Tidy the living room before guests arrive | Learn Dutch in English

About This Lesson

Use Tidy the living room before guests arrive to practice Dutch conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Onze gasten komen zo.

ON-zuh GHAH-stun KOH-mun zoh. Our guests are coming soon.

Dan moeten we de woonkamer opruimen voordat ze komen.

Dahn MOO-tun wuh duh WOHNG-kah-mur OP-row-mun vohr-DAHT zuh KOH-mun. Then we should clear the living room before they arrive.

Ik zet de boeken terug op de plank.

Ik ZET duh BOO-kun truhk op duh PLAHNK. I'll put the books back on the shelf.

Ik leg de kussens op de bank netjes.

Ik LEKH duh KUS-uns op duh BAHNGK NET-yus. I'll straighten the cushions on the sofa.

Zullen we het kleed ook stofzuigen?

ZUL-un wuh ut KLAYT ohk STOHF-zow-ghun? Should we vacuum the rug as well?

Stofzuigen zou helpen, vooral bij de deuropening.

STOHF-zow-ghun zow HELP-un, voh-RAHL bay duh DAY-oo-puh-ning. Vacuuming would help, especially near the doorway.

De kamer voelt nu al prettiger.

Duh KAH-mur VOOLT noo ahl PREH-tuh-ghur. The room already feels more comfortable.

Laten we thee zetten als alles klaar is.

LAH-tun wuh TAY ZET-un ahls AHL-us KLAHR iss. Let's make tea once everything is ready.

Word by Word

Onze “Onze” means “our” in “Onze gasten”. It is placed before the noun it describes and is used here to identify the guests belonging to the speakers. Use it when talking about something shared by the speaker and another person.

gasten “gasten” means “guests”, the people who are coming to visit. The form refers to more than one guest in “Onze gasten komen zo”. Use it when speaking about visitors at home or at an event.

komen “komen” means “come” or “are coming” in “Onze gasten komen zo”. It describes the guests’ expected arrival and is used after the subject “Onze gasten”. Use it to talk about people arriving somewhere.

zo “zo” means “soon” in “Onze gasten komen zo”. It places the arrival in the near future and commonly follows the verb in this sentence. Use it when something is expected shortly.

Dan “Dan” means “then” in “Dan moeten we de woonkamer opruimen”. It connects the guests’ upcoming arrival with the action that should follow. Use it to introduce a consequence or next step.

moeten “moeten” expresses “should” or “must” in “moeten we de woonkamer opruimen”. It is used with “we” and followed by the action “opruimen”. Use it when an action is necessary or advisable.

we “we” means “we” and refers to the two speakers in “moeten we de woonkamer opruimen”. It is the subject of the action and comes before the other verb in this question-like word order. Use it when including yourself and at least one other person.

de “de” means “the” before “woonkamer” in “de woonkamer”. It identifies the specific living room they are going to tidy. Use it before a noun when referring to a known or specific thing.

woonkamer “woonkamer” means “living room” in “de woonkamer opruimen”. It is the room they are preparing before the guests arrive. Use it when talking about the room where people usually sit and relax at home.

opruimen “opruimen” means “clear” or “tidy up” in “de woonkamer opruimen”. It names the action that should be completed before the guests come and follows “moeten”. Use it for putting things away and making a place tidy.

voordat “voordat” means “before” in “voordat ze komen”. It introduces the event that must happen later in time, namely the guests’ arrival. Use it to connect an action with something that happens afterward.

ze “ze” means “they” in “ze komen”. It refers back to “Onze gasten” and is the subject of “komen”. Use it as a subject when referring to several people already known from the context.

Ik “Ik” means “I” in “Ik zet de boeken terug op de plank”. It shows that the speaker is taking responsibility for putting the books back. Use it as the subject when describing your own action.

zet “zet” means “put” or “place” in “Ik zet de boeken terug op de plank”. It is the exact form used for placing the books somewhere, and it is followed by the object “de boeken”. Use it when placing something in a particular position.

boeken “boeken” means “books” in “de boeken”. It is the object of “zet” and refers to the books that are being returned to the shelf. Use it when talking about more than one book.

terug “terug” means “back” in “zet de boeken terug”. It shows that the books are being placed in their previous or proper location. Use it with an action to express returning something to an earlier place or state.

op “op” means “on” in “op de plank”. It indicates the surface where the books are placed. Use it before a surface or location when something is positioned on it.

plank “plank” means “shelf” in “op de plank”. It is the place where the books are put back. Use it when referring to a shelf or a plank used for holding things.

leg “leg” means “lay” or “place” in “Ik leg de kussens op de bank netjes”. It describes placing the cushions on the sofa and is followed by the object “de kussens”. Use it when laying or positioning something, especially on a surface.

kussens “kussens” means “cushions” in “de kussens”. These are the objects being placed neatly on the sofa. Use it when talking about more than one cushion used for sitting or comfort.

bank “bank” means “sofa” in “op de bank”. It is the surface or piece of furniture where the cushions are placed. Use it when talking about the sofa in a living room.

netjes “netjes” means “neatly” in “de kussens op de bank netjes”. It describes the tidy way the cushions are placed. Use it to describe something arranged or done in an orderly way.

Zullen “Zullen” helps form the suggestion “Zullen we het kleed ook stofzuigen?”, meaning “Shall we vacuum the rug as well?”. With “we”, it is used to propose doing an action together. Use it when inviting someone to decide on a shared action.

het “het” means “the” in “het kleed”. It identifies the specific rug in the room that they are considering vacuuming. Use it before this noun when referring to a known rug.

kleed “kleed” means “rug” in “het kleed”. It is the object of “stofzuigen” and is one of the things being cleaned before the guests arrive. Use it when talking about a rug on the floor.

ook “ook” means “also” or “as well” in “het kleed ook stofzuigen”. It adds vacuuming the rug to the other tidying tasks. Use it when including an additional action or object.

stofzuigen “stofzuigen” means “vacuum” in “het kleed ook stofzuigen”. It names the cleaning action proposed with “Zullen we” and used again as the subject-like action in “Stofzuigen zou helpen”. Use it when removing dust from a floor or rug with a vacuum cleaner.

zou “zou” means “would” in “Stofzuigen zou helpen”. It presents vacuuming as a possible helpful action rather than a direct command. Use it when describing what could help or what would be useful.

helpen “helpen” means “help” in “zou helpen”. It describes the useful effect of vacuuming, especially near the doorway. Use it after “zou” to say that an action would be useful.

vooral “vooral” means “especially” in “vooral bij de deuropening”. It focuses attention on the area where vacuuming would be particularly helpful. Use it to give special emphasis to one place, person, or point.

bij “bij” means “near” in “bij de deuropening”. It indicates the location where the rug needs particular attention. Use it before a place to say that something is near or at that place.

deuropening “deuropening” means “doorway” in “bij de deuropening”. It identifies the area near the door that may need extra vacuuming. Use it when referring to the opening or passage at a door.

kamer “kamer” means “room” in “De kamer voelt nu al prettiger”. It refers to the living room that has just been tidied. Use it when talking about a room without specifying a more particular type.

voelt “voelt” means “feels” in “De kamer voelt nu al prettiger”. It describes the speaker’s impression of the room after the cleaning. Use it to describe how a place or thing seems to someone.

nu “nu” means “now” in “nu al”. It places the improved feeling in the present moment. Use it when referring to what is happening or true at the current time.

al “al” means “already” in “nu al prettiger”. Together with “nu”, it emphasizes that the room feels nicer even at this early stage. Use it when something has happened sooner or earlier than expected.

prettiger “prettiger” means “more comfortable” or “nicer” in “voelt nu al prettiger”. It compares the room’s current feeling with how it felt before tidying. Use it when describing an improvement in comfort or pleasantness.

Laten “Laten” forms the suggestion “Laten we thee zetten”, meaning “Let’s make tea”. With “we”, it invites the other person to do the action together. Use it to propose a shared activity.

thee “thee” means “tea” in “thee zetten”. It is the drink the speakers plan to prepare after everything is ready. Use it when talking about tea as a drink or something being prepared.

zetten “zetten” means “make” or “prepare” in the expression “thee zetten”. In this expression, the verb refers to preparing tea rather than simply placing an object. Use “thee zetten” when proposing or describing tea preparation.

als “als” means “once” or “when” in “als alles klaar is”. It introduces the condition or time at which they will make tea. Use it to connect an action with the point when something else is ready or happens.

alles “alles” means “everything” in “alles klaar is”. It refers collectively to all the tidying and preparation that needs to be finished. Use it when referring to all relevant things together.

klaar “klaar” means “ready” in “alles klaar is”. It describes the state that everything must reach before they make tea. Use it after a linking verb to say that something is ready or finished.

is “is” means “is” in “alles klaar is”. It links “alles” with its state, “klaar”, inside the time clause introduced by “als”. Use it to describe what something is or what state it is in.

Grammar Points

voordat + bijzin

voordat onze gasten komen

vohr-DAHT ON-zuh GHAH-stun KOH-mun

before our guests come

After voordat, Dutch introduces a subordinate clause. The verb comes at the end: gasten komen.

prettiger + dan

prettiger dan

PREH-tuh-ghur dahn

more comfortable than; more pleasant than

Prettiger is the comparative form of prettig. Dutch often adds dan for a comparison.

Dutch Vocabulary

boeken noun

BOO-kun books

Ik zet de boeken terug op de plank.

dan adv

dahn then

Dan moeten we de woonkamer opruimen voordat ze komen.

gasten noun

GHAH-stun guests

Onze gasten komen zo.

komen verb

KOH-mun come; are coming

Onze gasten komen zo.

onze det

ON-zuh our

Onze gasten komen zo.

opruimen verb

OP-row-mun to tidy up; to clear

Dan moeten we de woonkamer opruimen voordat ze komen.

plank noun

plahngk shelf

Ik zet de boeken terug op de plank.

terug adv

tuh-RUHK back

Ik zet de boeken terug op de plank.

voordat conj

vohr-DAHT before

Dan moeten we de woonkamer opruimen voordat ze komen.

woonkamer noun

WOHNG-kah-mur living room

Dan moeten we de woonkamer opruimen voordat ze komen.

zet verb

zet put; place

Ik zet de boeken terug op de plank.

zo adv

zoh soon

Onze gasten komen zo.

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Our guests are coming soon.

Show Answer

Onze gasten komen zo.

Should we vacuum the rug as well?

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Zullen we het kleed ook stofzuigen?

The room already feels more comfortable.

Show Answer

De kamer voelt nu al prettiger.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

living room

Show Answer

woonkamer

come; are coming

Show Answer

komen

guests

Show Answer

gasten

to tidy up; to clear

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opruimen