Borrowing small tools | Learn Dutch in English

Dutch lesson set in a contemporary Amsterdam everyday setting: In a shared space, one person borrows scissors, tape, and a ruler and agrees where to return them..

EN → NL / Level: A1

About This Lesson

Use Borrowing small tools to practice Dutch conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Mag ik de schaar gebruiken?

mahk ik duh skhahr guh-BROW-kun? Can I use the scissors?
B

Pak deze en houd de punten naar beneden.

pahk DAY-zuh en howt duh POWN-tun nahr beh-NAY-dun. Take these and keep the blades pointed down.
A

Ik heb ook wat tape nodig.

ik hep ohk waht tayp NOH-dikh. I also need some tape.
B

De tape ligt in de la.

duh tayp likht in duh lah. The tape is in the drawer.
A

Heb je ook een liniaal?

hep yuh ohk un lee-nee-AHL? Do you have a ruler too?
B

Ja, die ligt op mijn bureau.

yah, dee likht op mine buh-ROH. Yes, it is on my desk.
B

Je kunt die daar pakken.

yuh kunt dee dahr PAH-kun. You can take it from there.
A

Ik breng alles terug als ik klaar ben.

ik breng AH-lus trukh ahls ik klahr ben. I will return everything when I finish.
B

Laat de liniaal bovenop liggen, zodat ik de liniaal later kan vinden.

laht duh lee-nee-AHL boh-vuh-NOP LIG-un, soh-DAHT ik duh lee-nee-AHL LAH-tur kan VIN-dun. Leave the ruler on top so I can find it later.

Word by Word

Mag “Mag” begins a question asking for permission; here the speaker asks whether they may use the scissors. A reliable reuse pattern is “Mag ik” followed by an action, as in “Mag ik de schaar gebruiken?”
ik “ik” means “I” and identifies the speaker as the person asking or acting. At the beginning of a sentence it appears as “Ik”, as in “Ik heb ook wat tape nodig.” It commonly comes before the verb in a simple statement.
de “de” means “the” and introduces a specific item known in the shared space, such as the scissors, tape, drawer, or ruler. A reliable reuse pattern is de followed by a noun, as in “de schaar” or “de liniaal.”
schaar “schaar” names the scissors that the speaker wants to use. In this dialogue it appears in “de schaar”. A reliable reuse pattern is to combine it with an action, as in “de schaar gebruiken.”
gebruiken “gebruiken” means “use” in the request about using the scissors. It follows “Mag ik” in “Mag ik de schaar gebruiken?”, so the action is presented as something the speaker is asking permission to do. It can be reused after a stated object.
Pak “Pak” is a direct command telling someone to take or grab something. Here it introduces “Pak deze”, referring to the items being offered. A reliable reuse pattern is Pak followed by the object to be taken.
deze “deze” points to the items that are being offered and means “these” in “Pak deze”. It is useful when the listener can identify the items from the immediate situation. A common reuse pattern is deze followed by a nearby item or object.
en “en” means “and” and connects the two instructions “Pak deze en houd de punten naar beneden.” It links actions or pieces of information in one sentence. A reliable reuse pattern is one action en another action.
houd “houd” tells the listener to keep or hold something in a particular position. Here it contributes to the instruction “houd de punten naar beneden”, meaning to keep the pointed ends facing down. A reliable reuse pattern is houd followed by the object and its position.
punten “punten” refers here to the pointed ends of the scissors. In “de punten naar beneden”, these are the parts that should face down. A reliable reuse pattern is de punten followed by a direction such as “naar beneden.”
naar “naar” indicates the direction in “naar beneden”, showing where the pointed ends should face. It commonly comes before a destination or direction. Here the exact direction is “naar beneden.”
beneden “beneden” means “down” in the safety instruction about the scissors. Together with “naar”, it gives the direction “naar beneden”. A reliable reuse pattern is naar beneden when describing downward movement or orientation.
heb “heb” contributes the meaning “have” in the statement about needing tape. Together with “nodig”, it forms the need expression in “Ik heb ook wat tape nodig.” A reliable reuse pattern is Ik heb followed by the needed item and nodig.
ook “ook” adds the meaning “also” or “too”, showing that tape is an additional item the speaker needs. It appears before “wat tape” in “Ik heb ook wat tape nodig.” It can be reused before another added item or need.
wat “wat” means “some” here and presents an unspecified amount of tape. In “wat tape”, it makes the request less specific about the amount. A reliable reuse pattern is wat before an unspecified amount of a material or substance.
tape “tape” names the tape the speaker needs and that is stored in the drawer. It appears as “wat tape” and later as “De tape”. A reliable reuse pattern is de tape when referring back to this specific item.
nodig “nodig” means “needed” and completes the Dutch expression for needing something in “Ik heb ook wat tape nodig.” It comes after the item that is needed. A reliable reuse pattern is Ik heb followed by an item and nodig.
ligt “ligt” says where an item is located when it is lying or placed somewhere. Here “De tape ligt in de la” tells the listener that the tape is in the drawer. A reliable location pattern is an item followed by ligt in and a place.
in “in” means “in” and shows that the tape is inside the drawer in “in de la.” It commonly comes before a place or container. Here it identifies the tape’s storage location.
la “la” means “drawer”, the place where the tape is stored. It appears in the phrase “in de la”. A reliable reuse pattern is in de la when describing something kept inside the drawer.
je “je” means “you” and identifies the person being asked whether they have a ruler. It appears in “Heb je ook een liniaal?” and also at the beginning of “Je kunt die daar pakken.” It commonly occurs with a verb when addressing someone directly.
een “een” introduces a ruler that has not yet been identified as a specific item. In “een liniaal”, it means “a” ruler. A reliable reuse pattern is een followed by a noun when introducing an item.
liniaal “liniaal” means “ruler”, the tool being requested and later placed on top. It appears first in “een liniaal” and later in “de liniaal”. A reliable reuse pattern is to use een liniaal when introducing one and de liniaal when referring back to it.
Ja “Ja” means “yes” and confirms the answer to the question about having a ruler. It begins the reply “Ja, die ligt op mijn bureau.” A reliable use is to place Ja at the start of an affirmative answer.
die “die” refers back to the ruler just mentioned and means “that one” or “it” in these replies. It appears in “die ligt op mijn bureau” and “die daar pakken”. A reliable reuse pattern is die followed by an action when pointing back to a known item.
op “op” means “on” and shows that the ruler is located on the desk in “op mijn bureau.” It commonly comes before a surface or place. Here it identifies the ruler’s position.
mijn “mijn” means “my” and shows that the desk belongs to or is associated with the speaker. It appears before “bureau” in “mijn bureau”. A reliable reuse pattern is mijn followed by the owned or associated item.
bureau “bureau” means “desk” in “mijn bureau”, the place where the ruler is located. The exact phrase is “op mijn bureau”. A reliable reuse pattern is op mijn bureau when describing something placed on the speaker’s desk.
kunt “kunt” means “can” in the instruction that the listener can take the ruler from the desk. It appears after “Je” in “Je kunt die daar pakken.” A reliable reuse pattern is je kunt followed by an action.
daar “daar” means “there” and points to the location already identified, the speaker’s desk. In “die daar pakken”, it helps direct the listener to that place. A common reuse is daar when referring to a visible or previously mentioned location.
pakken “pakken” means “take” or “grab” in “Je kunt die daar pakken.” It follows “kunt”, so it names the action the listener can perform. A reliable reuse pattern is kunt followed by pakken and the object being taken.
breng “breng” means “bring” in the promise to return the borrowed items. Together with “terug”, it expresses bringing something back in “Ik breng alles terug.” A reliable reuse pattern is Ik breng followed by the item and terug.
alles “alles” means “everything” and refers to all the borrowed tools as a group. It is the object in “Ik breng alles terug.” A reliable reuse pattern is alles terugbrengen when promising to return all the relevant items.
terug “terug” means “back” and shows that the items will be brought back to their original place. It completes the return expression in “Ik breng alles terug.” A reliable reuse pattern is breng followed by an item and terug.
als “als” means “when” and introduces the time condition for returning the items in “als ik klaar ben.” It connects an action with the point when something is finished. A reliable reuse pattern is als followed by a clause describing the time.
klaar “klaar” means “finished” or “done” and describes the speaker’s state after completing the work. In “als ik klaar ben”, it explains when the items will be returned. A reliable reuse pattern is klaar ben when referring to being finished.
ben “ben” means “am” and completes the statement about the speaker’s state in “als ik klaar ben.” Together with “klaar”, it says that the speaker is finished. It is useful in a clause describing the speaker’s current state.
Laat “Laat” is a direct instruction to leave something in a specified position. Here it begins “Laat de liniaal bovenop liggen”, telling the listener not to move the ruler from that position. A reliable reuse pattern is Laat followed by an object, a position, and liggen.
bovenop “bovenop” means “on top” and describes where the ruler should remain. In “bovenop liggen”, it indicates the top position intended for the ruler. A reliable reuse pattern is bovenop liggen when saying that something should be or remain on top.
liggen “liggen” means “lie” or “be placed” and describes the ruler remaining in its position. It follows “Laat” in “Laat de liniaal bovenop liggen.” A reliable reuse pattern is Laat followed by an object and liggen to ask someone to leave it placed.
zodat “zodat” means “so that” and introduces the purpose of leaving the ruler on top. The purpose in this dialogue is “zodat ik de liniaal later kan vinden.” A reliable reuse pattern is zodat followed by the intended result or purpose.
later “later” means “later” and refers to a time after the current activity. Here it explains when the speaker wants to be able to find the ruler. A reliable reuse pattern is later followed by an action, as in “later kan vinden.”
kan “kan” means “can” and expresses the speaker’s ability to find the ruler later. It appears in the clause “ik de liniaal later kan vinden.” A reliable reuse pattern is kan followed by an action in the subordinate clause introduced by “zodat.”
vinden “vinden” means “find” in the purpose of being able to locate the ruler later. It follows “kan” in “kan vinden.” A reliable reuse pattern is kan followed by vinden and the object that is to be found.

Grammar Points

Imperatief: stam van het werkwoord

Pak deze schaar.

pahk DAY-zuh skhahr.

Take these scissors.

Dutch commands usually use the verb stem without a subject, such as pak from pakken.

liggen + plaatsbepaling

Deze liniaal ligt daar.

DAY-zuh lee-nee-AHL likht dahr.

This ruler is there.

Dutch uses liggen for an object that is lying or located somewhere; English often uses “is” instead.

Dutch Vocabulary

deze det
DAY-zuh these

Pak deze

gebruiken verb
guh-BROW-kun to use

de schaar gebruiken

houden verb
HOW-dun to keep; to hold houd

houd de punten naar beneden

la noun
LAH drawer

de la

liggen verb
LIG-un to lie; to be situated ligt

De tape ligt in de la

naar beneden phrase
nahr beh-NAY-dun downward; down

naar beneden

nodig adj
NOH-dikh needed; necessary

tape nodig

ook adv
OHK also; too
pakken verb
PAH-kun to take; to grab Pak

Pak deze

punt noun
POWNT point; tip punten

de punten

schaar noun
skhahr scissors

de schaar

tape noun
TAYP tape

wat tape

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Can I use the scissors?

Show AnswerMag ik de schaar gebruiken?

I also need some tape.

Show AnswerIk heb ook wat tape nodig.

The tape is in the drawer.

Show AnswerDe tape ligt in de la.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

point; tip

Show Answerpunten

tape

Show Answertape

to keep; to hold

Show Answerhoud

these

Show Answerdeze