Choosing a Simple Activity | Learn Dutch in English

About This Lesson

Use Choosing a Simple Activity to practice Dutch conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Welke activiteit zullen we doen?

VEL-kuh ahk-tee-vee-TITE ZUL-uhn vuh DOON? What activity should we do?

We kunnen buiten wandelen.

vuh KUN-uhn BOW-tuhn VAHN-duh-luhn. We could walk outside.

Buiten kan het koud zijn.

BOW-tuhn kahn uht KOWT zine. It may be cold out there.

Dan kunnen we binnen lezen.

dahn KUN-uhn vuh BIN-uhn LAY-zuhn. Then we can read inside.

Lezen klinkt vandaag beter.

LAY-zuhn KLINKT vahn-DAHKH BAY-tur. Reading sounds better today.

Laten we een rustige kamer kiezen.

LAH-tuhn vuh uhn RUS-tuh-khuh KAH-mur KEE-zuhn. Let's choose a quiet room.

Ik neem mijn boek mee.

ik NAYM mine BOOK MAY. I'll bring my book.

Ik zoek een plek voor ons.

ik ZOOK uhn PLEK vohr ons. I'll find a spot for us.

Word by Word

Welke “Welke” asks which activity is being considered in “Welke activiteit zullen we doen?”. It is used directly before the noun, as in “Welke activiteit...?”. A new example is “Welke film wil je zien?”

activiteit “Activiteit” means an activity, here the thing the speakers need to choose. It follows “Welke” in “Welke activiteit”. A new example is “Deze activiteit is leuk.”

zullen “Zullen” helps form a suggestion about what the speakers should do in “Welke activiteit zullen we doen?”. Here it is used with “we” and the following verb “doen”. A new example is “Zullen we morgen wandelen?”

we “We” refers to the two speakers together in “Welke activiteit zullen we doen?”. It is placed before the verb phrase in this question. A new example is “We lezen samen.”

doen “Doen” means do and refers to carrying out the chosen activity in “Welke activiteit zullen we doen?”. It comes after “zullen we” in this question. A new example is “Wat zullen we doen?”

kunnen “Kunnen” presents walking as a possible option in “We kunnen buiten wandelen.”. It is followed by the activity verb “wandelen”. A new example is “We kunnen binnen lezen.”

buiten “Buiten” means outside and shows where the speakers could walk in “We kunnen buiten wandelen.”. It is placed before “wandelen” here. A new example is “We eten buiten.”

wandelen “Wandelen” means to walk, specifically the suggested activity in “We kunnen buiten wandelen.”. It follows “kunnen” as the activity that is possible. A new example is “Ik wil wandelen.”

kan “Kan” expresses possibility in “Buiten kan het koud zijn.”: outside, it may be cold. It is followed by “het” and the description “koud zijn”. A new example is “Het kan vandaag regenen.”

het “Het” is the subject referring to the weather situation in “Buiten kan het koud zijn.”. It appears between “kan” and “koud zijn” in this sentence. A new example is “Het is warm.”

koud “Koud” describes the temperature in “Buiten kan het koud zijn.”. It comes before “zijn” after “kan”. A new example is “Het water is koud.”

zijn “Zijn” means be and completes the possible weather description “Buiten kan het koud zijn.”. It follows “koud” in this phrase. A new example is “Het kan moeilijk zijn.”

Dan “Dan” means then and connects the weather concern with the alternative in “Dan kunnen we binnen lezen.”. It comes at the beginning of the sentence. A new example is “Dan blijven we thuis.”

binnen “Binnen” means inside and shows where the speakers can read in “Dan kunnen we binnen lezen.”. It is placed before “lezen” here. A new example is “We wachten binnen.”

lezen “Lezen” means read and names the alternative activity in “Dan kunnen we binnen lezen.”. After “kunnen”, it appears as the activity the speakers can do; in “Lezen klinkt vandaag beter.”, the same form names reading as an activity. A new example is “Ik wil lezen.”

klinkt “Klinkt” means sounds and expresses the speaker’s judgment in “Lezen klinkt vandaag beter.”. It links “Lezen” with the evaluation “beter”. A new example is “Dat klinkt goed.”

vandaag “Vandaag” means today and limits the judgment in “Lezen klinkt vandaag beter.” to the current day. It is placed before “beter” in this sentence. A new example is “Vandaag lezen we binnen.”

beter “Beter” means better and shows that reading seems preferable today in “Lezen klinkt vandaag beter.”. It follows “vandaag” as the evaluation of reading. A new example is “Deze plek is beter.”

Laten “Laten” begins the suggestion “Laten we een rustige kamer kiezen.”, meaning that the speakers should choose a quiet room together. It is used with “we” and the following verb “kiezen”. A new example is “Laten we binnen lezen.”

een “Een” means a and introduces the non-specific room in “Laten we een rustige kamer kiezen.”. It comes before the adjective and noun phrase “rustige kamer”. A new example is “We zoeken een plek.”

rustige “Rustige” means quiet and describes the room in “Laten we een rustige kamer kiezen.”. It is placed before the noun “kamer”. A new example is “Ik wil een rustige plek.”

kamer “Kamer” means room, specifically the room the speakers want to choose in “Laten we een rustige kamer kiezen.”. It follows “rustige” in the noun phrase. A new example is “De kamer is rustig.”

kiezen “Kiezen” means choose and describes the action suggested in “Laten we een rustige kamer kiezen.”. It follows “Laten we” as the proposed action. A new example is “We moeten een plek kiezen.”

Ik “Ik” means I and identifies the speaker who will bring the book in “Ik neem mijn boek mee.”. It comes at the beginning of the sentence. A new example is “Ik lees vandaag.”

neem “Neem” expresses the speaker’s action of taking or bringing something in “Ik neem mijn boek mee.”. The object is “mijn boek”, and “mee” shows that it comes along. A new example is “Ik neem mijn jas mee.”

mijn “Mijn” means my and shows that the book belongs to the speaker in “Ik neem mijn boek mee.”. It comes directly before the noun “boek”. A new example is “Mijn kamer is rustig.”

boek “Boek” means book, the item the speaker will bring in “Ik neem mijn boek mee.”. It follows “mijn” as the object of “neem ... mee”. A new example is “Dit boek is interessant.”

mee “Mee” adds the meaning that the book is taken or brought along in “Ik neem mijn boek mee.”. Together with “neem”, it forms the expression for taking something along. A new example is “Neem je jas mee.”

zoek “Zoek” means look for or search for in “Ik zoek een plek voor ons.”. It is followed by the object “een plek”. A new example is “Ik zoek mijn boek.”

plek “Plek” means spot or place, here a place for both speakers in “Ik zoek een plek voor ons.”. It follows “een” and is the object of “zoek”. A new example is “We vinden een rustige plek.”

voor “Voor” means for and shows who the place is intended for in “Ik zoek een plek voor ons.”. It is followed by “ons”. A new example is “Dit boek is voor jou.”

ons “Ons” means us and refers to both speakers in “een plek voor ons.”. It follows “voor” to identify the people the place is intended for. A new example is “Ze wachten op ons.”

Grammar Points

laten we + infinitief

Laten we binnen lezen.

LAH-tuhn vuh BIN-uhn LAY-zuhn.

Let's read inside.

Use “laten we” followed by the infinitive to make a suggestion for “let's …”.

Welke + zelfstandig naamwoord + werkwoord + onderwerp?

Welke activiteit doen we buiten?

VEL-kuh ahk-tee-vee-TITE DOON vuh BOW-tuhn?

Which activity do we do outside?

In a question beginning with “welke”, the verb comes before the subject: “doen we”.

Dutch Vocabulary

activiteit noun

ahk-tee-vee-TITE activity

binnen adv

BIN-uhn inside

buiten adv

BOW-tuhn outside

dan adv

dahn then

doen verb

DOON to do

klinkt verb

KLINKT sounds

koud adj

KOWT cold

lezen verb

LAY-zuhn to read; reading

wandelen verb

VAHN-duh-luhn to walk

we pron

vuh we

welke det

VEL-kuh which

zijn verb

zine to be

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

What activity should we do?

Show Answer

Welke activiteit zullen we doen?

We could walk outside.

Show Answer

We kunnen buiten wandelen.

It may be cold out there.

Show Answer

Buiten kan het koud zijn.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

cold

Show Answer

koud

to walk

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wandelen

to do

Show Answer

doen

activity

Show Answer

activiteit