About This Lesson
Use Borrowing a Hammer and Nails to practice Dutch conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
Heb je een hamer die ik kan gebruiken?
hep yuh un HAH-mer dee ik kun khuh-BROY-kuhn? Do you have a hammer I can use?
B
Gebruik deze, maar houd het handvat stevig vast.
khuh-BROYK DAY-zuh, mahr howt uht HAHNT-vaht STAY-vukh vahst. Use this one, but grip the handle firmly.
A
Ik heb hem nodig om deze plank te repareren.
ik hep um NOH-dikh om DAY-zuh plank tuh ray-pah-RAY-run. I need it to fix this shelf.
B
Heb je ook spijkers nodig?
hep yuh ohk SPY-kers NOH-dikh? Do you also need any nails?
A
Eén spijker zou helpen.
ayn SPY-ker zow HEL-pun. One nail would help.
B
Ze zitten in de doos naast je.
zuh ZIT-un in duh DOHSS nahst yuh. They are in the box beside you.
A
Ik breng de hamer terug als ik klaar ben.
ik BRENG duh HAH-mer truhkh als ik KLAHR ben. I will return the hammer when I finish.
B
Leg hem hier bij het andere gereedschap als je klaar bent.
LEKH um heer bye uht AHN-duh-ruh khuh-RAYT-skhahp als yuh KLAHR bent. Leave it here with the other tools when you are done.Word by Word
Heb
In “Heb je een hamer die ik kan gebruiken?” and “Heb je ook spijkers nodig?”, “Heb” starts a question about whether someone has or needs something. It is the form of hebben used with je here. Reuse “Heb je ...?” when asking one person whether they have something; in this lesson it is used to ask about available tools.
je
“Je” refers to the person being addressed in “Heb je een hamer die ik kan gebruiken?” and “als je klaar bent”. It means “you” and identifies that person as the subject of the question or condition. Reuse “je” when speaking directly to one person, such as when asking what they have or telling them where to put something.
een
“Een” introduces one non-specific hammer in “een hamer die ik kan gebruiken”, meaning “a” or “an”. It presents the hammer as an item the speaker is asking about, not as a previously identified specific hammer. Reuse “een” before a singular item when introducing it in a request or question.
hamer
“Hamer” means “hammer” in “een hamer die ik kan gebruiken” and refers to the tool being borrowed. It is the object that the speaker wants to use and later return. Reuse “hamer” when identifying this type of tool in a shared workspace or repair task.
die
In “een hamer die ik kan gebruiken”, “die” introduces information about the hammer: it is one the speaker can use. It connects “een hamer” with the following clause without repeating the noun. Reuse “die” after a noun when adding a clause that describes or identifies that item.
ik
“Ik” means “I” and identifies the speaker in “die ik kan gebruiken”, “Ik heb hem nodig”, and “Ik breng de hamer terug”. It marks the person who can use, needs, and will return the tool. Reuse “ik” when talking about your own actions, needs, or intentions.
kan
In “die ik kan gebruiken”, “kan” expresses that the speaker is able or permitted to use the hammer. It is the form of kunnen used with ik here, followed by the action “gebruiken”. Reuse “ik kan ...” to say what you can do or use.
gebruiken
“Gebruiken” means “use” in “die ik kan gebruiken”, describing what the speaker wants to do with the hammer. It follows “kan” as the action that is possible. Reuse “kan gebruiken” when saying that you can use a particular object for a task.
Gebruik
“Gebruik” tells the other person to use the selected item in “Gebruik deze”. It is an instruction directed at the person who is borrowing the hammer. Reuse “Gebruik” at the beginning of a direct instruction when telling someone to use an object.
deze
In “Gebruik deze”, “deze” means “this one” and points to the selected hammer without repeating “hamer”. It identifies a particular nearby item for the listener. Reuse “deze” when selecting one object from several visible or understood options.
maar
“Maar” means “but” in “Gebruik deze, maar houd het handvat stevig vast.” It connects the suggestion to an additional instruction about how to hold the tool. Reuse “maar” to add a qualification or contrast after an initial statement or instruction.
houd
In “houd het handvat stevig vast”, “houd” tells the listener to hold the handle. The complete instruction includes “vast”, which adds the idea of keeping the grip secure. Reuse “houd ... vast” when instructing someone to keep hold of an object.
het
“Het” means “the” in “het handvat” and points to the specific handle of the hammer. It introduces a particular part of the tool rather than a new unspecified object. Reuse “het” before a noun when referring to a specific item that takes this article.
handvat
“Handvat” means “handle” in “het handvat” and identifies the part of the hammer that should be held. It is the object of the instruction to keep a firm grip. Reuse “handvat” when discussing the part of a tool that is used for holding it.
stevig
In “houd het handvat stevig vast”, “stevig” describes the grip as firm or secure. It tells the listener how to carry out the action, rather than naming another object. Reuse “stevig” with an action when emphasizing that something should be done firmly, such as holding a tool securely.
vast
In “houd het handvat stevig vast”, “vast” adds the meaning of holding securely. The instruction’s full meaning comes from the combination “houd het handvat stevig vast”, not from “vast” alone. Reuse “vast” in a construction with houden when telling someone to keep hold of something.
hem
“Hem” refers to the hammer in “Ik heb hem nodig” and “Leg hem hier”. It lets the speakers refer to the already mentioned tool without repeating “de hamer”. Reuse “hem” after a verb when referring back to a previously identified object represented by this pronoun.
nodig
In “Ik heb hem nodig”, “nodig” expresses that the speaker needs the hammer. The meaning comes from the construction with hebben and the object “hem”. Reuse the complete pattern “Ik heb hem nodig” as a model for saying that you need a previously mentioned item.
om
In “om deze plank te repareren”, “om” introduces the purpose of needing the hammer: repairing the shelf. It links the need for the tool to the intended action. Reuse “om” in a purpose construction before an action marked by “te”.
plank
“Plank” means “shelf” in “deze plank” and identifies the object that the speaker wants to repair. The demonstrative “deze” makes it a particular shelf. Reuse “plank” when identifying a shelf or board involved in a repair task.
te
In “om deze plank te repareren”, “te” marks “repareren” as the action connected to the purpose construction. It helps express what the speaker intends to do with the shelf. Reuse “te repareren” when describing an action that someone needs or intends to carry out.
repareren
“Repareren” means “repair” in “om deze plank te repareren”. It names the task for which the hammer is needed and follows “te” in this construction. Reuse “te repareren” when explaining that an object needs fixing.
ook
In “Heb je ook spijkers nodig?”, “ook” means “also” and adds nails to the earlier discussion about the hammer. It signals that another item may be needed as well. Reuse “ook” when asking about or mentioning an additional object or need.
spijkers
“Spijkers” means “nails” in “Heb je ook spijkers nodig?” and refers to the additional fastening items needed for the shelf. The form refers to nails as a group rather than one single nail. Reuse “ook spijkers nodig” when checking whether someone needs nails in addition to another tool or material.
spijker
“Spijker” means “nail” in “Eén spijker zou helpen” and refers to one item that would be useful. The quantity is specified by “Eén”. Reuse “Eén spijker” when identifying a single nail needed for a task.
zou
In “Eén spijker zou helpen”, “zou” presents the usefulness of one nail as a would-statement rather than a direct command. It combines with “helpen” to express what would be useful in the situation. Reuse “zou helpen” when describing an item or action that would be useful.
helpen
“Helpen” means “help” in “Eén spijker zou helpen”, expressing that one nail would make the task easier or possible. It follows “zou” in this statement. Reuse “zou helpen” when explaining what could be useful for a task or situation.
Ze
“Ze” means “they” in “Ze zitten in de doos naast je” and refers to the nails mentioned just before. It is the subject of the sentence that locates those items. Reuse “Ze” when referring back to several previously mentioned objects.
zitten
In “Ze zitten in de doos naast je”, “zitten” means that the nails are located in the box. It describes the stored position of the items rather than an action they are performing. Reuse “zitten in” when telling someone where objects are located inside a container.
in
“In” means “in” in “in de doos” and shows that the nails are inside the box. It introduces the container where the items can be found. Reuse “in” before a place or container when describing an object’s location inside it.
de
“De” means “the” in “de doos” and refers to the specific box beside the listener. It identifies a known container in the shared space. Reuse “de” before a noun when referring to a specific item that takes this article.
doos
“Doos” means “box” in “de doos naast je” and identifies where the nails are stored. The phrase tells the listener where to look for them. Reuse “doos” when locating tools or materials kept in a box.
naast
In “naast je”, “naast” means “beside” or “next to” and gives the location of the box in relation to the listener. It is followed by the person or object used as the reference point. Reuse “naast je” when telling someone that something is located beside them.
breng
In “Ik breng de hamer terug”, “breng” expresses the speaker’s intention to bring or return the hammer. It is the form of brengen used with ik in this sentence. Reuse “breng de hamer terug” when saying that you will return a borrowed tool.
terug
In “Ik breng de hamer terug”, “terug” adds the meaning of bringing the hammer back to its previous place or owner. The complete return meaning comes from the combination “breng ... terug”. Reuse “breng ... terug” when promising to return an item after using it.
als
In “als ik klaar ben”, “als” means “when” and introduces the time at which the speaker will return the hammer. It connects the return to the speaker being finished. Reuse “als ik klaar ben” when stating that an action will happen after you finish something.
klaar
“Klaar” means “finished” or “done” in “als ik klaar ben” and “als je klaar bent”. It describes the completed state that sets the time for returning or putting away the tool. Reuse “klaar” with a form of zijn to say that a person has finished.
ben
In “als ik klaar ben”, “ben” links “ik” with the state “klaar”, meaning that the speaker is finished. It is the form of zijn used with ik here. Reuse “ik klaar ben” when stating that you are finished before another action happens.
Leg
“Leg” tells the listener to place the hammer in “Leg hem hier bij het andere gereedschap”. It is an instruction about where the tool should be left after use. Reuse “Leg” at the beginning of a direct instruction when telling someone to put an object somewhere.
hier
In “Leg hem hier”, “hier” means “here” and identifies the place where the hammer should be left. It directs the listener to the current or indicated location. Reuse “Leg hem hier” when instructing someone to place an object in a specified nearby spot.
bij
In “bij het andere gereedschap”, “bij” means beside or with the other tools and identifies the group of items near which the hammer should be placed. It describes the hammer’s intended location in relation to those tools. Reuse “bij” when telling someone to place or keep an object alongside another group of objects.
andere
“Andere” means “other” in “het andere gereedschap” and distinguishes the tools already there from the hammer being returned. It groups the hammer with the remaining tools. Reuse “andere” when referring to additional or separate items in relation to one already mentioned.
gereedschap
“Gereedschap” means “tools” or “equipment” in “het andere gereedschap” and refers to the tools kept in the shared space. Here it names the group beside which the hammer should be placed. Reuse “gereedschap” when talking about tools collectively, especially when storing or returning them.
bent
In “als je klaar bent”, “bent” links “je” with the state “klaar”, meaning that the person addressed is done. It is the form of zijn used with je here. Reuse “als je klaar bent” when giving an instruction that should happen after the other person finishes.
Grammar Points
om ... te + infinitief
om deze plank te repareren
om DAY-zuh plank tuh ray-pah-RAY-runin order to repair this shelf
Dutch uses om ... te before an infinitive to express purpose: doing something in order to achieve a result.
terugbrengen → breng ... terug
Breng deze hamer terug.
BRENG DAY-zuh HAH-mer truhkh.Bring this hammer back.
Terugbrengen is separable: in a main clause or command, breng and terug are separated by the object.
Dutch Vocabulary
deze
det
DAY-zuh
this; these
die
pron
dee
that; which
gebruiken
verb
khuh-BROY-kuhn
to use
hamer
noun
HAH-mer
hammer
handvat
noun
HAHNT-vaht
handle
hebben
verb
HEB-un
to have
heb
houden
verb
HOW-dun
to hold; to keep
houd
maar
conj
mahr
but
nodig hebben
phrase
NOH-dikh HEB-un
to need
heb ... nodig
om ... te
phrase
om ... tuh
in order to
repareren
verb
ray-pah-RAY-run
to repair; to fix
stevig
adv
STAY-vukh
firmly
Quiz
Word Order
Arrange the words in the correct order.
Do you also need any nails?
Show Answer
Heb je ook spijkers nodig?One nail would help.
Show Answer
Eén spijker zou helpen.Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
but
Show Answer
maarfirmly
Show Answer
stevigto hold; to keep
Show Answer
houdhandle