Planning a Simple Outing | Learn Dutch in English

About This Lesson

Use Planning a Simple Outing to practice Dutch conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Wil je samen een eenvoudig uitstapje plannen?

vihl yuh SAH-muhn uhn AYN-vow-dikh OYT-stahp-yuh PLAH-nuhn? Would you like to plan a simple outing together?

Dat wil ik wel, zolang we het eenvoudig houden.

daht vihl ik vehl, zoh-LAHNG vuh uht AYN-vow-dikh HOW-duhn. I would, as long as we keep it simple.

We kunnen een rustige plek binnen kiezen.

vuh KUH-nuhn uhn RUHS-tikh-uh plehk BIH-nuhn KEE-zuhn. We can choose a calm indoor place.

Dat zou prettig zijn voor mij.

daht zow PRET-ukh zayn vohr may. That would be comfortable for me.

Zullen we eten meenemen of daar iets kopen?

ZUH-luhn vuh AY-tuhn MAY-nay-muhn ohf dahr eets KOH-puhn? Should we bring food or buy something there?

Ik koop daar liever iets.

ik KOHp dahr LEE-vuhr eets. I'd rather buy something there.

Ik schrijf de details op en deel ze met je.

ik skh-RAYF duh DAY-tahls awp uhn DAYL zuh met yuh. I'll write down the details and share them with you.

Ik kijk ernaar uit.

ik KAYK uhr-NAHR OYT. I'm looking forward to it.

Word by Word

Wil In “Wil je samen een eenvoudig uitstapje plannen?”, “Wil” asks whether someone would like to do something. It is used with “je” before an infinitive, as in “Wil je ... plannen?” Use this pattern when making a friendly suggestion or invitation.

je In “Wil je samen ...?”, “je” means “you,” the person being invited. It follows “Wil” in this question pattern. Use “je” when speaking informally to one person.

samen “Samen” means “together” in “Wil je samen een eenvoudig uitstapje plannen?”. It shows that the activity is shared by the speaker and the other person. It can be placed before the activity, as in “samen ... plannen.”

een “Een” introduces “een eenvoudig uitstapje” as one non-specific outing. It has the meaning “a” or “an” here. Use it before a singular noun when the listener does not yet know which specific thing is meant.

eenvoudig “Eenvoudig” describes the outing in “een eenvoudig uitstapje” as simple or uncomplicated. It comes before the noun it describes in this phrase. Use the pattern “een eenvoudig ...” when describing a straightforward plan or object.

uitstapje “Uitstapje” means an outing or short trip in “een eenvoudig uitstapje”. Here it is the activity that the two people plan together. Use “een uitstapje plannen” when discussing a planned leisure activity away from home.

plannen “Plannen” means “to plan” in “een eenvoudig uitstapje plannen”. It appears after “Wil je” as the activity the other person may want to do. Use “iets plannen” when arranging an activity or event.

Dat In “Dat wil ik wel”, “Dat” refers to the proposed outing or plan and means “that”. It points back to something already mentioned rather than naming it again. Use “Dat ...” to respond to a suggestion that has just been made.

ik “Ik” means “I” in “Dat wil ik wel”. It identifies the speaker as the person who is willing to accept the plan. Use “ik” when describing your own choice, feeling, or action.

wel In “Dat wil ik wel”, “wel” adds agreement or willingness, so the speaker accepts the proposal. It softens and confirms the positive response after “wil ik”. Use the complete pattern “Dat wil ik wel” when agreeing to do something.

zolang “Zolang” means “as long as” in “zolang we het eenvoudig houden”. It introduces the condition attached to the speaker’s agreement. Use “zolang” before a condition that must remain true.

we “We” means “we” in “zolang we het eenvoudig houden”. It refers to the speaker and the other person together. Use “we” as the subject when describing a shared action or plan.

het In “we het eenvoudig houden”, “het” refers to the outing or plan and means “it”. It is the thing that the two people agree to keep simple. Use “het” to refer back to a specific thing already understood from the conversation.

houden In “het eenvoudig houden”, “houden” means “keep” or “maintain”, so the plan remains simple. It follows the other verb in the conditional phrase “zolang we het eenvoudig houden”. Use the pattern “iets eenvoudig houden” when saying that something should stay uncomplicated.

kunnen “Kunnen” means “can” or “be able to” in “We kunnen een rustige plek binnen kiezen”. It presents choosing the place as an available option. Use “kunnen” before an infinitive, such as “kunnen ... kiezen”, to describe a possible action.

rustige “Rustige” describes the place in “een rustige plek binnen” as calm or quiet. It comes directly before “plek” in the noun phrase. Use “een rustige plek” when looking for somewhere peaceful.

plek “Plek” means “place” in “een rustige plek binnen”. It is the location that the friends may choose. Use “een plek” when referring to a location without naming a specific one.

binnen “Binnen” means “indoors” or “inside” in “een rustige plek binnen”. It specifies that the place is inside rather than outdoors. Use “binnen” to describe an indoor location or an action taking place indoors.

kiezen “Kiezen” means “choose” in “een rustige plek binnen kiezen”. It is the infinitive following “kunnen” and names the possible action. Use “iets kiezen” when selecting one option from several possibilities.

zou In “Dat zou prettig zijn voor mij”, “zou” presents the situation as a possible or imagined result: that would be pleasant for the speaker. It comes before “zijn” in this sentence pattern. Use “Dat zou ... zijn” when reacting to a proposed option or possible situation.

prettig “Prettig” means pleasant or comfortable in “Dat zou prettig zijn voor mij”. It describes how the proposed indoor place would feel for the speaker. Use “prettig zijn” to say that a situation or place would feel agreeable.

zijn In “Dat zou prettig zijn voor mij”, “zijn” means “be” and completes the expression about how the option would feel. It follows “zou” in this construction. Use “zou ... zijn” to describe a possible quality or condition.

voor “Voor” means “for” in “prettig zijn voor mij”. It introduces the person who would experience the situation as pleasant. Use “voor” before a person when explaining who something is suitable or pleasant for.

mij “Mij” means “me” in “voor mij”, identifying the speaker as the person for whom the place would be pleasant. It follows the preposition “voor” in this phrase. Use “voor mij” when giving your own preference or personal reaction.

Zullen In “Zullen we eten meenemen of daar iets kopen?”, “Zullen” is used to suggest an action together. It comes at the start of the question before “we”. Use “Zullen we ...?” when proposing something for both people to do.

eten “Eten” means “food” in “eten meenemen”, the food the friends might bring. Here it is the thing being taken along, not the action of eating. Use “eten meenemen” when bringing food to another place.

meenemen “Meenemen” means “take along” or “bring” in “eten meenemen”. It describes carrying the food to the place of the outing. Use “iets meenemen” when taking an item with you to another location.

of “Of” means “or” in “eten meenemen of daar iets kopen”. It connects the two alternatives being considered. Use “of” between options when asking someone to choose between them.

daar “Daar” means “there” in “daar iets kopen”, referring to the place where the outing will take place. It locates the proposed purchase at that place. Use “daar” when pointing to a location already known from the conversation.

iets “Iets” means “something” in “daar iets kopen”. It leaves the particular item unspecified. Use “iets” before an action such as “iets kopen” when the exact object is not yet decided.

kopen “Kopen” means “buy” in “daar iets kopen”. It is one of the two alternative actions in the suggestion. Use “iets kopen” when referring to buying an unspecified item.

koop In “Ik koop daar liever iets”, “koop” means “buy” and states what the speaker prefers to do. It is used with “ik” in the pattern “Ik koop ...”. Use “Ik koop ...” when saying that you will buy something.

liever “Liever” means “rather” or “preferably” in “Ik koop daar liever iets”. It marks buying something there as the speaker’s preferred option. Use “liever” before the preferred action, as in “liever iets kopen.”

schrijf In “Ik schrijf de details op”, “schrijf” means “write” and describes the speaker recording the information. It is used with “ik” and the separable particle “op”. Use the pattern “iets opschrijven” when recording information in writing.

de “De” means “the” in “de details”, referring to specific information about the outing. It comes before the noun phrase being discussed. Use “de” when referring to known or specific information or objects.

details “Details” means the specific pieces of information in “de details”. These are the points about the outing that the speaker will write down. Use “de details” when referring to the specific information needed to arrange something.

op In “schrijf de details op”, “op” is the particle that completes the meaning of writing something down. Together with “schrijf”, it shows that the information is recorded for later use. Use the pattern “iets opschrijven” for making a written note.

en “En” means “and” in “Ik schrijf de details op en deel ze met je”. It connects the writing action with the following sharing action. Use “en” to join two related actions or statements.

deel In “deel ze met je”, “deel” means “share”, referring to giving the written details to the other person. It is followed by “ze” for the information and “met je” for the person involved. Use the pattern “iets delen met iemand” when sharing information or an item.

ze In “deel ze met je”, “ze” means “them” and refers back to “de details”. It prevents the speaker from repeating the noun. Use “ze” to refer to previously mentioned details or other understood items.

met “Met” means “with” in “deel ze met je”. It introduces the person with whom the details are shared. Use “iets delen met iemand” when naming the recipient of shared information.

kijk In “Ik kijk ernaar uit”, “kijk” is part of the expression meaning “look forward to”. It is used with “ik” and the following elements “ernaar uit”. Use the complete expression when expressing positive anticipation of a future event.

ernaar In “Ik kijk ernaar uit”, “ernaar” points toward the planned outing as the thing anticipated. Its meaning here depends on the full expression “ernaar uitkijken”, which means to look forward to something. Use “ernaar uitkijken” when referring back to an event already mentioned.

uit In “Ik kijk ernaar uit”, “uit” is the particle that completes the expression for looking forward to something. The full phrase “Ik kijk ernaar uit” expresses anticipation of the outing. Use this expression when saying that you are eagerly expecting a planned event.

Grammar Points

iets + adjective with -s

Ik wil iets eenvoudigs kopen.

ik vihl eets AYN-vow-dikhs KOH-puhn.

I want to buy something simple.

After iets, an adjective used as a noun usually ends in -s: eenvoudig becomes eenvoudigs.

ernaar uitkijken

Ik kijk ernaar uit.

ik KAYK uhr-NAHR OYT.

I look forward to it.

This fixed expression uses ernaar and the separable verb uitkijken; uit moves to the end in a main clause.

Dutch Vocabulary

binnen adv

BIH-nuhn inside; indoors

eenvoudig adj

AYN-vow-dikh simple

houden verb

HOW-duhn to keep

kiezen verb

KEE-zuhn to choose

plannen verb

PLAH-nuhn to plan

plek noun

plehk place

rustige adj

RUHS-tikh-uh calm

samen adv

SAH-muhn together

uitstapje noun

OYT-stahp-yuh outing

wel adv

vehl indeed; gladly

wil verb

vihl want

zolang conj

zoh-LAHNG as long as

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

That would be comfortable for me.

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Dat zou prettig zijn voor mij.

I'd rather buy something there.

Show Answer

Ik koop daar liever iets.

I'm looking forward to it.

Show Answer

Ik kijk ernaar uit.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to plan

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plannen

calm

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rustige

outing

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uitstapje

simple

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eenvoudig