Choosing between two bags | Learn Dutch in English

About This Lesson

Use Choosing between two bags to practice Dutch conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Welke tas moet ik kiezen?

VEL-kuh tahs moot ik KEE-zun? Which bag should I choose?

Deze is licht.

DAY-zuh is likht. This one is light.

De andere tas ziet er sterker uit.

Duh AHN-duh-ruh tahs zeet ur STEHR-kur owt. The other bag looks stronger.

Hij heeft ook twee vakken.

H-eye hayft ohk tway VAH-kun. It also has two pockets.

Ik heb een tas nodig voor mijn werk.

Ik hehp uhn tahs NOH-dikh vohr mine wehrk. I need a bag for work.

Dan is de sterkere de logische keuze.

Dahn is duh STEHR-kuh-ruh duh LOH-khi-suh KUR-zuh. Then the stronger one makes sense.

Ik kan mijn papieren in de vakken doen.

Ik kahn mine pah-PEER-un in duh VAH-kun doon. I can put my papers in the pockets.

Dat zou goed voor je moeten werken.

Daht zow khoot vohr yuh MOO-tun WEHR-kun. That should work well for you.

Word by Word

Welke “Welke” means “which” in the question “Welke tas moet ik kiezen?” It comes before the noun being selected. Use it when asking someone to identify one option from several, such as when choosing between two bags.

tas “Tas” means “bag” here, as in “Welke tas” and “een tas”. It names the object being compared and selected. It can be used after an article or another word that identifies the bag. Use it when discussing a bag for shopping, work, or carrying things.

moet “Moet” expresses what the speaker should or must do in “Welke tas moet ik kiezen?” It is followed by the subject “ik” and the infinitive “kiezen”. Use “moet” when asking about an obligation or the recommended action.

ik “Ik” means “I” and is the person who has to choose in “moet ik kiezen”. After “moet” it appears before the infinitive in this question. Use it when referring to your own action or decision.

kiezen “Kiezen” means “choose” in “Welke tas moet ik kiezen?” It is the infinitive that follows “moet”. Use it after a suitable modal verb when talking about selecting one option.

Deze “Deze” means “this one” in “Deze is licht.” It refers to one of the bags without repeating the noun “tas”. Use it when pointing out or selecting a nearby or already-mentioned option.

is “Is” means “is” in “Deze is licht” and links the bag with its description. It is followed here by the adjective “licht”. Use this pattern to describe something with “subject + is + description”.

licht “Licht” means “light” here, describing the bag in “Deze is licht.” It follows “is” and gives a quality of the selected bag. Use it when comparing how heavy or light an object is.

De “De” is the definite article “the” in “De andere tas”; the same article appears as “de” in “de sterkere”. It introduces a specific bag or choice already identified in the comparison. Use it before a noun or a form referring to a specific option.

andere “Andere” means “other” in “De andere tas.” It distinguishes this bag from the first bag being discussed. The reusable pattern is “de andere” followed by the noun. Use it when identifying the second of two or more options.

ziet “Ziet” contributes the meaning “looks” in the expression “ziet er sterker uit.” In this dialogue, that full expression describes how the other bag appears. Use “ziet er + description + uit” when giving an impression of something.

er “Er” is part of the expression “ziet er sterker uit,” which means that the bag looks stronger. It does not mean “there” by itself in this use. Keep it in the reusable pattern “ziet er + description + uit” when describing appearance.

sterker “Sterker” means “stronger” in “ziet er sterker uit,” comparing the other bag with the first one. It gives the quality used to make the comparison. Use it when saying that one option has more strength than another.

uit “Uit” completes the expression “ziet er sterker uit,” meaning “looks stronger.” It is not being used with its separate meaning “out” here. Keep it at the end of the pattern “ziet er + description + uit” when describing how something appears.

Hij “Hij” means “he” or “it” here and refers back to the bag in “Hij heeft ook twee vakken.” It lets the speaker continue talking about the bag without repeating “tas”. Use it at the start of a sentence when continuing with an already-mentioned subject.

heeft “Heeft” means “has” in “Hij heeft ook twee vakken.” It tells us that the bag possesses or includes the pockets. Use it with a subject followed by the feature or object that something has.

ook “Ook” means “also” and adds another fact in “Hij heeft ook twee vakken.” It appears after “heeft” here to add the pockets to the description of the bag. Use it when adding information to something already being discussed.

vakken “Vakken” means “pockets” or “compartments” in “twee vakken.” It names the storage sections inside the bag. The number comes before it in this phrase, so use it when describing how many compartments an item has.

heb “Heb” is part of “Ik heb een tas nodig,” the Dutch expression for “I need a bag.” It combines with “nodig” to express the speaker’s need. Reuse the pattern “Ik heb ... nodig” with the needed object in the middle when stating a requirement.

een “Een” means “a” or “an” in “een tas.” It introduces one bag without identifying a particular bag yet. Use “een” before a singular object when introducing or referring to an unspecified item.

nodig “Nodig” completes “Ik heb een tas nodig,” which means “I need a bag.” The meaning “need” comes from the combination “heb ... nodig,” not from “nodig” alone here. Reuse “subject + heb/heeft + object + nodig” when expressing a need.

voor “Voor” means “for” in “voor mijn werk” and introduces the purpose or intended use of the bag. It comes before the phrase describing that purpose. Use “voor” when saying what an object or action is intended for.

mijn “Mijn” means “my” in “mijn werk.” It identifies the work as belonging to or relating to the speaker. Use it directly before the noun that belongs to or is associated with you.

werk “Werk” means “work” in “voor mijn werk.” It explains what the bag is needed for. Use it after “mijn” when referring to your work or job-related purpose.

Dan “Dan” means “then” in “Dan is de sterkere de logische keuze.” It introduces the conclusion that follows from needing a work bag. Use it at the start of a sentence when drawing a conclusion from what was just said.

sterkere “Sterkere” means “the stronger one” in “de sterkere.” It refers to the stronger bag without repeating the noun “tas”. Use “de sterkere” when choosing the stronger option from a comparison.

logische “Logische” means “logical” in “de logische keuze.” It describes the choice as a sensible result of the information given. Use it before a noun when explaining that a decision follows reasonably from the situation.

keuze “Keuze” means “choice” in “de logische keuze.” It names the decision or selected option in the comparison. Use it when talking about a decision between alternatives.

kan “Kan” means “can” in “Ik kan mijn papieren in de vakken doen.” It expresses that the speaker is able or has the possibility to put the papers there. It is followed by the infinitive “doen”. Use “kan + infinitive” when describing an ability or possible action.

papieren “Papieren” means “papers” or “documents” in “mijn papieren.” It is the thing being put into the bag’s compartments. Use it after a possessive such as “mijn” when referring to your papers or documents.

in “In” means “in” in “in de vakken” and introduces the compartments where the papers will go. It is followed here by the place or container. Use it when describing movement into or a location inside something.

doen “Doen” means “put” in the expression “in de vakken doen,” where it describes placing the papers into the compartments. It is the infinitive after “kan”. Use “kan ... doen” when saying that you can put or place something somewhere.

Dat “Dat” means “that” in “Dat zou goed voor je moeten werken.” It refers back to the proposed bag and arrangement discussed in the previous lines. Use it as a subject when responding to an idea, action, or situation just mentioned.

zou “Zou” makes the statement in “Dat zou goed voor je moeten werken” less direct and presents the result as an expectation. It works together with “moeten werken” in this sentence. Use “zou ... moeten + infinitive” when saying what should be expected to happen.

goed “Goed” means “well” in “goed voor je werken.” Together with “werken,” it describes the choice as suitable or effective for the listener. Use the pattern “goed voor iemand werken” when saying that something works well for a person.

je “Je” means “you” in “voor je” and identifies the person for whom the choice should work well. It follows “voor” in this sentence. Use “voor je” when describing whether something is suitable for the person being addressed.

moeten “Moeten” contributes the meaning “should” in “zou goed voor je moeten werken.” It is the infinitive after “zou” and combines with “werken” to express an expected result. Reuse the pattern “zou moeten + infinitive” when making a cautious expectation.

werken “Werken” means “work” in “goed voor je moeten werken,” where it means to be suitable or effective for someone. It is the infinitive after “moeten”. Use “voor iemand werken” when evaluating whether a choice, method, or solution is suitable for a person.

Grammar Points

er ... uitzien

Deze tas ziet er sterker uit.

DAY-zuh tahs zeet ur STEHR-kur owt.

This bag looks stronger.

Dutch splits uitzien around the description: ziet er ... uit. English uses a single verb, “looks.”

iets nodig hebben

Hij heeft twee vakken nodig.

H-eye hayft tway VAH-kun NOH-dikh.

He needs two compartments.

Dutch expresses “need” with hebben ... nodig: literally “has ... needed.”

Dutch Vocabulary

andere adj

AHN-duh-ruh other

De andere tas ziet er sterker uit.

deze pron

DAY-zuh this one

Deze is licht.

heeft verb

hayft has

Hij heeft ook twee vakken.

hij pron

H-eye it; he

Hij heeft ook twee vakken.

kiezen verb

KEE-zun to choose

Welke tas moet ik kiezen?

licht adj

likht light

Deze is licht.

ook adv

ohk also

Hij heeft ook twee vakken.

sterker adj

STEHR-kur stronger

De andere tas ziet er sterker uit.

tas noun

tahs bag

Welke tas moet ik kiezen?

twee num

tway two

Hij heeft ook twee vakken.

welke det

VEL-kuh which

Welke tas moet ik kiezen?

ziet er sterker uit phrase

zeet ur STEHR-kur owt looks stronger

De andere tas ziet er sterker uit.

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Which bag should I choose?

Show Answer

Welke tas moet ik kiezen?

This one is light.

Show Answer

Deze is licht.

It also has two pockets.

Show Answer

Hij heeft ook twee vakken.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

which

Show Answer

welke

stronger

Show Answer

sterker

other

Show Answer

andere

to choose

Show Answer

kiezen