Choosing a place to sit | Learn Dutch in English

About This Lesson

Use Choosing a place to sit to practice Dutch conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Waar zullen we zitten?

vahr ZUH-lun wuh ZIH-tun? Where should we sit?

De tafel in de hoek staat op een rustige plek.

duh TAH-fuhl in duh hook staht awp un RUHS-tuh-ghuh plek. The corner table is in a quiet spot.

Bij deze tafel is het licht ook goed.

buy DAY-zuh TAH-fuhl iss ut likht ohk GHOOT. This table has nice light too.

Aan deze tafel kun je beter lezen.

ahn DAY-zuh TAH-fuhl kuhn yuh BAY-tur LAY-zun. This table would be better for reading.

Zijn deze stoelen comfortabel?

zine DAY-zuh STOO-lun kum-for-TAH-buhl? Are these chairs comfortable?

Voor mij zitten ze goed.

vohr may ZIH-tun zuh GHOOT. They feel fine to me.

Laten we aan deze tafel gaan zitten.

LAH-tun wuh ahn DAY-zuh TAH-fuhl ghahn ZIH-tun. Let's sit at this table.

Ik leg onze tassen onder de tafel.

ick LEH-kh OWN-zuh TAH-sun ON-dur duh TAH-fuhl. I'll put our bags under it.

Word by Word

Waar “Waar” asks about a place or location. In “Waar zullen we zitten?” it asks where the speakers should sit. It is useful when choosing or locating something.

zullen “zullen” expresses a suggestion about what the speakers should do, together with “zitten”. In “Waar zullen we zitten?” it helps ask which place to choose. Here it is used before the action “zitten”.

we “we” means the speaker and at least one other person. In “Waar zullen we zitten?” it refers to both people deciding where to sit. It is the subject of “zullen” here.

zitten “zitten” means to sit or be seated. In “Waar zullen we zitten?” it follows “zullen” to name the action being decided. The same action appears in the reusable expression “gaan zitten”.

De “De” is the definite article identifying a specific table. In “De tafel in de hoek” it introduces the table the speakers are considering. It appears before “tafel” in this dialogue.

tafel “tafel” means table. In “De tafel in de hoek” it names the table located in the corner. It is the object the speakers compare as a possible place to sit.

in “in” means in and links the table with its location in “tafel in de hoek”. The exact location phrase is “in de hoek”. Use it here to describe where the table is.

hoek “hoek” means corner. In “in de hoek” it identifies the corner where the table is located. This is useful when distinguishing a table by its position.

staat “staat” says that the table is located or standing in a particular place. In “De tafel in de hoek staat op een rustige plek” it describes the table’s location. The citation form is “staan”; “staat” is the form used with “De tafel” here.

op “op” marks the location of the table in “staat op een rustige plek”. Here it means at a particular spot. The reusable location phrase is “op een rustige plek”.

een “een” introduces a non-specific place: “een rustige plek”. In this dialogue, it means a quiet spot rather than one already identified by name. It comes before “rustige plek”.

rustige “rustige” means quiet and describes “plek” in “een rustige plek”. The citation form is “rustig”; “rustige” is the form used before “plek” here. It is useful when choosing a calm place to sit.

plek “plek” means spot or place. In “een rustige plek” it names the location where the table stands. This word is useful when selecting a place to sit.

Bij “Bij” means at or by and sets the table as the reference point in “Bij deze tafel is het licht ook goed”. It describes what is true at or near this table. The reusable phrase is “Bij deze tafel”.

deze “deze” means this and points to the particular table being considered. In “Bij deze tafel” and “Aan deze tafel” it identifies the table nearby or selected by the speakers. It is placed before “tafel” here.

is “is” connects “het licht” with the quality “goed” in “is het licht ook goed”. It says that the light at this table has a good quality. The citation form is “zijn”; “is” is the form used here.

het “het” is the definite article before “licht” in “het licht”. It identifies the specific light being evaluated at the table. The reusable phrase from the dialogue is “het licht”.

licht “licht” means light. In “het licht ook goed” it refers to the lighting available at the table for reading. It is useful when evaluating whether a place is suitable for reading.

ook “ook” means also or too. In “het licht ook goed” it adds the good light as another positive feature of this table. Here it appears before “goed”.

goed “goed” means good in “het licht ook goed”, describing the light. In “Voor mij zitten ze goed”, it says that the chairs feel fine or suit the speaker. These two dialogue uses show a positive evaluation of a thing or experience.

Aan “Aan” means at or by and marks the table where the activity takes place. In “Aan deze tafel kun je beter lezen” it identifies the table suitable for reading, and in “aan deze tafel gaan zitten” it identifies the chosen table. It is useful for describing an activity at a table.

kun “kun” means can and indicates what “je” can do at the table in “kun je beter lezen”. The citation form is “kunnen”; “kun” is the form used here with “je”. It is used before the action “lezen”.

je “je” means you and refers to the person being addressed. In “kun je beter lezen” it is the person who can read better at this table. The reusable pattern here is “kun je” followed by an action.

beter “beter” means better and says that reading is more suitable at this table in “kun je beter lezen”. Its citation form is “goed”; “beter” is the comparative form used here. It helps express a preference between places.

lezen “lezen” means to read. In “Aan deze tafel kun je beter lezen” it names the activity that this table supports well. It follows “kun je” in this dialogue.

Zijn “Zijn” begins the question “Zijn deze stoelen comfortabel?” and asks whether the chairs have the stated quality. It is the verb placed at the start of this yes-or-no question. The question is useful when checking furniture before sitting down.

stoelen “stoelen” means chairs. In “deze stoelen” it refers to the chairs the speakers are evaluating. The citation form is “stoel”; “stoelen” is the plural form used here.

comfortabel “comfortabel” means comfortable and describes the chairs in “Zijn deze stoelen comfortabel?”. It asks whether the chairs feel suitable for sitting. This word is useful when checking comfort.

Voor “Voor” means for and introduces the speaker’s personal viewpoint in “Voor mij zitten ze goed”. It shows whose assessment is being given. The reusable phrase is “Voor mij”.

mij “mij” means me and identifies the speaker whose perspective is expressed in “Voor mij zitten ze goed”. Together with “Voor”, it means for me. This is useful when giving a personal opinion.

ze “ze” means they here and refers to the chairs in “Voor mij zitten ze goed”. It is the subject of “zitten” in this sentence. The word is useful for referring back to the chairs without repeating “stoelen”.

Laten “Laten” begins a suggestion in “Laten we aan deze tafel gaan zitten”. Together with “we”, it proposes that the speakers sit at the selected table. The reusable construction is “Laten we ... gaan zitten”.

gaan “gaan” means go or begin, but in “gaan zitten” it helps express beginning to sit or sitting down. In “Laten we aan deze tafel gaan zitten”, it forms part of the suggestion. The exact reusable expression is “gaan zitten”.

Ik “Ik” means I and identifies the speaker who will place the bags. In “Ik leg onze tassen onder de tafel” it is the subject of that action. It is useful when stating what you personally will do.

leg “leg” means put or place. In “Ik leg onze tassen onder de tafel” it describes placing the bags below the table. The citation form is “leggen”; “leg” is the form used here with “Ik”.

onze “onze” means our and shows that the bags belong to both speakers in “onze tassen”. It comes directly before “tassen” to express shared possession. This is useful when identifying something belonging to a group that includes the speaker.

tassen “tassen” means bags. In “onze tassen” it names the objects that will be placed under the table. The citation form is “tas”; “tassen” is the plural form used here.

onder “onder” means under and locates the bags below the table in “onder de tafel”. It describes where the bags will be placed. This is useful when putting or storing something beneath another object.

Grammar Points

Laten we + infinitief

Laten we gaan zitten.

LAH-tun wuh ghahn ZIH-tun.

Let's sit down.

Dutch uses laten we followed by an infinitive to make a suggestion, similar to “let's” in English.

bijvoeglijk naamwoord + -e vóór een zelfstandig naamwoord

rustige plek

RUHS-tuh-ghuh plek

quiet place

Before a noun, rustig becomes rustige in this phrase. The adjective ending changes with the noun phrase.

Dutch Vocabulary

beter adj

BAY-tur better

goed adj

GHOOT good; well

hoek noun

hook corner

lezen verb

LAY-zun to read

licht noun

likht light

plek noun

plek spot; place

rustig adj

RUHS-tikh quiet rustige

staan verb

stahn to stand; to be situated staat

stoel noun

stool chair stoelen

tafel noun

TAH-fuhl table

waar adv

vahr where

zitten verb

ZIH-tun to sit

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Where should we sit?

Show Answer

Waar zullen we zitten?

Are these chairs comfortable?

Show Answer

Zijn deze stoelen comfortabel?

They feel fine to me.

Show Answer

Voor mij zitten ze goed.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to stand; to be situated

Show Answer

staat

corner

Show Answer

hoek

to sit

Show Answer

zitten

spot; place

Show Answer

plek