Changing Plans Because of Weather | Learn Dutch in English

About This Lesson

Use Changing Plans Because of Weather to practice Dutch conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Het weer kan onze plannen veranderen.

hut VAYR kun OWN-zuh PLAH-nun vuh-AN-duh-run. The weather may change our plans.

De picknick kan lastig worden als het regent.

duh PIK-nik kun LAHS-tikh VOR-dun uls ut RAY-khent. The picnic could be difficult if it rains.

Zullen we afzeggen of in plaats daarvan iets binnen plannen?

ZUL-un vuh AF-zekh-un or im PLAHTS duh-VAHN ITS BIN-un PLAHN-un? Should we cancel or plan something indoors instead?

Laten we flexibel blijven en binnen afspreken.

LAH-tun vuh flek-see-BEEL BLY-vun un BIN-un AF-spray-kun. Let's stay flexible and meet inside.

Dat klinkt beter dan buiten nat worden.

daht KLINGKT BAY-tur dan BOW-tun naht VOR-dun. That sounds better than getting wet outside.

We kunnen nog steeds samen in de buurt lunchen.

vuh KUN-un nokh STAYTS SAH-mun in duh BOORT LUN-khun. We can still have lunch together nearby.

Ik stuur de anderen een bericht over de verandering.

ik STYOOR duh AHN-dur-un un buh-RIKHT OH-vur duh vuh-AN-duh-ring. I will message the others about the change.

Dat helpt iedereen plannen te maken, vooral omdat het weer verandert.

daht HELPT EE-duh-rayn PLAH-nun tuh MAH-kun, vohr-AHL um-DAHT ut VAYR vuh-AN-duhrt. That helps everyone plan, especially with the weather changing.

Word by Word

Het “Het” is the definite article in “Het weer”, meaning “the” in “the weather.” It is used before this noun in a familiar noun phrase, such as when talking about the weather before making plans.

weer “Weer” means “weather” in “Het weer kan onze plannen veranderen.” It is used when discussing conditions that may affect an activity or plan.

kan “Kan” expresses possibility or ability here: the weather may change the plans. It is followed by the infinitive “veranderen” in “kan ... veranderen”; this pattern is useful when saying what may happen.

onze “Onze” means “our” and identifies the plans as belonging to the speakers in “onze plannen.” It comes directly before the noun, so “onze” is useful when discussing something shared by a group.

plannen “Plannen” has two uses in this dialogue: it means “plans” in “onze plannen” and “to plan” in “plannen te maken.” The first use follows “onze,” while the second appears in the expression “plannen te maken” when discussing organizing future activities.

veranderen “Veranderen” means “to change” in “kan onze plannen veranderen.” It stays in this infinitive form after “kan”; the phrase is useful for describing something that may alter an arrangement.

De “De” is the definite article in “De picknick”, meaning “the” in “the picnic.” It comes before the noun when the speakers refer to the planned picnic.

picknick “Picknick” means “picnic” in “De picknick kan lastig worden.” It names the outdoor activity being discussed when the weather may cause a problem.

lastig “Lastig” means “difficult” in “kan lastig worden.” Together with “worden,” it describes the picnic becoming difficult; this pattern is useful for describing a plan that may become hard to carry out.

worden “Worden” means “become” or “get” in “lastig worden,” describing a change into a difficult situation. It follows “kan” here, so “kan ... worden” is useful for saying that something may become a certain way.

als “Als” means “if” in “als het regent” and introduces the condition for the picnic becoming difficult. It is useful for presenting a possible situation that affects a plan.

regent “Regent” means “rains” in the exact expression “als het regent.” This expression is useful when making a weather-dependent condition for an outdoor activity.

Zullen “Zullen” begins the suggestion “Zullen we afzeggen...?”, asking whether the speakers should do something. “Zullen we” is a useful way to propose or consider an action together.

we “We” means “we” in “Zullen we afzeggen” and refers to the two speakers together. It appears before the proposed action in this question, a useful pattern for discussing a shared decision.

afzeggen “Afzeggen” means “cancel” in “Zullen we afzeggen”. It is the action being considered for the picnic, and it is useful when deciding whether a planned event should be cancelled.

of “Of” means “or” and connects the two alternatives in “afzeggen of in plaats daarvan iets binnen plannen.” It is useful for presenting a choice between actions.

in “In” is part of the expression “in plaats daarvan”, which introduces an alternative to the earlier option. This expression is useful when suggesting a different plan instead.

plaats “Plaats” contributes the idea of “place” inside “in plaats daarvan”, an expression meaning “instead of that.” The full expression is useful when replacing one proposed action with another.

daarvan “Daarvan” contributes “of that” inside “in plaats daarvan”, referring back to the earlier option. The complete expression is useful for saying that a new action will be chosen instead.

iets “Iets” means “something” in “iets binnen plannen.” It leaves the indoor activity unspecified, which is useful when proposing an option without deciding all the details yet.

binnen “Binnen” means “indoors” or “inside” in “iets binnen plannen” and “binnen afspreken.” It marks the indoor location of the alternative plan, useful when weather makes being outside uncertain.

Laten “Laten” begins the suggestion “Laten we flexibel blijven en binnen afspreken”, meaning “let’s.” The construction “Laten we” is useful for inviting others to take a shared action.

flexibel “Flexibel” means “flexible” in “flexibel blijven”, describing an open attitude toward changing the plan. The combination is useful when arrangements may need to adapt.

blijven “Blijven” means “stay” or “remain” in “flexibel blijven.” It is followed by the adjective “flexibel”; this pattern is useful for saying that a quality or situation continues.

en “En” means “and” and connects “flexibel blijven” with “binnen afspreken.” It is useful for joining two actions in one suggestion.

afspreken “Afspreken” means “meet” or “arrange to meet” in “binnen afspreken.” It is useful when agreeing on a meeting, here with the indoor location specified.

Dat “Dat” means “that” in “Dat klinkt beter” and refers to the suggested indoor plan. It is useful at the beginning of a response when evaluating something just proposed.

klinkt “Klinkt” means “sounds” in “Dat klinkt beter.” The pattern “Dat klinkt” is useful for giving an opinion about a suggestion or plan.

beter “Beter” means “better” in “Dat klinkt beter dan buiten nat worden.” It compares the indoor suggestion with the alternative of getting wet outside; “beter dan” is useful for comparing options.

dan “Dan” means “than” in “beter dan buiten nat worden” and introduces the option used for comparison. It is useful after a comparative such as “beter” when evaluating two possibilities.

buiten “Buiten” means “outside” or “outdoors” in “buiten nat worden.” It identifies where the unwanted situation would happen, useful when contrasting an outdoor plan with an indoor one.

nat “Nat” means “wet” in “nat worden.” Together, “nat worden” means “get wet”, which is useful when describing the result of being outside in rain.

kunnen “Kunnen” expresses ability or possibility in “We kunnen ... lunchen”, meaning that the speakers can still have lunch. It is followed by the infinitive “lunchen”; this pattern is useful for saying what remains possible.

nog “Nog” contributes the idea of continuation in “nog steeds”, meaning that the lunch remains possible despite the changed plan. The expression is useful when something continues to be true.

steeds “Steeds” contributes the continuing meaning in “nog steeds”, which means “still” here. Together with “nog,” it is useful for emphasizing that an option remains available.

samen “Samen” means “together” in “samen ... lunchen.” It shows that the speakers will share the activity, useful when making a group arrangement.

buurt “Buurt” means “nearby area” or “neighborhood” in “in de buurt lunchen.” The full expression is useful when arranging an activity somewhere close by.

lunchen “Lunchen” means “have lunch” in “samen in de buurt lunchen.” It is an infinitive after “kunnen”; this form is useful when describing lunch as a possible activity.

Ik “Ik” means “I” in “Ik stuur de anderen een bericht.” It identifies the speaker as the person taking responsibility for sending the message, useful at the start of a statement about one’s own action.

stuur “Stuur” means “send” in “Ik stuur de anderen een bericht.” It is followed by the recipients and the message, a useful pattern when telling someone that you will send information.

anderen “Anderen” means “others” in “de anderen”, referring to the other people involved in the plan. The phrase “de anderen” is useful when referring to the rest of a group.

een “Een” means “a” or “an” in “een bericht.” It introduces the message being sent, and it is used before this singular noun.

bericht “Bericht” means “message” in “een bericht over de verandering.” The pattern “een bericht over” is useful for describing a message that gives information about a topic.

over “Over” means “about” or “concerning” in “een bericht over de verandering.” It connects the message with its subject, useful when specifying what information a message contains.

verandering “Verandering” means “change” in “over de verandering”, referring to the changed plan. This phrase is useful when informing people about an adjustment to an arrangement.

helpt “Helpt” means “helps” in “Dat helpt iedereen plannen te maken.” It introduces the construction “helpt iedereen ... te maken”, describing how the information supports everyone’s planning.

iedereen “Iedereen” means “everyone” in “helpt iedereen plannen te maken.” It identifies all the people involved as the ones receiving help, useful when referring to the whole group.

te “Te” marks the infinitive “maken” in “plannen te maken.” The pattern “helpt iedereen ... te maken” explains what the help enables people to do.

maken “Maken” means “make” in “plannen te maken”, where the full expression means “make plans.” It is useful in the reusable pattern “plannen maken” when organizing an activity.

vooral “Vooral” means “especially” and highlights the importance of the changing weather in “vooral omdat het weer verandert.” It is useful for emphasizing one detail or reason among others.

omdat “Omdat” means “because” and introduces the reason in “omdat het weer verandert.” It is useful when explaining why the weather affects everyone’s planning.

verandert “Verandert” means “changes” in “omdat het weer verandert”, describing the weather as the reason for the planning issue. The exact phrase is useful when explaining that changing weather affects an arrangement.

Grammar Points

omdat + bijzin

omdat het weer verandert

um-DAHT ut VAYR vuh-AN-duhrt

because the weather changes

Na omdat komt het vervoegde werkwoord meestal aan het einde van de bijzin: omdat het weer verandert.

worden + bijvoeglijk naamwoord

Het weer wordt lastig

hut VAYR VORT LAHS-tikh

The weather is becoming difficult

Worden met een bijvoeglijk naamwoord drukt een verandering of ontwikkeling uit.

Dutch Vocabulary

afzeggen verb

AF-zekh-un to cancel

binnen adv

BIN-un inside; indoors

iets pron

EETS something

in plaats daarvan phrase

im PLAHTS duh-VAHN instead

lastig adj

LAHS-tikh difficult; troublesome

onze det

OWN-zuh our

picknick noun

PIK-nik picnic

plan noun

PLAHN plan plannen

regenen verb

RAY-khuh-nun to rain regent

veranderen verb

vuh-AN-duh-run to change

weer noun

VAYR weather

worden verb

VOR-dun to become; to get

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

The weather may change our plans.

Show Answer

Het weer kan onze plannen veranderen.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

picnic

Show Answer

picknick

to change

Show Answer

veranderen

our

Show Answer

onze

to become; to get

Show Answer

worden