.

rustigere + zelfstandig naamwoord

rustigere plek

RUS-tuh-ghuh-ruh plek

quieter place

The comparative adjective “rustigere” describes a noun and means “quieter”; the ending -ere appears before the noun.

Dutch Vocabulary

binnen adv

BIN-nun inside; indoors

Laten we binnen naar een rustigere plek gaan.

deel noun

DAYL part

Welk deel werkt niet?

laten we phrase

LAH-tun vuh let's

Laten we binnen naar een rustigere plek gaan.

lawaaiig adj

lah-VYE-ikh noisy lawaaierig

Het is te lawaaierig bij de ontmoetingsplek.

niet adv

neet not

Welk deel werkt niet?

ontmoetingsplek noun

ont-MOOT-ingz-plek meeting place; meeting spot

Het is te lawaaierig bij de ontmoetingsplek.

plan noun

plahn plan

Ik moet het plan veranderen.

rustig adj

RUS-tikh quiet rustige

Dan kunnen we samen een rustige plek vinden.

te adv

tuh too

Het is te lawaaierig bij de ontmoetingsplek.

veranderen verb

vur-AHN-duh-run to change

Ik moet het plan veranderen.

welk det

velk which; what

Welk deel werkt niet?

werken verb

WERK-un to work werkt

Welk deel werkt niet?

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

I need to change the plan.

Show Answer

Ik moet het plan veranderen.

What part is not working?

Show Answer

Welk deel werkt niet?

That works for me.

Show Answer

Dat werkt voor mij.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to work

Show Answer

werkt

to change

Show Answer

veranderen

which; what

Show Answer

welk

plan

Show Answer

plan