Returning to work after a break | Learn Dutch in English

About This Lesson

Use Returning to work after a break to practice Dutch conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Voel je je klaar om weer aan het werk te gaan?

vool yuh yuh KLAHR um vair ahn ut WERK tuh GHAHN Do you feel ready to work again?

Ik voel me nu beter.

ik VOOL muh noo BAY-tur I feel better now.

Zullen we teruggaan naar het bureau?

ZULL-uh(n) wuh tuh-ROOKH-ghahn nahr ut byoo-ROH Should we go back to the desk?

De pauze is voorbij, dus laten we gaan.

duh POW-zuh iz vohr-BYE, DUHSS LAH-tun wuh GHAHN The break is over, so let's get moving.

Ik heb het bestand voor de volgende taak nodig.

ik hep ut buh-STAHNT vohr duh VOL-ghun-duh TAHK NOH-dikh I need the file for the next task.

Het ligt op het bureau.

ut LIKHT AWP ut byoo-ROH It's on the desk.

Ik kan me nu beter concentreren.

ik kahn muh NYOO BAY-tur kon-sen-TREH-run I can focus better now.

Dan beginnen we met het bestand.

dahn buh-GHIN-un wuh met ut buh-STAHNT Then let's start with the file.

Word by Word

Voel “Voel” means feel in the question “Voel je je klaar om weer aan het werk te gaan?” It is the question form used with je. The reusable question pattern “Voel je je klaar om weer aan het werk te gaan?” is useful when checking whether someone is ready to resume work.

je In “Voel je je klaar om weer aan het werk te gaan?”, the first “je” means you and the second “je” refers back to yourself. Dutch uses the same form in these two positions here. This pattern is useful when asking another person about their own state or readiness.

klaar “Klaar” means ready in “Voel je je klaar om weer aan het werk te gaan?” It describes the person’s readiness for the action that follows. The construction “klaar om weer aan het werk te gaan” is useful when deciding whether to resume an activity.

om “Om” begins the infinitive construction in “om weer aan het werk te gaan” after klaar. Together with te gaan, it connects readiness with the action of returning to work. This construction is useful when describing what someone is ready to do.

weer “Weer” means again or back in “weer aan het werk te gaan”. It shows that the people are returning to work after having stopped for a break. Use weer before an action or state that is happening again.

aan “Aan” is part of the expression “aan het werk”, which means being at work or working in this dialogue. In “weer aan het werk te gaan”, it helps express returning to work. This expression is useful when someone resumes work after a pause.

het The exact form “het” is the definite article in “het werk”, “het bureau”, and “het bestand”. In “Het ligt op het bureau”, “Het” means it and refers to the file. Use het before these nouns or as the pronoun in a sentence such as “Het ligt op het bureau” when locating an object.

werk “Werk” means work in “aan het werk”. The full expression “aan het werk gaan” means to go to work or start working, and here it is about returning after a break. This expression is useful in workplace conversations.

te “Te” marks the infinitive in “te gaan” within “om weer aan het werk te gaan”. It links the infinitive gaan to the preceding construction beginning with om. This pattern is useful when explaining an action someone is ready to do.

gaan “Gaan” means go in “om weer aan het werk te gaan”. With “weer aan het werk”, the whole phrase describes returning to work after the break. The form is useful after te when describing the action connected to being ready.

Ik “Ik” means I and identifies the speaker as the person who feels better, needs the file, and can concentrate. It is the subject in “Ik voel me nu beter.” This form is useful when reporting your own state, need, or ability at work.

me In “Ik voel me nu beter”, “me” refers back to the speaker and is part of the expression meaning feel better. In “Ik kan me nu beter concentreren”, it also refers back to the speaker in the expression meaning focus better. These patterns are useful for describing your own condition or ability.

nu “Nu” means now in “Ik voel me nu beter” and “Ik kan me nu beter concentreren”. It places the improvement at the present moment, after the break. Use nu with a current feeling, condition, or action.

beter “Beter” means better in “Ik voel me nu beter” and “Ik kan me nu beter concentreren”. It shows improvement compared with the earlier situation. This form is useful for describing improved feelings or improved performance.

Zullen “Zullen” begins the suggestion “Zullen we teruggaan naar het bureau?” It asks whether the speaker and listener should do the action together. This question is useful when proposing the next step to a colleague.

we “We” means we and refers to the speaker and the listener together in “Zullen we teruggaan naar het bureau?” and “beginnen we met het bestand”. It identifies a shared action. Use we when proposing or describing something done together.

teruggaan “Teruggaan” means go back in “Zullen we teruggaan naar het bureau?” It describes returning to the desk after the break. The pattern teruggaan naar a destination is useful when suggesting a return to a place.

naar “Naar” means to in “naar het bureau” and marks the destination of the return. It connects teruggaan with the place being returned to. Use naar before a destination when describing movement toward it.

bureau “Bureau” means desk in “het bureau”. In this dialogue, it is the workplace where the file and next task are located. The same word appears in “naar het bureau” for returning to the desk and “op het bureau” for locating something there.

De “De” means the in “De pauze”. It introduces the specific break that has just ended. Use de before pauze in this workplace situation when referring to that break.

pauze “Pauze” means break in “De pauze is voorbij”. It refers to the period when the two people stopped working. This word is useful when talking about starting work again after a break.

is “Is” links “De pauze” with its state in “De pauze is voorbij”. Here it helps say that the break has ended. The pattern “is voorbij” is useful for stating that an event or period is over.

voorbij “Voorbij” means over or finished in “De pauze is voorbij”. It describes the break as having ended, which leads to returning to work. Use it after is when saying that a period or event is over.

dus “Dus” means so or therefore in “De pauze is voorbij, dus laten we gaan.” It connects the fact that the break is over with the suggestion to move on. This word is useful for introducing a conclusion or next action.

laten In “dus laten we gaan”, “laten” helps form the suggestion let’s go. The full expression invites the speaker and listener to act together; laten is not the complete meaning by itself. Use the pattern laten we followed by an action when proposing a shared next step.

heb “Heb” is used with Ik in “Ik heb het bestand voor de volgende taak nodig”. Together with nodig, it expresses that the speaker needs the file. The reusable pattern “Ik heb ... nodig” is useful for stating that an object is needed.

bestand “Bestand” means file in “het bestand voor de volgende taak”. It is the work document needed for the next task. The word is also used in “met het bestand” when starting with the file.

voor “Voor” means for in “voor de volgende taak”. It shows that the file is intended for the next task. Use voor before the task or purpose that an object is meant for.

volgende “Volgende” means next in “de volgende taak”. It identifies the task that comes after the current one. Use volgende before a noun when referring to the next item in a sequence.

taak “Taak” means task in “de volgende taak”. It refers to the piece of work the speakers will do after the break. This word is useful when identifying the next task connected with a file.

nodig “Nodig” means needed in “Ik heb het bestand voor de volgende taak nodig”. Together with heb, it expresses the speaker’s need for the file. The pattern “Ik heb ... nodig” is useful when asking for or stating the need for an object.

ligt “Ligt” states that the file is located on the desk in “Het ligt op het bureau”. It describes the position of the object rather than an action of moving it. This pattern is useful when telling someone where an object is located.

op “Op” means on in “op het bureau”. It marks the surface where the file is located. Use op before a surface or place when saying that something is on it.

kan “Kan” means can in “Ik kan me nu beter concentreren”. It expresses the speaker’s ability to focus better now. This form is useful before an action when describing what someone is able to do.

concentreren “Concentreren” means focus or concentrate in “Ik kan me nu beter concentreren”. It is used together with me to describe the speaker focusing. This expression is useful when someone is able to give better attention to a task.

Dan “Dan” means then in “Dan beginnen we met het bestand.” It introduces the next step after the speakers decide that the break is over and the file is available. Use Dan at the start of a sentence when moving from a condition or decision to an action.

beginnen “Beginnen” means start or begin in “Dan beginnen we met het bestand”. It describes starting work with the file. The construction beginnen met an object is useful when identifying what an activity starts with.

met “Met” means with in “met het bestand”. Together with beginnen, it marks the file as the material they will start using. The pattern beginnen met an object is useful when saying what you start with.

Grammar Points

Laten we + infinitief

Laten we beginnen.

LAH-tun wuh buh-GHIN-un

Let's begin.

Use “laten we” followed by an infinitive to make a suggestion or say “let’s …”.

Dutch Vocabulary

aan het werk phrase

ahn ut WERK at work

beter adj

BAY-tur better

bureau noun

byoo-ROH desk

dus conj

DUHSS so

klaar adj

KLAHR ready

laten we gaan phrase

LAH-tun wuh GHAHN let's go

nu adv

NYOO now

pauze noun

POW-zuh break

teruggaan verb

tuh-ROOKH-ghahn go back

voel verb

VOOL feel

voorbij adj

vohr-BYE over; finished

weer adv

VAIR again

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

I feel better now.

Show Answer

Ik voel me nu beter.

Should we go back to the desk?

Show Answer

Zullen we teruggaan naar het bureau?

It's on the desk.

Show Answer

Het ligt op het bureau.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

desk

Show Answer

bureau

again

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weer

better

Show Answer

beter

ready

Show Answer

klaar