Finding the right platform after a change | Learn Dutch in English

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Use Finding the right platform after a change to practice Dutch conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Heb je de aankondiging net gehoord?

heb yuh duh AHN-khon-dih-khing net khuh-HOORT Did you hear the announcement just now?

De trein vertrekt van een ander perron.

duh train vuh-TRAKT vahn uhn AHN-der PEH-ron The train is leaving from a different platform.

Op het bord staat dat we het andere perron moeten nemen.

op ut BORT staht daht vuh ut AHN-duh-ruh PEH-ron MOO-tuh NAY-muh The board says we should use the other platform instead.

Dan moeten we nu de borden volgen.

dahn MOO-tuh vuh noo duh BOR-duh VOHL-khuh Then we should follow the signs now.

Hebben we genoeg tijd om daar te komen?

HAY-bun vuh kuh-NOOKH TAYT om DAHR tuh KOH-muh Do we have enough time to get there?

We hebben genoeg tijd als we nu vertrekken.

vuh HAY-bun kuh-NOOKH TAYT ahls vuh noo vuh-TREK-uh We do if we leave now.

Ik houd mijn kaartje klaar.

ik HOWT mine KAHR-chuh klahr I'll keep my ticket ready.

Houd het bij de hand; het personeel kan het controleren voordat we instappen.

HOWT ut bay duh HAHNT; ut pehr-soh-NAYL kahn ut kon-truh-LAY-ruh VOHR-daht vuh IN-stahp-uh Keep it handy; staff may check it before we board.

Word by Word

Heb “Heb” means have in this question about whether someone heard something. It is the question form of “hebben” used with “je”, as in “Heb je de aankondiging net gehoord?” Use “Heb je ...?” when asking one person whether they have done or experienced something.

je “je” means you and refers to the person being addressed. In “Heb je de aankondiging net gehoord?”, it is the person who may have heard the announcement. This form is commonly used in direct questions to one person.

de “de” means the before the specific announcement mentioned here. It belongs to the noun phrase “de aankondiging”. Use it when referring to a particular item, as in “Heb je de aankondiging net gehoord?”

aankondiging “aankondiging” means announcement, here the announcement made at the train station. The form appears with “de” in “de aankondiging”. Use it when asking about or referring to information announced publicly.

net “net” means just now and shows that the announcement was heard very recently. It appears before “gehoord” in “Heb je de aankondiging net gehoord?”. Use it when asking about something that happened moments ago.

gehoord “gehoord” means heard in this question. It is the past-participle form of “horen” and is used with “Heb je” in “Heb je de aankondiging net gehoord?”. Use this form when asking whether someone has heard a sound or spoken information.

trein “trein” means train, the vehicle that is departing in this scene. It appears in “De trein vertrekt van een ander perron.” Use it when giving or asking for travel information about a train.

vertrekt “vertrekt” means leaves or departs here, referring to the train leaving from a platform. It is the form of “vertrekken” used with “de trein” in “De trein vertrekt van een ander perron.” Use it with a departure place introduced by “van” when describing a train’s departure.

van “van” means from and marks the platform from which the train departs. It appears in “vertrekt van een ander perron”. Use it to identify a starting or departure place.

een “een” means a or an and introduces one non-specific platform in “een ander perron”. It comes before the singular noun phrase. Use it when mentioning an item without presenting it as a specific known one.

ander “ander” means different or another and identifies the platform as different from the one originally expected. It appears in “een ander perron”. Use it when directing someone to a different option or place.

perron “perron” means platform, specifically a train platform here. It appears in “een ander perron” and is the place from which the train leaves. Use it when discussing where to wait for or board a train.

Op “Op” means on in “Op het bord staat dat...”, describing information displayed on a board. It is followed here by “het bord”. Use this form when locating written information on a surface or display.

het “het” means the before the specific display board referred to in “Op het bord”. It identifies the board whose information the travelers are reading. Use it with a known item in a noun phrase.

bord “bord” means board or display board, here the station board showing the platform information. It appears in “Op het bord staat dat we het andere perron moeten nemen.” Use it when referring to a board that displays directions or travel information.

staat “staat” means says or is written here: the information is displayed on the board. It is the form of “staan” used in “Op het bord staat dat...”. Use this expression when reporting what a board or sign displays.

dat “dat” means that and introduces the information written on the board. It links “staat” to the clause “we het andere perron moeten nemen”. Use it to introduce reported information after an expression such as “staat”.

we “we” means we and refers to the two travelers together. In “we het andere perron moeten nemen”, it is the group that should use the other platform. Use it when the speaker includes themselves and at least one other person.

andere “andere” means other and identifies the platform the travelers should use instead of the expected one. The form appears in “het andere perron”. Use it when referring to an alternative item or place.

moeten “moeten” means should or must in the instruction from the board. It comes before “nemen” in “het andere perron moeten nemen” and expresses what the travelers are required or advised to do. Use it before an action when giving or reporting an obligation or recommendation.

nemen “nemen” means take or use here, referring to choosing the other platform rather than physically taking it. It appears in “het andere perron moeten nemen”. Use this construction when saying which platform or route someone should use.

Dan “Dan” means then and introduces the consequence of the platform change. It appears in “Dan moeten we nu de borden volgen.” Use it when responding to new information with the next action that follows.

nu “nu” means now and makes the action immediate. It appears in both “nu de borden volgen” and “nu vertrekken”. Use it when an action should happen at the present moment.

borden “borden” means signs here and is the plural form of “bord”. In “de borden volgen”, the travelers use the station signs to find the correct platform. Use it for multiple signs that give directions.

volgen “volgen” means follow, here referring to following the station signs. It appears in “de borden volgen”. Use this pattern when someone follows signs, directions, or a route.

Hebben “Hebben” means have in the question about whether enough time is available. It begins “Hebben we genoeg tijd om daar te komen?” and is used with “we”. Use this form to ask whether a group has something or has enough of something.

genoeg “genoeg” means enough and shows that the available amount of time may be sufficient. It appears in “genoeg tijd”. Use it before a noun when checking whether an amount is sufficient.

tijd “tijd” means time, specifically the time available to reach the other platform. It appears in “genoeg tijd om daar te komen”. Use it when discussing whether there is sufficient time for an action.

om “om” introduces the goal in “om daar te komen”, meaning in order to get there. The rest of the construction, including “te komen”, expresses the action that forms the goal. Use “om” with this kind of purpose phrase when explaining what available time is for.

daar “daar” means there and refers to the other platform or destination already understood in the conversation. It appears in “om daar te komen”. Use it to point to a place without repeating its name.

te “te” marks the infinitive in “te komen” after “om”. Together with “komen”, it forms the expression for getting to the destination. Use it in this infinitive construction after “om”.

komen “komen” means come or get to here, referring to reaching the other platform. It appears in “om daar te komen”. Use it when talking about arriving at a place, especially in a purpose phrase.

als “als” means if and introduces the condition for having enough time. It appears in “als we nu vertrekken”. Use it to connect an action with the condition under which something will be possible.

vertrekken “vertrekken” means leave or depart, here describing the travelers leaving immediately. It appears in “als we nu vertrekken”. Use it when stating that a person or vehicle leaves a place.

Ik “Ik” means I and identifies the speaker who will keep the ticket ready. It is the subject of “Ik houd mijn kaartje klaar.” Use it when the speaker talks about their own action or decision.

houd “houd” means keep or hold in “Ik houd mijn kaartje klaar”. The capitalized form “Houd” is used for the instruction “Houd het bij de hand”; both forms come from “houden”. Use “houd” when saying that an item is kept in a particular state or position.

mijn “mijn” means my and shows that the ticket belongs to the speaker. It appears before “kaartje” in “mijn kaartje”. Use it before a noun when identifying something connected with the speaker.

kaartje “kaartje” means ticket in this train-station context. It is the item the speaker keeps ready in “Ik houd mijn kaartje klaar.” Use it when referring to the ticket needed for travel.

klaar “klaar” means ready and describes the state in which the speaker keeps the ticket. It appears in “Ik houd mijn kaartje klaar.” Use it when an item is prepared for immediate use.

bij de hand The expression “bij de hand” means handy or within reach. In it, “bij” contributes the idea of being by or at something, “de” is the article, and “hand” means hand; together they describe keeping something close and available. Use it in the instruction “Houd het bij de hand” when someone may need an item soon.

personeel “personeel” means staff, here the employees who may inspect the travelers’ tickets. It appears in “het personeel kan het controleren”. Use it when referring collectively to the staff working at a station or other organization.

kan “kan” means can or may and indicates that the staff may check the ticket. It appears in “het personeel kan het controleren” and is followed by the action “controleren”. Use it to express that an action is possible or may happen.

controleren “controleren” means check or inspect, here referring to checking the ticket. It follows “kan” in “het personeel kan het controleren”. Use it when staff or another person examines whether something is correct or valid.

voordat “voordat” means before and introduces the event that happens before boarding. It appears in “voordat we instappen”. Use it to place one action earlier than another.

instappen “instappen” means board or get on, here referring to getting on the train. It appears in “voordat we instappen” and completes the before-clause. Use it at a station when describing the action of getting onto a vehicle.

Grammar Points

net + voltooid deelwoord

net gehoord

net khuh-HOORT

just heard

net vóór een voltooid deelwoord betekent ‘just’; gehoord is het voltooid deelwoord van horen.

iets bij de hand houden

houd het kaartje bij de hand

HOWT ut KAHR-chuh bay duh HAHNT

keep the ticket handy

bij de hand is een vaste uitdrukking voor iets dat binnen bereik is; houd...bij de hand betekent ‘keep handy’.

Dutch Vocabulary

aankondiging noun

AHN-khon-dih-khing announcement

Heb je de aankondiging net gehoord?

ander adj

AHN-der different; other andere

Het andere perron

bord noun

BORT board; sign borden

Dan moeten we nu de borden volgen.

genoeg adv

kuh-NOOKH enough

Hebben we genoeg tijd?

horen verb

HOH-ruh to hear gehoord

Heb je de aankondiging net gehoord?

nemen verb

NAY-muh to take

Het andere perron moeten nemen.

net adv

net just now

Heb je de aankondiging net gehoord?

perron noun

peh-RON platform

De trein vertrekt van een ander perron.

staan verb

stahn to say; to stand staat

Op het bord staat dat we het andere perron moeten nemen.

trein noun

TRAYN train

De trein vertrekt van een ander perron.

vertrekken verb

vuh-TREK-uh to leave; to depart vertrekt

De trein vertrekt van een ander perron.

volgen verb

VOHL-khuh to follow

De borden volgen.

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Did you hear the announcement just now?

Show Answer

Heb je de aankondiging net gehoord?

I'll keep my ticket ready.

Show Answer

Ik houd mijn kaartje klaar.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

announcement

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aankondiging

to hear

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gehoord

train

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trein

board; sign

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borden