Checking a Bag Before Leaving | Learn Dutch in English

About This Lesson

Use Checking a Bag Before Leaving to practice Dutch conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Kunnen we controleren of mijn tas klaar is?

KUN-uh(n) wuh kon-troh-LAY-ruh(n) off mine tahs klahr iss? Can we make sure my bag is ready?

Leg de belangrijke spullen eerst op tafel.

LEKH duh buh-LAHNG-ryke-uh SPUH-luhn ayrst op TAH-fuhl. Put the important things on the table first.

Mijn telefoon zit in het voorvak.

Mine tuh-luh-FOHN zit in uht VOHR-vahk. My phone is in the front pocket.

Waar heb je je sleutels gelegd?

Vahr hep yuh yuh SLUH-tuhls guh-LEKHT? Where did you put your keys?

Ze liggen naast mijn telefoon.

Zuh LIKH-uh(n) nahst mine tuh-luh-FOHN. They are next to my phone.

Heb je ook je waterfles nodig?

Hep yuh OHK yuh VAH-ter-fles NOH-dikh? Do you also need your water bottle?

Ja, die zit al in het hoofdvak.

Yah, dee zit ahl in uht HOHFT-vahk. Yes, it is already in the main pocket.

Dan heb je wat je nodig hebt.

Dahn hep yuh vaht yuh NOH-dikh hept. Then you have what you need.

Word by Word

Kunnen “Kunnen” means “can” or “be able to” in the question “Kunnen we controleren of mijn tas klaar is?”. It is used with “we” and the infinitive “controleren” to ask whether the two people can do something. You can use this pattern to ask about doing an activity together.

we “we” means “we” and refers to the speaker and the other person together in “Kunnen we controleren of mijn tas klaar is?”. It comes after “Kunnen” in this question. This pronoun is used when the action includes both the speaker and at least one other person.

controleren “controleren” means “check” or “make sure” in “Kunnen we controleren of mijn tas klaar is?”. It names the action that the speakers are considering doing. It is followed here by “of” and the clause about the bag.

of “of” introduces the question of whether the bag is ready in “controleren of mijn tas klaar is”. It connects “controleren” with the information being checked. This pattern is useful when checking whether something is true or ready.

mijn “mijn” means “my” and shows that the bag belongs to the speaker in “mijn tas”. It comes directly before the noun “tas”. Use it before a noun when referring to something belonging to you.

tas “tas” means “bag” in “mijn tas”. It is the item whose readiness is being checked. The word can be reused after a possessive such as “mijn” when talking about a bag.

klaar “klaar” means “ready” in “mijn tas klaar is”. It describes the condition of the bag after “is”. This word is useful for saying that something is ready for the next action.

is “is” means “is” and links “mijn tas” with its condition “klaar” in “mijn tas klaar is”. It is a form of “zijn” used here with the bag. The same linking pattern describes what condition something is in.

Leg “Leg” means “put” or “lay” in the instruction “Leg de belangrijke spullen eerst op tafel”. It tells someone to place the things on the table. The form is related to “leggen” and is used here at the beginning of an instruction.

de “de” is the definite article “the” in “de belangrijke spullen”. It comes before the noun phrase referring to the important things. It is used here as part of the specific phrase “de belangrijke spullen”.

belangrijke “belangrijke” means “important” and describes “spullen” in “de belangrijke spullen”. It comes before the noun and identifies which things should be put on the table. This pattern places a describing word before the noun it modifies.

spullen “spullen” means “things” or “belongings” in “de belangrijke spullen”. Here it refers to the items needed before leaving. It is useful when talking generally about a person’s things rather than naming each item.

eerst “eerst” means “first” in “Leg de belangrijke spullen eerst op tafel”. It sets the order of the action: the things should be placed on the table before something else. It can be used to mark the first step in a sequence.

op “op” means “on” or “onto” in “op tafel”. With “Leg”, it shows the surface where the things should be placed. This pattern combines “op” with a surface or place receiving an object.

tafel “tafel” means “table” in “op tafel”. It is the surface where the important things should be placed. It can be used after “op” when describing placement on a table.

telefoon “telefoon” means “phone” in “Mijn telefoon zit in het voorvak” and “naast mijn telefoon”. It refers to the speaker’s phone, first as the item in the pocket and then as the reference point for the keys. The noun can be used after “mijn” to say “my phone”.

zit “zit” means “is located” in “Mijn telefoon zit in het voorvak”. Dutch uses this form to describe the phone’s location inside the pocket. It is a form of “zitten” and can be reused when locating an item in a container or pocket.

in “in” means “in” in “in het voorvak”. It shows that the phone is located inside the front pocket. This preposition is used before a place or container that contains something.

het “het” is the definite article “the” in “het voorvak”. It comes before the noun “voorvak” to refer to the specific front pocket. It is used here as part of the fixed noun phrase “het voorvak”.

voorvak “voorvak” means “front pocket” in “het voorvak”. It identifies the particular pocket where the phone is located. The word can be used after “in” when describing something inside the front pocket.

Waar “Waar” means “where” in the question “Waar heb je je sleutels gelegd?”. It asks for the place where the keys were put. It appears at the beginning of this question before the rest of the question structure.

heb “heb” means “have” as part of the question “Waar heb je je sleutels gelegd?”. It works with “gelegd” to ask where the keys were put. It is a form of “hebben”, and the pattern “heb je ... gelegd” asks about a completed placement.

je “je” means “you” in “heb je je sleutels gelegd?” and “your” in “je sleutels”. The first occurrence identifies the person who put the keys down, while the second shows that the keys belong to that person. Its meaning is determined by its position in the sentence.

sleutels “sleutels” means “keys” in “je sleutels”. These are the items whose location is being asked about. The word can be used after “je” to refer to someone’s keys.

gelegd “gelegd” means “put” or “laid” in “je sleutels gelegd”. It describes the placement of the keys and is used with “heb”. It is the form of “leggen” used in this completed-action construction.

Ze “Ze” means “they” in “Ze liggen naast mijn telefoon”. It refers back to “sleutels”, the keys mentioned in the previous line. This pronoun can stand at the beginning of a sentence when referring to those items.

liggen “liggen” means “are lying” or “are located” in “Ze liggen naast mijn telefoon”. It describes the position of the keys next to the phone. This word is useful for locating objects that are lying or positioned somewhere.

naast “naast” means “next to” or “beside” in “naast mijn telefoon”. It shows the spatial relationship between the keys and the phone. It is used before the place or object beside which something is located.

ook “ook” means “also” in “Heb je ook je waterfles nodig?”. It adds the water bottle to the list of things the person may need. It can be placed before the object or action being added to the question.

waterfles “waterfles” means “water bottle” in “je waterfles”. It names the additional item needed for leaving. The word can be used after “je” to refer to someone’s water bottle.

nodig “nodig” contributes the meaning “need” in “je waterfles nodig” and “wat je nodig hebt”. With “nodig hebben”, the needed object appears before “nodig”, as in “je waterfles nodig”. This pattern is useful for asking or saying whether someone needs an item.

Ja “Ja” means “yes” in “Ja, die zit al in het hoofdvak”. It confirms that the water bottle is needed. It can be used at the beginning of a reply before giving the confirming information.

die “die” means “that one” or “it” in “Ja, die zit al in het hoofdvak”. It refers back to the water bottle without repeating “waterfles”. This pronoun is useful when the item being discussed is already clear from the conversation.

al “al” means “already” in “die zit al in het hoofdvak”. It shows that the water bottle is in the main pocket now, before the speakers leave. It can be placed before the location phrase to mark an existing situation.

hoofdvak “hoofdvak” means “main pocket” in “het hoofdvak”. It identifies the main compartment where the water bottle is located. The word can be used after “in” when saying that something is inside the main pocket.

Dan “Dan” means “then” in “Dan heb je wat je nodig hebt”. It introduces the conclusion that follows from having the needed items. It is useful at the beginning of a sentence when one situation leads to a result or conclusion.

wat “wat” means “what” or “that which” in “wat je nodig hebt”. It introduces the things that the person needs without naming them again. This pattern is useful when referring to whatever items or information someone needs.

Grammar Points

belangrijke + zelfstandig naamwoord

belangrijke spullen

buh-LAHNG-ryke-uh SPUH-luhn

important things; belongings

Adjectives before plural nouns usually take -e: belangrijk becomes belangrijke.

al + bijvoeglijk naamwoord

al klaar

ahl KLAHR

already ready

al comes before an adjective to show that a state has already been reached.

Dutch Vocabulary

belangrijke adj

buh-LAHNG-ryke-uh important

Leg de belangrijke spullen eerst op tafel.

controleren verb

kon-troh-LAY-ruh(n) to check

Kunnen we controleren of mijn tas klaar is?

eerst adv

ayrst first

Leg de belangrijke spullen eerst op tafel.

gelegd verb

guh-LEKHT put; placed

Waar heb je je sleutels gelegd?

klaar adj

klahr ready

Kunnen we controleren of mijn tas klaar is?

sleutels noun

SLUH-tuhls keys

Waar heb je je sleutels gelegd?

spullen noun

SPUH-luh(n) things; belongings

Leg de belangrijke spullen eerst op tafel.

tafel noun

TAH-fuhl table

Leg de belangrijke spullen eerst op tafel.

tas noun

tahs bag

Kunnen we controleren of mijn tas klaar is?

telefoon noun

tuh-luh-FOHN phone

Mijn telefoon zit in het voorvak.

voorvak noun

VOHR-vahk front pocket

Mijn telefoon zit in het voorvak.

Waar adv

vahr where

Waar heb je je sleutels gelegd?

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

My phone is in the front pocket.

Show Answer

Mijn telefoon zit in het voorvak.

Where did you put your keys?

Show Answer

Waar heb je je sleutels gelegd?

They are next to my phone.

Show Answer

Ze liggen naast mijn telefoon.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

phone

Show Answer

telefoon

table

Show Answer

tafel

front pocket

Show Answer

voorvak

important

Show Answer

belangrijke