Choosing a Salad or a Sandwich | Learn Dutch in English

About This Lesson

Use Choosing a Salad or a Sandwich to practice Dutch conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Zal ik een broodje of een salade kiezen?

zahl ik uhn BROHT-yuh awf uhn sah-LAH-duh KEE-zun? Should I choose a sandwich or a salad?

De salade is een lichtere keuze.

duh sah-LAH-duh iss uhn LIKH-tuh-ruh KUHR-zuh. The salad is a lighter option.

Ik heb niet veel honger.

ik HEHP neet fayl HONG-uhr. I am not very hungry.

Dan past die misschien beter bij jou.

dahn pahst dee miss-KHEEN BAY-tur bay yow. Then it may suit you better.

Wat neem jij?

vaht naym yay? What are you getting?

Ik wil iets groters.

ik vil eets KHROH-turs. I want something bigger.

Ik kies het broodje.

ik KEES uht BROHT-yuh. I will choose the sandwich.

De salade is prima voor mij.

duh sah-LAH-duh iss PREE-mah vohr may. The salad works for me.

Laten we bestellen als de medewerker terugkomt.

LAH-tun wuh buh-STEL-un ahls duh MAY-duh-WER-kur tuh-RUHK-komt. Let's order when the server comes back.

Word by Word

Zal In “Zal ik een broodje of een salade kiezen?”, “Zal” asks whether the speaker should choose something. The opening “Zal ik” is useful when asking someone for advice about your own next action, such as choosing food.

ik “ik” means “I” and identifies the speaker in “Zal ik een broodje of een salade kiezen?” and “Ik heb niet veel honger.” It is used as the subject when talking about your own choice, state, or preference.

een “een” introduces one non-specific sandwich or salad in “een broodje” and “een salade.” Use “een” before a noun when referring to an item without presenting it as a specific known item.

broodje In this food-counter dialogue, “broodje” means a sandwich or bread roll, specifically in “een broodje.” It is useful when naming this kind of food as one possible choice.

of “of” connects the two alternatives in “een broodje of een salade.” Use it between options when asking or stating which of two things someone will choose.

salade “salade” means salad in “een salade” and “De salade.” The first form presents it as one possible choice, while the second refers back to that food as the chosen option under discussion.

kiezen “kiezen” means to choose in “Zal ik een broodje of een salade kiezen?” It follows “Zal ik” and names the action the speaker is considering; this pattern is useful when asking whether to select something.

de “De” introduces the specific salad already being discussed in “De salade is een lichtere keuze.” Use “de” before a noun when referring to a particular item in the situation.

is “is” links the salad with its description in “De salade is een lichtere keuze.” It is useful in the pattern “X is Y” when describing what something is or how it is being evaluated.

lichtere “lichtere” means “lighter” in “een lichtere keuze,” describing the salad as a lighter option than the alternative. It appears directly before “keuze” and is useful when comparing two choices.

keuze “keuze” means choice or option in “een lichtere keuze.” Here it names the salad as one possible selection, and the phrase is useful when evaluating alternatives.

heb In “Ik heb niet veel honger,” “heb” contributes to the expression for having little hunger, meaning that the speaker is not very hungry. This form is useful with “Ik heb” when describing the speaker’s own state.

niet “niet” makes the amount of hunger negative in “Ik heb niet veel honger,” giving the meaning “not much hunger.” Use it here before “veel honger” to say that the speaker has little appetite.

veel In “niet veel honger,” “veel” means much or a lot of and describes the amount of hunger. The expression is useful for saying that someone has only a small appetite.

honger “honger” means hunger in “Ik heb niet veel honger.” Together with “heb,” it describes the speaker’s appetite, so this expression is useful when explaining why a smaller meal may be suitable.

Dan “Dan” means “then” in “Dan past die misschien beter bij jou.” It connects the suggestion with the information that the speaker is not very hungry, and it is useful when responding to a stated situation or reason.

past In “Dan past die misschien beter bij jou,” “past” says that the salad suits the person. The reusable construction “past ... bij jou” describes whether an option is suitable for someone.

die “die” points back to the salad already mentioned in “Dan past die misschien beter bij jou.” It is useful when referring to that previously mentioned option without repeating its name.

misschien “misschien” means perhaps or maybe and softens the suggestion in “Dan past die misschien beter bij jou.” Use it when presenting an idea as possible rather than completely certain.

beter “beter” means better in “past die misschien beter bij jou,” comparing how well the salad suits the person with the other choice. It is useful when recommending one option as more suitable.

bij In “past die misschien beter bij jou,” “bij” is part of the construction that expresses suitability for someone. The pattern “past ... bij jou” is useful when saying that an option matches a person’s needs or preferences.

jou “jou” means “you” in “past die misschien beter bij jou” and identifies the person the salad may suit. The phrase “bij jou” is useful when describing what is suitable for another person.

Wat “Wat” means “what” in “Wat neem jij?” and asks which item the other person will get. Use it at the start of a question when asking someone to identify their choice.

neem In “Wat neem jij?”, “neem” means take or get in the context of choosing food. The question is useful at a counter or with a companion when asking which item someone will choose.

jij “jij” means “you” in “Wat neem jij?” and identifies the person whose choice is being asked about. It is useful when directing the question specifically to the other person.

wil “wil” means want in “Ik wil iets groters.” It states the speaker’s preference, and “Ik wil” is a useful opening for expressing what you want to choose or receive.

iets “iets” means something in “iets groters,” leaving the desired item unspecified. It is useful when referring to an item without naming exactly what it is.

groters In “Ik wil iets groters,” “groters” means something bigger and describes the unspecified item introduced by “iets.” The expression is useful when asking for or choosing a larger option without naming it.

kies In “Ik kies het broodje,” “kies” announces the speaker’s decision to choose the sandwich. Use “Ik kies” when stating your selected option during an ordering conversation.

het “het” introduces the specific sandwich in “het broodje.” Use “het” before a noun when referring to a particular item that has been selected or identified in the situation.

prima In “De salade is prima voor mij,” “prima” says that the salad is fine or acceptable for the speaker. The full expression is useful when accepting an option as suitable for your needs.

voor In “De salade is prima voor mij,” “voor” introduces the person for whom the salad is acceptable. The phrase “prima voor mij” is useful when expressing that something works for your own preference.

mij “mij” means “me” in “prima voor mij” and identifies the speaker whose preference is being described. Use the phrase “voor mij” when saying that something is suitable or acceptable for you.

Laten “Laten” begins the joint suggestion in “Laten we bestellen als de medewerker terugkomt,” meaning “let’s.” The pattern “Laten we” is useful when inviting another person to do an action together.

we “we” means “we” in “Laten we bestellen” and identifies the speaker and companion as the group doing the action. It is useful after “Laten” when making a suggestion for both people.

bestellen “bestellen” means order in “Laten we bestellen als de medewerker terugkomt.” It names the shared action, and the phrase is useful when suggesting that people place a food order.

als “als” means “when” in “als de medewerker terugkomt” and introduces the time for ordering. Use “als” before a clause to say when an action will happen.

medewerker “medewerker” means staff member or server in “de medewerker terugkomt.” In this food-counter situation, it identifies the person who will return before the speakers order.

terugkomt “terugkomt” means comes back or returns in “als de medewerker terugkomt.” It describes the staff member’s return, and the phrase is useful when waiting for someone to come back before taking the next action.

Grammar Points

iets + vergrotende trap + -s

iets groters

eets KHROH-turs

something bigger

After iets, a comparative adjective often takes -s when it means “something more …”.

Dutch Vocabulary

beter adv

BAY-tur better

misschien beter bij jou

broodje noun

BROHT-yuh sandwich; bread roll

een broodje

heb verb

HEHP have

Ik heb niet veel honger.

honger noun

HONG-uhr hunger

veel honger

iets pron

EETS something

Ik wil iets groters.

keuze noun

KUHR-zuh choice; option

een lichtere keuze

kiezen verb

KEE-zun to choose

een broodje of een salade kiezen

lichtere adj

LIKH-tuh-ruh lighter

een lichtere keuze

misschien adv

miss-KHEEN perhaps; maybe

die misschien beter bij jou

nemen verb

NAY-mun to take; to get

Wat neem jij?

past verb

PAHST suits; fits

past die misschien beter bij jou

salade noun

sah-LAH-duh salad

een salade

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

The salad is a lighter option.

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De salade is een lichtere keuze.

I am not very hungry.

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Ik heb niet veel honger.

What are you getting?

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Wat neem jij?

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

suits; fits

Show Answer

past

lighter

Show Answer

lichtere

salad

Show Answer

salade

perhaps; maybe

Show Answer

misschien