Choosing a Quiet Break Spot | Learn Dutch in English

About This Lesson

Use Choosing a Quiet Break Spot to practice Dutch conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Waar kunnen we pauze nemen?

VAHR KUH-nun vuh POW-zuh NAY-mun? Where can we take a break?

Er is een rustige plek in de hal.

uhr iss uhn RUS-tuh-khuh plehk in duh hahl. There's a quiet spot in the hall.

Staat daar een bank?

STAHT DAHR uhn BAHNGK? Is there a bench there?

Er staat er een bij de muur.

uhr STAHT uhr AYN by duh MEWR. There is one by the wall.

Ik wil zitten en uitrusten.

ik vil ZIH-tun en OYT-rus-tun. I want to sit and rest.

Laten we daar samen zitten.

LAH-tun vuh DAHR SAH-mun ZIH-tun. Let's sit there together.

Deze plek is rustig.

DAY-zuh plehk iss RUS-tukh. This spot feels quiet.

Dit is een goede plek voor een korte pauze.

dit iss uhn KHOOD-uh plehk vorr uhn KOR-tuh POW-zuh. This is a good place for a short break.

Word by Word

Waar “Waar” asks for a location or place. In “Waar kunnen we pauze nemen?” it asks where the speakers can take a break. Use “Waar” at the start of a question about where something is or where an action can happen.

kunnen “Kunnen” expresses ability or possibility; here it means that the speakers can take a break. In “Waar kunnen we pauze nemen?” it is followed by the action “nemen”. Use “kunnen” with a person or group to ask whether an action is possible.

we “We” refers to the speaker and at least one other person. In “Waar kunnen we pauze nemen?” the group is asking about a break for everyone included. Use “we” as the subject when talking about a group that includes yourself.

pauze “Pauze” means a break, a short period when people stop their activity. In the expression “pauze nemen”, it names the break the speakers want to take. Use “pauze” when talking about stopping for a short rest.

nemen “Nemen” means take here and is part of the expression “pauze nemen”, meaning take a break. In “Waar kunnen we pauze nemen?” it follows “kunnen” as the action being considered. Use “nemen” in this expression when asking or saying that someone will take a break.

Er “Er” introduces the presence or existence of something. In “Er is een rustige plek in de hal” it introduces a quiet place, and in “Er staat er een bij de muur” the same word appears as “er” in a sentence about one being located there. Use “er” when stating that something is present or exists in a place.

is “Is” states existence with “Er” in “Er is een rustige plek in de hal”. It also identifies the current place in “Dit is een goede plek voor een korte pauze”. Use “is” to say that something exists or to describe what something is.

een “Een” means “a” in “een rustige plek” and “een goede plek”. In “Er staat er een bij de muur”, it means “one” and refers back to the bench already mentioned. Use “een” before a singular, not-yet-specified thing, or to refer to one item.

rustige “Rustige” describes the place as quiet in “een rustige plek”. This exact form appears before the noun “plek”. Use it before a place noun when describing that place as quiet.

plek “Plek” means spot or place. In “een rustige plek” and “Deze plek” it refers to the location where the speakers can sit and take a break. Use “plek” for a location connected with an activity or purpose.

in “In” indicates location inside an area. In “in de hal” it places the quiet spot inside the hall. Use “in” before a place when something is located inside it.

de “De” is the definite article used in “de hal” and “de muur”. It introduces a specific hall or wall known in the situation. Use “de” before a definite noun such as a place or landmark.

hal “Hal” means hall. In “in de hal” it names the indoor area where the speakers find the quiet spot. Use “hal” when referring to a hall or passage area in a building.

Staat “Staat” asks whether the bench is situated at the indicated place in “Staat daar een bank?”. The same word appears as “staat” in “Er staat er een bij de muur”, where it says that one is located by the wall. Use this form when describing where an upright or placed object is located.

daar “Daar” means there and points to a place being indicated or discussed. In “Staat daar een bank?” it points to the place already under consideration, and in “Laten we daar samen zitten” it refers to that spot. Use “daar” to refer to a location away from the speaker or already mentioned.

bank “Bank” means bench in “Staat daar een bank?”. It names the seat the speakers are looking for and later refer to with “er een”. Use “bank” when asking about or referring to this kind of seat.

bij “Bij” means by or near. In “bij de muur” it places the bench close to the wall. Use “bij” before a landmark to show that something is nearby.

muur “Muur” means wall. In “bij de muur” it is the landmark used to describe where the bench is located. Use “muur” when identifying a wall as a place or reference point.

Ik “Ik” means I and refers to the person speaking. In “Ik wil zitten en uitrusten”, the speaker states their own wishes. Use “ik” as the subject when talking about yourself.

wil “Wil” expresses wanting or intending. In “Ik wil zitten en uitrusten” it introduces the speaker’s desired actions. Use “wil” with an action to say what you want to do.

zitten “Zitten” means sit. In “Ik wil zitten en uitrusten” it is one of the actions the speaker wants to do, and in “Laten we daar samen zitten” it is the shared action being suggested. Use “zitten” after an expression of wanting or a suggestion to name the action of sitting.

en “En” means and and links two related actions in “zitten en uitrusten”. It shows that both actions belong to the speaker’s plan. Use “en” to join words or actions that are performed or considered together.

uitrusten “Uitrusten” means rest. In “Ik wil zitten en uitrusten” it names the second action the speaker wants to do during the break. Use “uitrusten” after an expression such as “wil” when talking about taking time to rest.

Laten “Laten” begins the suggestion “Laten we daar samen zitten”, which means that the group should sit there together. In this construction, “Laten we” presents a shared action rather than a command to one person. Use “Laten we” to suggest doing something together.

samen “Samen” means together. In “Laten we daar samen zitten” it shows that the speakers will sit as a group. Use “samen” with an action shared by two or more people.

Deze “Deze” means this and points to the specific place being discussed. In “Deze plek is rustig” it identifies the spot where the speakers are now considering sitting. Use “Deze” to point to a particular nearby or current thing.

rustig “Rustig” describes the place as quiet or calm in “Deze plek is rustig”. Here it appears after “is” to describe the atmosphere of the spot. Use “rustig” after “is” when describing a place as quiet or calm.

Dit “Dit” means this and points to the current place or situation. In “Dit is een goede plek voor een korte pauze” it introduces the place the speakers have chosen. Use “Dit is” to identify or evaluate something currently being pointed out.

goede “Goede” means good and gives a positive evaluation of the place in “een goede plek”. It appears before the noun “plek”. Use it before a noun when describing that thing as suitable or positive.

voor “Voor” means for and introduces the purpose in “voor een korte pauze”. It shows that the place is suitable for taking a short break. Use “voor” before an activity or purpose that something is intended for.

korte “Korte” means short and describes the duration of the break in “een korte pauze”. It appears before the noun “pauze”. Use it before a noun when describing something as lasting for a short time.

Grammar Points

Waar + werkwoord + er ...?

Waar is er een rustige plek?

VAHR iss uhr uhn RUS-tuh-khuh plehk?

Where is there a quiet place?

In Dutch questions, the question word comes first, followed by the verb and then the subject or er.

Dutch Vocabulary

bank noun

BAHNGK bench

Staat daar een bank?

daar adv

DAHR there

Staat daar een bank?

een det

AYN one; a

Er staat er een bij de muur.

er pron

uhr there; it

Er is een rustige plek in de hal.

hal noun

hahl hall; hallway

Er is een rustige plek in de hal.

nemen verb

NAY-mun to take

Waar kunnen we pauze nemen?

pauze noun

POW-zuh break

Waar kunnen we pauze nemen?

plek noun

plehk spot; place

Er is een rustige plek in de hal.

rustig adj

RUS-tukh quiet; calm rustige

Er is een rustige plek in de hal.

staan verb

STAHN to stand; to be standing staat

Staat daar een bank?

waar adv

VAHR where

Waar kunnen we pauze nemen?

zijn verb

ZAYN to be

Er is een rustige plek in de hal.

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Where can we take a break?

Show Answer

Waar kunnen we pauze nemen?

Is there a bench there?

Show Answer

Staat daar een bank?

I want to sit and rest.

Show Answer

Ik wil zitten en uitrusten.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

quiet; calm

Show Answer

rustige

where

Show Answer

waar

to be

Show Answer

zijn

to take

Show Answer

nemen