About This Lesson
Use Waiting in the right line to practice Dutch conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
Is dit de juiste rij?
iss dit duh YOYST-uh ray? Is this the right line?
B
Deze rij gaat naar de balie.
DAY-zuh ray KHAAT nar duh BAH-lee. It goes to the front desk.
A
Is de balie daar vooraan?
iss duh BAH-lee dar vor-AHN? Is the front desk up ahead?
B
We kunnen hem vanaf hier zien.
vuh KUN-uhn hem vahn-AHF heer ZEEN. We can see it from here.
A
Moet ik achter je gaan staan?
MOOT ik AKH-ter yuh KHAAN STAHN? Should I stand behind you?
B
Blijf dichtbij; er is niet veel ruimte.
BLAYF dikh-BAY; uhr iss NEET VALE ROYM-tuh. Stay close; there isn't much space.
A
De rij gaat langzaam vooruit.
duh ray KHAAT LAHNG-zahm vor-OYT. The line is moving slowly.
B
We kunnen nog iets langer wachten.
vuh KUN-uhn NOKH eets LAHNG-uhr WAKH-tuhn. We can wait a little longer.Word by Word
Is
In “Is dit de juiste rij?”, “Is” asks whether something is the case. It is the question form of “zijn” and comes before the subject in this yes-no question. Use it to ask for confirmation about a person, place, or thing.
dit
In “Is dit de juiste rij?”, “dit” means “this” and points to the line being discussed. It appears before the noun phrase “de juiste rij” because the speaker is asking about this particular line. Use it to identify something nearby or currently under discussion.
de
In “de juiste rij”, “de” marks the specific noun phrase “the right line”. It combines with “juiste” and “rij” to identify one particular line. Use “de” with a known or specific noun in a phrase like this.
juiste
In “de juiste rij”, “juiste” means “right” or “correct”, identifying the line that leads to the intended place. Its form appears directly before “rij” in this noun phrase. Use it when checking whether a choice, direction, or item is correct.
rij
In “de juiste rij”, “rij” means a line or queue of people waiting. Here it identifies the line whose destination the speakers are checking. Use it for a waiting line in places such as a front desk or service counter.
Deze
In “Deze rij gaat naar de balie”, “Deze” means “this” and refers to the line the speakers are in or pointing at. Together with “rij”, it identifies this particular queue. Use it before a noun when distinguishing one nearby or relevant thing from others.
gaat
In “Deze rij gaat naar de balie”, “gaat” says that the line leads or goes toward the front desk. It is the form of “gaan” used with “Deze rij”. Use “gaat naar” to describe where a person, route, or line leads.
naar
In “gaat naar de balie”, “naar” marks the destination or direction of the line. It connects “gaat” with “de balie”, the place the line leads to. Use “naar” with a destination after verbs of movement or direction.
balie
In “de balie”, “balie” means the front desk or counter where people are served. In the dialogue, it is the destination of the line and the place visible ahead. Use it for a service counter in a public building, shop, or office.
daar
In “Is de balie daar vooraan?”, “daar” means “there” and points to a place ahead of the speakers. Together with “vooraan”, it helps locate the front desk. Use it to point out or ask about a place that is not right next to you.
vooraan
In “daar vooraan”, “vooraan” means at the front or up ahead. It specifies the location being indicated by “daar”, namely the front area where the desk may be. Use it when referring to the front of a line, room, or group.
We
In “We kunnen hem vanaf hier zien”, “We” means “we” and refers to the two speakers together. It is the subject of the sentence and comes before “kunnen”. Use it when describing something that the speaker and at least one other person can do together.
kunnen
In “We kunnen hem vanaf hier zien”, “kunnen” means “can” or “are able to”. It is followed by “zien”, which gives the action that is possible. Use “kunnen” followed by an action word to express ability or possibility.
hem
In “We kunnen hem vanaf hier zien”, “hem” means “it” and refers back to “de balie”. It is the object of “zien”, the thing that can be seen. Use it when referring back to this kind of previously mentioned object in the object position.
vanaf
In “vanaf hier”, “vanaf” means “from” and marks the starting point of the view. It combines with “hier” to mean from this place. Use “vanaf” before a place or time that marks where or when something begins.
hier
In “vanaf hier”, “hier” means “here”, the speakers’ current position. With “vanaf”, it identifies where they are viewing the front desk from. Use it to refer to the place where the speaker is now.
zien
In “We kunnen hem vanaf hier zien”, “zien” means “see” and describes the visual action that is possible. It follows “kunnen” in this construction. Use “kunnen” plus “zien” when saying that something is visible or can be seen.
Moet
In “Moet ik achter je gaan staan?”, “Moet” asks whether the speaker is expected or needs to do something. It is the question form of “moeten” and comes before “ik” in this yes-no question. Use it to ask what action is required or appropriate.
ik
In “Moet ik achter je gaan staan?”, “ik” means “I” and identifies the person who may stand behind the other speaker. It is the subject of “moet”. Use it when referring to yourself as the person who will perform an action.
achter
In “achter je”, “achter” means “behind” and gives the position relative to the other person. It is followed by “je”, the person being used as the reference point. Use “achter” with a person or object to describe a position behind it.
je
In “achter je”, “je” means “you” and identifies the person behind whom the speaker may stand. It follows the position word “achter”. Use it when referring to the person being addressed in this position phrase.
gaan
In “gaan staan”, “gaan” contributes the idea of moving into the action or position of standing. It is followed by “staan”, which names the resulting position. Use “gaan” plus an action or position word when describing starting or moving into that action.
staan
In “achter je gaan staan”, “staan” means “stand” and describes the position the speaker intends to take. Together with “gaan”, it expresses moving into a standing position behind the other person. Use it for being upright or taking a standing place.
Blijf
In “Blijf dichtbij”, “Blijf” tells the other person to remain in a nearby position. It is the direct instruction form of “blijven”. Use it when asking someone to remain somewhere or maintain a position.
dichtbij
In “Blijf dichtbij”, “dichtbij” means close or nearby. It specifies the position that the person should maintain. Use it after “blijven” when asking someone to stay near you or near a particular place.
er
In “er is niet veel ruimte”, “er” introduces the existence of something rather than pointing to a specific place. The whole expression says that there is not much space. Use “er is” to say that something exists or is available.
niet
In “er is niet veel ruimte”, “niet” makes the statement negative. It says that the amount of space is not much. Use it before the part of the sentence that is being denied or limited.
veel
In “niet veel ruimte”, “veel” means “much” or “a lot of” and describes the amount of space. With “niet”, the phrase means that only a small amount is available. Use it before a noun to talk about a large quantity or amount.
ruimte
In “niet veel ruimte”, “ruimte” means space or room available for people to stand. The phrase explains why the speakers should remain close together. Use it for physical room in a place, vehicle, or line.
langzaam
In “De rij gaat langzaam vooruit”, “langzaam” means slowly and describes the speed at which the line moves forward. It modifies the movement expressed by “gaat ... vooruit”. Use it to describe an action or movement that happens at a low speed.
vooruit
In “gaat langzaam vooruit”, “vooruit” means forward and shows the direction of the line’s movement. Together with “gaat”, it describes the line progressing toward the front. Use it with movement to indicate progress or direction ahead.
nog
In “We kunnen nog iets langer wachten”, “nog” means “still” or “an additional amount of time”. It shows that the waiting can continue beyond the time already spent waiting. Use it before a time, amount, or action when something continues or is added.
iets
In “nog iets langer”, “iets” means “a little” and slightly increases the duration expressed by “langer”. Together, the phrase means that the speakers can wait for a little longer. Use “iets” before a comparative or quantity when making a small adjustment.
langer
In “iets langer wachten”, “langer” means longer and compares the possible waiting time with the time already spent or expected. It directly modifies “wachten” in this expression. Use it when extending a duration, as in waiting, staying, or working longer.
wachten
In “We kunnen nog iets langer wachten”, “wachten” means “wait”. It follows “kunnen” and describes the action the speakers are able to continue. Use “kunnen” plus “wachten” to say that waiting is possible or acceptable.
Grammar Points
lang → langer
nog iets langer
nOKH eets LAHNG-uhra little longer still
The comparative of lang is langer. Iets can soften the comparison and mean “a little.”
juist → juiste
deze juiste balie
DAY-zuh YOYST-uh BAH-leethis correct counter
After deze, the adjective takes -e: juist becomes juiste before the noun.
Dutch Vocabulary
achter
prep
AKH-ter
behind
achter je
balie
noun
BAH-lee
front desk; counter
naar de balie
deze
det
DAY-zuh
this
Deze rij gaat naar de balie.
gaan
verb
KHAAN
to go
gaat
Deze rij gaat naar de balie.
hem
pron
HEM
him; it
We kunnen hem vanaf hier zien.
hier
adv
HEER
here
vanaf hier
juist
adj
YOYST
right; correct
juiste
de juiste rij
naar
prep
NAHR
to
naar de balie
rij
noun
RAY
line; queue
Is dit de juiste rij?
vanaf
prep
vahn-AHF
from
vanaf hier
vooraan
adv
vor-AHN
up ahead; at the front
daar vooraan
zien
verb
ZEEN
to see
hem vanaf hier zien
Quiz
Word Order
Arrange the words in the correct order.
Is this the right line?
Show Answer
Is dit de juiste rij?It goes to the front desk.
Show Answer
Deze rij gaat naar de balie.Is the front desk up ahead?
Show Answer
Is de balie daar vooraan?Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
this
Show Answer
dezeright; correct
Show Answer
juisteup ahead; at the front
Show Answer
vooraanto