Using a shared fridge | Learn Dutch in English

Dutch lesson set in a contemporary Amsterdam everyday setting: In a shared space, two adults talk about labeling food and using shelf space in a shared fridge..

EN → NL / Level: A1

About This Lesson

Use Using a shared fridge to practice Dutch conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Mag ik de gedeelde koelkast gebruiken?

mahkh ik duh khuh-DAYL-duh KOHL-kahst khuh-BROY-kuhn? Can I use the shared fridge?
B

Plak een etiket op je eten voordat je het erin doet.

plahk ayn ay-tuh-KET op yuh AY-tun vohr-DAHT yuh ut ay-RIN doot. Label your food before you put it in.
A

Waar kan ik een etiket vinden?

vahr kahn ik ayn ay-tuh-KET VIN-duhn? Where can I find a label?
B

Er liggen etiketten naast de koelkast.

ur LIG-uhn ay-tuh-KET-uhn nahst duh KOHL-kahst. There are labels beside the fridge.
A

Is er binnen genoeg ruimte?

is ur BIN-uhn khuh-NOOKH ROIM-tuh? Is there enough space inside?
B

Gebruik de bovenste plank. Daar is ruimte.

khuh-BROYK duh BOH-vuhn-stuh plahngk. DAHR is ROIM-tuh. Use the top shelf; there is room there.
A

Ik haal mijn eten er later uit.

ik HAHL mine AY-tun ur LAH-tur OIT. I will take my food out later.
B

Zo blijft er ruimte vrij voor andere mensen.

zoh BLAIFT ur ROIM-tuh VRAI vohr AHN-duh-ruh MEN-suhn. That keeps space open for other people.

Word by Word

Mag “Mag” means “may” here and asks for permission to use the fridge. It is used with “ik” and an infinitive in “Mag ik de gedeelde koelkast gebruiken?”; reuse “Mag ik …?” when politely asking permission.
ik “ik” means “I” and identifies the person asking to use the fridge. In “Mag ik …?”, it comes after the permission word; reuse “ik” for yourself as the subject of a sentence.
de “de” means “the” in “de gedeelde koelkast” and introduces a specific fridge. Reuse “de” before a definite noun when referring to a known object or place.
gedeelde “gedeelde” means “shared” and describes the fridge as being used by more than one person. It comes before “koelkast” in “de gedeelde koelkast”; reuse it before a noun when describing something shared.
koelkast “koelkast” means “fridge” and names the appliance being discussed. It appears in “de gedeelde koelkast”; reuse “koelkast” when talking about storing or finding food there.
gebruiken “gebruiken” means “to use” and is the action permitted in “Mag ik de gedeelde koelkast gebruiken?” After “Mag ik”, it gives the action being requested. Reuse “iets gebruiken” for using an object.
Plak “Plak” tells someone to attach or put something on another surface; here it means to put a label on the food. In “Plak een etiket op je eten”, it begins a direct instruction. Reuse “Plak” followed by the item to attach.
een “een” means “a” or “an” and introduces one unspecified label in “een etiket”. Reuse “een” before a singular, unspecified noun when mentioning something for the first time.
etiket “etiket” means “label”, the item that should be put on the food. In “Plak een etiket op je eten”, it is the object being attached; reuse it when identifying food or another item with a label.
op “op” means “on” and shows where the label should be placed in “Plak een etiket op je eten”. Reuse “op” to describe one object being placed on or attached to another.
je “je” means “your” here and identifies the food as belonging to the person being addressed. It appears in “je eten”; reuse “je” before a noun when referring to something belonging to the listener.
eten “eten” means “food” here and is the thing that receives the label. In “je eten”, it follows the possessive “je”; reuse it when talking generally about food rather than one named dish.
voordat “voordat” means “before” and introduces the action that must happen first in “voordat je het erin doet”. Reuse “voordat” before a clause to order one action earlier than another.
het “het” means “it” here and refers back to the food in “het erin doet”. It is placed before the verb in that clause; reuse “het” to refer to a previously mentioned thing.
erin “erin” means “in it” or “inside there” and describes putting the food into the understood fridge. In “het erin doet”, it gives the destination of the action; reuse “iets erin doen” when putting something into a container or space.
doet “doet” means “puts” in “het erin doet”; it is the form of “doen” used for the action of putting the food inside. Reuse “iets ergens in doen” to describe putting something into a place.
Waar “Waar” means “where” and asks for the location of a label in “Waar kan ik een etiket vinden?”. Reuse “Waar kan ik …?” when asking where you can find or do something.
kan “kan” means “can” here and expresses the possibility of finding a label. In “Waar kan ik een etiket vinden?”, it is followed by “ik” and the infinitive “vinden”; reuse “kan ik …?” when asking what is possible.
vinden “vinden” means “find” and names the action asked about in “Waar kan ik een etiket vinden?”. It follows “kan” in this question; reuse “iets vinden” when asking about locating something.
Er “Er” introduces the existence or presence of labels in “Er liggen etiketten naast de koelkast.” It is useful when stating that something is present in a place; reuse “Er …” to introduce available or located things.
liggen “liggen” means “are lying” or “are located” here and describes where the labels are found. In “Er liggen etiketten naast de koelkast”, it is used for labels that are situated there; reuse it to describe items lying or located somewhere.
etiketten “etiketten” means “labels” and refers to several labels beside the fridge. “Etiketten” is the plural form related to the singular “etiket”; reuse it when referring to more than one label.
naast “naast” means “beside” or “next to” and places the labels beside the fridge in “naast de koelkast”. Reuse “naast” before a place or object to describe a position directly beside it.
Is “Is” means “is” and begins the question about whether there is enough space in “Is er binnen genoeg ruimte?”. It comes before “er” in this yes-or-no question; reuse “Is er …?” to ask whether something is present or available.
binnen “binnen” means “inside” and limits the question to the inside of the fridge. In “Is er binnen genoeg ruimte?”, it identifies the place being considered; reuse it when talking about an interior space.
genoeg “genoeg” means “enough” and shows that the question concerns a sufficient amount of space. It comes before “ruimte” in “genoeg ruimte”; reuse “genoeg” before a noun when asking or stating whether the amount is sufficient.
ruimte “ruimte” means “space” or “room” and refers to unoccupied room inside the fridge. It appears in “genoeg ruimte” and later in “ruimte”; reuse it when discussing available room for an object or person.
Gebruik “Gebruik” means “use” and gives the instruction to use the top shelf. It is the command form related to “gebruiken” in “Gebruik de bovenste plank”; reuse it at the start of a direct instruction followed by the object.
bovenste “bovenste” means “top” or “uppermost” and identifies which shelf to use in “de bovenste plank”. It comes before “plank”; reuse “de bovenste” before a noun when selecting the highest item or position.
plank “plank” means “shelf” and identifies the storage surface in “de bovenste plank”. Reuse it when referring to a shelf in a fridge, cupboard, or similar storage place.
Daar “Daar” means “there” and points back to the top shelf in “Daar is ruimte.” It can refer to a place already understood; reuse “Daar is …” when saying that something is available in a previously indicated location.
haal “haal” means “take out” or “retrieve” in “Ik haal mijn eten er later uit.” It is the form of “halen” used with “ik” and combines with the outward-direction word “uit”; reuse it when retrieving something from a place.
mijn “mijn” means “my” and identifies the food as belonging to the speaker in “mijn eten”. Reuse “mijn” before a noun when referring to something that belongs to or is associated with yourself.
later “later” means “later” and places the action of taking the food out at a later time. In “er later uit”, it modifies the action; reuse it when postponing an action until after the current moment.
uit “uit” means “out” and contributes the outward direction in “Ik haal mijn eten er later uit.” Together with “er” and “haal”, it expresses taking the food out of the fridge; reuse “iets eruit halen” for removing or retrieving something from inside.
Zo “Zo” means “that way” or “so” and links the previous action to its result in “Zo blijft er ruimte vrij voor andere mensen.” It can introduce the consequence of an action; reuse “Zo …” when explaining how something produces a result.
blijft “blijft” means “stays” or “remains” and describes the space continuing to be available. In “blijft er ruimte vrij”, it is the form of “blijven” used with the space that remains; reuse it when describing something continuing in a condition.
vrij “vrij” means “free” or “available” in “ruimte vrij” and indicates that the space is not occupied. Reuse “vrij” with space or another resource when saying it remains available for use.
voor “voor” means “for” and marks who can use the available space in “voor andere mensen”. Reuse “voor” to identify the intended person or group that benefits from something.
andere “andere” means “other” and distinguishes the people who may need the space from the current speaker. It comes before “mensen” in “andere mensen”; reuse “andere” before a noun when referring to additional or different people or things.
mensen “mensen” means “people” and refers to the other users of the shared fridge. “Mensen” is the plural form related to “mens”; reuse it when talking about people as a group.

Grammar Points

Bijvoeglijk naamwoord vóór het zelfstandig naamwoord

gedeelde koelkast

khuh-DAYL-duh KOHL-kahst

shared fridge

In Dutch, adjectives usually come before the noun and often take an -e ending, as in gedeelde.

genoeg + zelfstandig naamwoord

genoeg ruimte

khuh-NOOKH ROIM-tuh

enough space

Dutch places genoeg before the noun, unlike English, where enough usually follows the noun.

Dutch Vocabulary

doet verb
doot does; puts
erin adv
ay-RIN in it; inside
eten noun
AY-tun food
etiket noun
ay-tuh-KET label
etiketten noun
ay-tuh-KET-uhn labels
gebruiken verb
khuh-BROY-kuhn to use
gedeelde adj
khuh-DAYL-duh shared
koelkast noun
KOHL-kahst fridge; refrigerator
plak verb
plahk stick; put on
vinden verb
VIN-duhn to find
voordat conj
vohr-DAHT before
waar adv
vahr where

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Can I use the shared fridge?

Show AnswerMag ik de gedeelde koelkast gebruiken?

Where can I find a label?

Show AnswerWaar kan ik een etiket vinden?

There are labels beside the fridge.

Show AnswerEr liggen etiketten naast de koelkast.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

does; puts

Show Answerdoet

fridge; refrigerator

Show Answerkoelkast

shared

Show Answergedeelde

food

Show Answereten