Talking about reading | Learn Dutch in English

About This Lesson

Use Talking about reading to practice Dutch conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Wat lees je?

vaht LAYSS yuh? What are you reading?

Ik lees een kort boek.

ik LAYSS uhn KAWRT BOOK. I am reading a short book.

Vind je het verhaal leuk?

vint yuh uht vuh-HAHL LUHK? Do you like the story?

Het is makkelijk te volgen.

uht iss MAH-kuh-luhk tuh VOL-ghuhn. It is easy to follow.

Waar lees je meestal?

vahr LAYSS yuh MAY-stahl? Where do you usually read?

Ik lees meestal thuis in een rustige kamer.

ik LAYSS MAY-stahl TOYSS in uhn RUS-tuh-ghuh KAH-mur. I usually read in a quiet room at home.

Dat klinkt rustig.

daht KLUHNGT RUS-tuhgh. That sounds calm.

Het helpt me om van mijn vrije tijd te genieten.

uht HELPT muh uhm vahn mine VRY-uh TITE tuh ghuh-NEE-tuhn. It helps me enjoy my free time.

Word by Word

Wat Wat means “what” in the question “Wat lees je?” It asks which thing or content someone is reading. This is useful when asking about an object or activity in a conversation.

lees Lees means “read” or “am reading” in “Wat lees je?” and “Ik lees een kort boek.” It is the form of lezen used here. The pattern “Wat lees je?” is useful for asking what someone is reading.

je Je means “you” in “Wat lees je?” and “Vind je het verhaal leuk?” It refers to the person being asked, and it appears after the verb in these questions. Use it when speaking informally to one person.

Ik Ik means “I” in “Ik lees een kort boek.” It marks the speaker as the person who is reading. The pattern “Ik lees ...” can introduce what the speaker is reading.

een Een means “a” in “een kort boek.” It introduces one non-specific book. It is used before the noun phrase “een kort boek” when mentioning a book for the first time.

kort Kort means “short” in “een kort boek” and describes the book’s length. It comes before the noun “boek” in this phrase. This pattern is useful for describing an object with an adjective before its noun.

boek Boek means “book” in “een kort boek.” It names the thing being read. The phrase “een kort boek” is useful when describing reading material.

Vind Vind contributes the meaning “find” or “consider” in the question “Vind je het verhaal leuk?” Together with “leuk,” the full question asks whether you like the story. Vind is the form of vinden used here, and the pattern “Vind je ... leuk?” is useful for asking whether someone likes something.

het Het has two uses in this dialogue. In “het verhaal” it means “the,” while in “Het is makkelijk te volgen” and “Het helpt me ...” it means “it” and refers to the story or reading activity. Notice whether it comes before a noun or begins a sentence as the subject.

verhaal Verhaal means “story” in “het verhaal.” It is the thing whose enjoyment is being discussed. The phrase “Vind je het verhaal leuk?” is useful for asking whether someone likes a story.

leuk Leuk means “enjoyable” or “nice” in “Vind je het verhaal leuk?” In this construction, it describes how the story is experienced and contributes to the question “Do you like the story?” The pattern “iets leuk vinden” is useful for expressing that you like something.

is Is means “is” in “Het is makkelijk te volgen.” It also appears in “Het is ...” to describe the story as easy to follow. Is is the form of zijn used here, and “Het is ...” is useful for describing something.

makkelijk Makkelijk means “easy” in “Het is makkelijk te volgen.” It describes following the story as requiring little difficulty. The pattern “Het is makkelijk te volgen” is useful for saying that something is easy to follow.

te Te marks the infinitive in “te volgen” and “te genieten.” In “makkelijk te volgen,” it helps connect “easy” with the action of following; in “om van mijn vrije tijd te genieten,” it is part of the “om ... te” construction. This form is useful before an infinitive in these patterns.

volgen Volgen means “follow” in “te volgen.” It refers here to following or understanding the story as it unfolds. The pattern “makkelijk te volgen” is useful for describing a story, explanation, or sequence that is easy to follow.

Waar Waar means “where” in “Waar lees je meestal?” It asks about the place where someone usually reads. This question pattern is useful when asking about someone’s usual location for an activity.

meestal Meestal means “usually” in “Waar lees je meestal?” and “Ik lees meestal thuis ...” It shows that the action happens regularly but not necessarily every time. It can be placed with the reading statement to describe a usual habit.

thuis Thuis means “at home” in “Ik lees meestal thuis.” It identifies home as the place where the speaker usually reads, without adding a separate location word before it. This is useful when describing an activity that takes place at home.

in In means “in” in “in een rustige kamer.” It introduces the room as the location of the reading. The pattern “in een rustige kamer” is useful for describing an activity inside a room.

rustige Rustige means “quiet” in “een rustige kamer” and describes the room. It is the form of rustig used before “kamer” in this phrase. The pattern “in een rustige kamer” is useful for describing a quiet place where someone does an activity.

kamer Kamer means “room” in “een rustige kamer.” It names the place where the speaker usually reads at home. The phrase “in een rustige kamer” is useful when specifying an indoor reading location.

Dat Dat means “that” in “Dat klinkt rustig.” It refers to the situation just described, namely reading at home in a quiet room. This form is useful for reacting to something someone has just said.

klinkt Klinkt means “sounds” in “Dat klinkt rustig.” It expresses how the situation comes across to the speaker, rather than describing a physical sound here. Klinkt is the form of klinken used here, and the pattern “Dat klinkt ...” is useful for giving an impression or reaction.

rustig Rustig means “calm” in “Dat klinkt rustig.” It describes the impression the situation gives. This is different from “rustige” in “een rustige kamer,” which directly describes the room; “Dat klinkt rustig” is useful for reacting to a calm-sounding situation.

helpt Helpt means “helps” in “Het helpt me om van mijn vrije tijd te genieten.” It says that the reading activity provides a benefit to the speaker. Helpt is the form of helpen used here, and “Het helpt me om ...” is useful for saying what something enables or supports you in doing.

me Me means “me” in “Het helpt me ...” and identifies the person receiving the help. The reading activity helps the speaker personally. The pattern “Het helpt me om ...” is useful when explaining how something benefits you.

om Om introduces the action connected to the help in “om van mijn vrije tijd te genieten.” Together with “te,” the construction explains what the help enables the speaker to do. The pattern “Het helpt me om ... te ...” is useful for describing a purpose or result.

van Van means “of” in the expression “van mijn vrije tijd te genieten.” With genieten, it introduces what is being enjoyed. The reusable pattern “genieten van ...” is useful for saying what gives someone enjoyment.

mijn Mijn means “my” in “mijn vrije tijd.” It shows that the free time belongs to or is associated with the speaker. It comes directly before the noun phrase “vrije tijd” to identify whose free time it is.

vrije Vrije means “free” in “mijn vrije tijd” and describes the time as available for leisure. It is the form of vrij used in this phrase. The expression “vrije tijd” is useful when talking about time outside work or other obligations.

tijd Tijd means “time” in “mijn vrije tijd.” Here it refers to the speaker’s leisure time, not a clock time or appointment. The phrase “van mijn vrije tijd te genieten” is useful for saying that someone enjoys their free time.

genieten Genieten means “enjoy” in “te genieten.” It is the infinitive used after “te” and combines with “van mijn vrije tijd” to say what the speaker enjoys. The pattern “om van ... te genieten” is useful for expressing the purpose of an activity.

Grammar Points

rustig → rustige kamer

rustige kamer

RUS-tuh-ghuh KAH-mur

quiet room

Before a noun, the adjective can take an -e ending: rustig becomes rustige.

Dutch Vocabulary

boek noun

BOOK book

Ik lees een kort boek.

kort adj

KAWRT short

een kort boek

leuk adj

LUHK nice; enjoyable

Vind je het verhaal leuk?

lezen verb

LAY-zuhn to read lees

Ik lees een kort boek.

makkelijk adj

MAH-kuh-luhk easy

Het is makkelijk te volgen.

meestal adv

MAY-stahl usually

Ik lees meestal thuis.

rustig adj

RUS-tuhgh quiet; calm rustige

een rustige kamer

thuis adv

TOYSS at home

Ik lees meestal thuis.

verhaal noun

vuh-HAHL story

het verhaal

vinden verb

VIN-duhn to find; to think or consider vind

Vind je het verhaal leuk?

volgen verb

VOL-ghuhn to follow

makkelijk te volgen

waar adv

VAHR where Waar

Waar lees je meestal?

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

What are you reading?

Show Answer

Wat lees je?

I am reading a short book.

Show Answer

Ik lees een kort boek.

Do you like the story?

Show Answer

Vind je het verhaal leuk?

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to find; to think or consider

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vind

to read

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lees

nice; enjoyable

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leuk

story

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verhaal