Getting Ready for Rain | Learn Dutch in English

Dutch lesson set in a contemporary Amsterdam everyday setting: Before leaving in the rain, two adults talk about boots, puddles, protecting a bag, and taking an umbrella..

EN → NL / Level: A1

About This Lesson

Use Getting Ready for Rain to practice Dutch conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Het regent buiten.

hut RAY-khent BOW-tun It is raining outside.
B

Trek je laarzen aan voordat je weggaat.

trek yuh LAHR-zun ahn vohr-DAHT yuh WAYKH-gaht Wear your boots before you leave.
A

Er liggen plassen op het pad.

ur LIKH-un PLAH-sun awp ut PAHT There are puddles on the path.
B

Stap er langzaam omheen.

stahp ur LAHNG-zahm om-HAYN Step around them slowly.
A

Mijn tas kan nat worden.

mine tahs kahn naht VOR-dun My bag might get wet.
B

Houd hem onder je jas.

HOWT hem ON-dur yuh yahss Keep it under your coat.
A

Ik moet ook een paraplu meenemen.

ik MOOT ohk un pah-rah-PLOO MAY-nay-mun I should take an umbrella too.
B

Dat helpt je droog te blijven.

daht HELPT yuh drohkh tuh BLY-vun That will help keep you dry.

Word by Word

Het In “Het regent buiten.”, “Het” is the dummy subject in the expression “Het regent buiten.”; in “het pad”, the same form is the definite article before “pad”. Use “Het regent ...” to state that it is raining, and use “het” before the noun in “het pad”.
regent In “Het regent buiten.”, “regent” means “is raining” and describes the weather. It is the present form related to “regenen”; Dutch commonly uses “Het regent” for rain. Use it when telling someone about current rainy weather.
buiten In “Het regent buiten.”, “buiten” means outside and specifies where the rain is. It completes the weather statement “Het regent buiten.” Use “buiten” when referring to the area outside.
Trek In “Trek je laarzen aan voordat je weggaat.”, “Trek” tells the listener to put on or pull on something. It is the imperative form related to “trekken” and works with the particle “aan”. Use “Trek ... aan” to give a direct instruction to put clothing or footwear on.
je “Je” means “your” in “je laarzen”, but “you” in “voordat je weggaat” and “je droog te blijven”. Its meaning comes from its position: before a noun it marks possession, and with an action it refers to the person addressed. Use “je” in everyday statements and instructions involving the listener.
laarzen In “Trek je laarzen aan voordat je weggaat.”, “laarzen” means boots, the footwear the listener should put on. It is the plural form of “laars”, and it appears after “je” in “je laarzen”. Use “laarzen” when talking about boots as a pair or more than one boot.
aan In “Trek je laarzen aan voordat je weggaat.”, “aan” is the particle that completes the separable verb for putting clothing or footwear on. It comes after the object in this instruction. Use “Trek je laarzen aan” as a direct instruction to put on the named item.
voordat In “voordat je weggaat”, “voordat” means before and introduces the action that must happen first. It connects “je weggaat” with the earlier instruction in “Trek je laarzen aan voordat je weggaat.” Use “voordat” to place one action before another.
weggaat In “voordat je weggaat”, “weggaat” means leave or go away. It is the form related to “weggaan” used with “je” in the clause “voordat je weggaat.” Use “weggaan” in a sentence about someone leaving a place.
Er In “Er liggen plassen op het pad.”, “Er” introduces something that is present or located there. It works with “liggen” in “Er liggen plassen ...” to present the puddles. Use “Er liggen ...” when introducing things that are lying or located somewhere.
liggen In “Er liggen plassen op het pad.”, “liggen” says that the puddles are lying or situated on the path. “L liggen” is also the citation form, and it is used with “plassen” in “Er liggen plassen op het pad.” Use “liggen” for something located on a surface or in a place.
plassen In “Er liggen plassen op het pad.”, “plassen” means puddles. It is the plural form of “plas”, and the puddles are the things located on the path in “Er liggen plassen op het pad.” Use “plassen” when talking about puddles after rain.
op In “op het pad”, “op” means on and shows the location of the puddles relative to the path. The complete phrase is “plassen op het pad.” Use “op” when saying that something is positioned on a surface or in a stated location.
pad In “het pad”, “pad” means path or walkway. It is the noun after “op het” in “Er liggen plassen op het pad.” Use “pad” when referring to a route or walkway someone can follow.
Stap In “Stap er langzaam omheen.”, “Stap” is a direct instruction to step. It is the imperative form related to “stappen”, and the full instruction tells the listener how to move around the puddles. Use “Stap ...” to tell someone to take a step or move by stepping.
langzaam In “Stap er langzaam omheen.”, “langzaam” means slowly and tells the listener to move at a careful, unhurried pace. It modifies the action in “Stap ... omheen.” Use “langzaam” with an action when describing a low speed.
omheen In “Stap er langzaam omheen.”, “omheen” contributes the meaning around, together with “er” referring to the puddles. The full phrase “er langzaam omheen” tells the listener to step around them. Use “omheen” after “er” when referring back to something to be avoided or circled.
Mijn In “Mijn tas kan nat worden.”, “Mijn” means my and identifies the bag as belonging to the speaker. It comes directly before “tas” in “Mijn tas”. Use “mijn” before a noun when referring to something that belongs to or is associated with you.
tas In “Mijn tas kan nat worden.”, “tas” means bag. It is the noun identified by “Mijn” in “Mijn tas” and the thing that may get wet. Use “tas” when talking about a bag you carry or keep something in.
kan In “Mijn tas kan nat worden.”, “kan” expresses possibility: the bag may get wet. It is the form related to “kunnen” and is followed here by the infinitive “worden” in “kan nat worden.” Use “kan” before an action when saying that it is possible or that someone or something is able to do it.
nat In “Mijn tas kan nat worden.”, “nat” means wet, the condition the bag may reach. It combines with “worden” in “nat worden” to describe becoming wet. Use “nat” for clothes or objects affected by water, especially after rain.
worden In “Mijn tas kan nat worden.”, “worden” means get or become, showing a change into the state “nat”. It is the infinitive related to “worden”, after “kan” in “kan nat worden.” Use “worden” after “kan” when describing a possible change.
Houd In “Houd hem onder je jas.”, “Houd” tells the listener to keep or hold the bag in a place. It is the imperative form related to “houden”, and the full phrase gives the instruction to keep it under the coat. Use “Houd ...” for a direct instruction to keep something in a position or condition.
hem In “Houd hem onder je jas.”, “hem” refers to the bag already mentioned in “Mijn tas kan nat worden.” It is the object of “Houd” and means it in this instruction. Use “hem” to refer back to a previously mentioned person or object when the context identifies it.
onder In “onder je jas”, “onder” means under and specifies the bag’s protected position. The complete instruction is “Houd hem onder je jas.” Use “onder” to describe something positioned below or covered by another thing.
jas In “onder je jas”, “jas” means coat or jacket. It is the noun after “je” in “je jas” and names the clothing that can cover the bag. Use “jas” when talking about outer clothing worn over other clothes.
Ik In “Ik moet ook een paraplu meenemen.”, “Ik” means I and identifies the speaker as the person who needs to take the umbrella. It is the subject at the start of the sentence. Use “Ik” to state what you yourself do, need, or plan to do.
moet In “Ik moet ook een paraplu meenemen.”, “moet” expresses that the speaker needs to or feels obliged to take an umbrella; the English dialogue renders this as should. It is the form related to “moeten” and is followed by “meenemen” in “moet ... meenemen.” Use “moet” before an infinitive to state a necessity or obligation.
ook In “Ik moet ook een paraplu meenemen.”, “ook” means also or too and adds the umbrella to the things being taken. It appears before “een paraplu” in “ook een paraplu meenemen.” Use “ook” when adding one person or thing to an existing action or list.
een In “een paraplu”, “een” means an and introduces one non-specific umbrella. It comes directly before the noun in “een paraplu”. Use “een” before a singular countable noun when you are not identifying a specific one.
paraplu In “een paraplu”, “paraplu” means umbrella. It is the noun after “een” in “een paraplu” and names what the speaker plans to take along. Use “paraplu” when preparing for rain or protecting yourself from it.
meenemen In “Ik moet ook een paraplu meenemen.”, “meenemen” means take along, with the umbrella accompanying the speaker. It is the infinitive after “moet” in “moet ... meenemen.” Use “meenemen” when taking an item with you to another place.
Dat In “Dat helpt je droog te blijven.”, “Dat” means that and refers back to taking an umbrella, expressed in “Ik moet ook een paraplu meenemen.” It is the subject of “helpt” in the reply. Use “Dat” to refer to a just-mentioned action or thing.
helpt In “Dat helpt je droog te blijven.”, “helpt” means helps: it says that the earlier action supports the listener in staying dry. It is the form related to “helpen” and is followed by “je droog te blijven” in the dialogue. Use “helpen” when saying that a person or thing makes an action or result easier.
droog In “Dat helpt je droog te blijven.”, “droog” means dry, the condition the listener is helped to remain in. It appears before “te blijven” in “droog te blijven.” Use “droog” for a person or thing that is not wet, especially in a rainy situation.
te In “Dat helpt je droog te blijven.”, “te” marks the infinitive phrase “te blijven”, which completes the idea of what the umbrella helps with. It links “helpt” to “blijven” rather than expressing a separate destination. Use “te” before an infinitive in the construction “helpt je droog te blijven.”
blijven In “Dat helpt je droog te blijven.”, “blijven” means stay or remain, so the listener stays dry. It is the infinitive after “te” in “droog te blijven.” Use “blijven” when describing continuing in a place or condition, such as remaining dry.

Grammar Points

trek ... aan

Trek je laarzen aan.

trek yuh LAHR-zun ahn

Put on your boots.

The separable verb trek ... aan splits in a main clause: the verb comes first and aan moves to the end.

voordat + bijzin

Trek je laarzen aan voordat je weggaat.

trek yuh LAHR-zun ahn vohr-DAHT yuh WAYKH-gaht

Put on your boots before you leave.

After voordat, the conjugated verb moves to the end: voordat je weggaat.

Dutch Vocabulary

buiten adv
BOW-tun outside

Het regent buiten.

laarzen noun
LAHR-zun boots

Trek je laarzen aan voordat je weggaat.

langzaam adv
LAHNG-zahm slowly

Stap er langzaam omheen.

liggen verb
LIKH-un lie; are located

Er liggen plassen op het pad.

omheen adv
om-HAYN around them

Stap er langzaam omheen.

pad noun
PAHT path

Er liggen plassen op het pad.

plassen noun
PLAH-sun puddles

Er liggen plassen op het pad.

regent verb
RAY-khent is raining

Het regent buiten.

stap verb
stahp step

Stap er langzaam omheen.

trek ... aan phrase
trek ... ahn put on

Trek je laarzen aan voordat je weggaat.

voordat conj
vohr-DAHT before

Trek je laarzen aan voordat je weggaat.

weggaat verb
WAYKH-gaht leave

Trek je laarzen aan voordat je weggaat.

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

It is raining outside.

Show AnswerHet regent buiten.

There are puddles on the path.

Show AnswerEr liggen plassen op het pad.

Step around them slowly.

Show AnswerStap er langzaam omheen.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

puddles

Show Answerplassen

before

Show Answervoordat

is raining

Show Answerregent

leave

Show Answerweggaat