Taking a Break from Studying | Learn Dutch in English

About This Lesson

Use Taking a Break from Studying to practice Dutch conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Ik studeer al lang.

ikh stuh-DAIR uhl lahngkh. I've been studying for a long time.

Leg je werk even weg.

lekh yuh wairkh AY-vuhn wekh. Put your work aside.

Rust even uit.

rüst AY-vuhn owt. Rest for a moment.

Het is nu moeilijk om me te concentreren.

het iss nü MOO-luk om muh tuh kon-sen-TRAY-run. It's hard to concentrate now.

Dat betekent meestal dat je hersenen een pauze nodig hebben.

daht buh-TAY-kuhnt MAY-stahl daht yuh HAIR-suh-nuhn uhn POW-zuh NOH-dikh HAY-buhn. That usually means your brain needs a break.

Moet ik de woordenschat later herhalen?

moot ikh duh WOHRT-un-skhaht LAH-tur hair-HAH-luhn? Should I review vocabulary later?

Begin met de makkelijkere woorden als je terugkomt.

buh-GHIN met duh MAH-kuh-luh-kuh-ruh WOHRT-un ahls yuh tuh-RÜKH-koomt. Start with the easier words when you come back.

Ik doe mijn notitieboek dicht terwijl ik rust.

ikh doo mine noh-TEE-tsee-book dikht ter-WILE ikh rüst. I'll close the notebook while I rest.

Dan kunnen we rustiger verdergaan.

dahn KÜN-nuhn vuh RÜS-tuh-ghur FAIR-dur-GHAHN. Then we can continue more calmly.

Word by Word

Ik “Ik” means “I” and is the subject of the sentence. It is used before the verb in “Ik studeer al lang.” A common pattern is “Ik” followed by an action, such as “Ik werk.”

studeer “studeer” means “study” in this sentence. Together with “Ik”, “Ik studeer” says that the speaker studies. You can reuse the pattern “Ik studeer” with a time expression or subject.

al In “Ik studeer al lang”, “al” shows that the studying has continued for a period of time up to now. Its meaning works together with “lang”, rather than meaning “already” by itself here. A useful pattern is “al” plus a time expression.

lang “lang” indicates a long duration in “Ik studeer al lang.” Together, “al lang” means “for a long time.” Use “lang” with an activity or situation whose duration you want to describe.

Leg “Leg” tells someone to put or lay something somewhere. In “Leg je werk even weg”, it is part of the instruction to put the work aside. A reusable command pattern is “Leg” followed by an object and a place or direction.

je In “Leg je werk even weg”, “je” means “your” and identifies whose work is meant. It appears directly before “werk” in this possessive use. The same form can also refer to “you” in other contexts.

werk “werk” means “work” in “Leg je werk even weg.” It is the thing that the listener is told to put aside. A common pattern is “je werk” for “your work.”

even “even” makes the instruction “Leg je werk even weg” sound limited to a short time or a brief action. It contributes the idea of “just” or “for a moment” here. It is commonly placed near the verb in a short request.

weg “weg” means “away” in “Leg je werk even weg.” Together, “Leg ... weg” means to put something aside or away. Keep the object between “Leg” and “weg” in this pattern.

Rust “Rust” tells the listener to rest in “Rust even uit.” It is an instruction addressed directly to one person. A common short request is “Rust even uit” when someone should take a brief rest.

uit In “Rust even uit”, “uit” completes the expression for resting. The whole expression “Rust even uit” means “Rest for a moment”; “uit” does not mean “out” separately in this sentence. Use the complete expression when telling someone to rest.

Het “Het” is the “it” at the beginning of “Het is nu moeilijk om me te concentreren.” It introduces the situation being evaluated, namely concentrating now. The pattern “Het is ...” is commonly used to describe a situation.

is “is” means “is” and links “Het” with the description “nu moeilijk.” In “Het is nu moeilijk”, it states that the situation is difficult now. A common pattern is “Het is” followed by an adjective.

nu “nu” means “now” and places the difficulty in the present moment. In “Het is nu moeilijk”, it appears before the description of the situation. It can be used with a current action or condition.

moeilijk “moeilijk” means “difficult” or “hard” in “Het is nu moeilijk om me te concentreren.” It describes concentrating as something that is not easy at this moment. A useful pattern is “Het is moeilijk om” followed by an action.

om In “moeilijk om me te concentreren”, “om” introduces the action that is difficult. Together with “te” and “concentreren”, it forms the pattern “om ... te” meaning “to ...” after a description such as “moeilijk”.

me “me” refers to the speaker in “om me te concentreren.” It is part of the expression for the speaker concentrating. The pattern “me te” is followed here by the action “concentreren.”

te “te” marks the infinitive construction in “om me te concentreren.” Together, “om” and “te” introduce the action that is difficult. A common pattern is “om” plus a pronoun, “te”, and an action word.

concentreren “concentreren” means “concentrate” in “om me te concentreren.” It names the action that is difficult for the speaker now. The reusable pattern here is “om me te concentreren.”

Dat “Dat” means “that” or “it” in “Dat betekent meestal dat je hersenen een pauze nodig hebben.” It refers to the difficulty concentrating mentioned just before. A common pattern is “Dat betekent dat” followed by what something means.

betekent “betekent” means “means” in “Dat betekent meestal dat ...” It introduces the explanation of what the situation indicates. The pattern “Dat betekent dat” is useful when explaining the meaning or consequence of something.

meestal “meestal” means “usually” and shows that the statement is generally true, not necessarily true every time. In “Dat betekent meestal dat ...”, it qualifies the conclusion that follows. It can be placed before the clause describing the usual result.

hersenen “hersenen” refers to the brain in “je hersenen een pauze nodig hebben.” Here, the brain is described as needing a break. A common possessive pattern is “je hersenen” for “your brain.”

een “een” means “a” in “een pauze.” It introduces one non-specific break. The pattern “een” plus a noun is used when mentioning something without identifying a particular one.

pauze “pauze” means “break” in “een pauze nodig hebben.” It is the rest period that the brain needs. A useful expression is “een pauze nodig hebben”, meaning to need a break.

nodig “nodig” means “needed” in “een pauze nodig hebben.” Together, “iets nodig hebben” expresses needing something; here, the thing needed is “een pauze.” Keep the needed object before “nodig hebben” in this pattern.

hebben In “een pauze nodig hebben”, “hebben” completes the expression meaning “need.” It appears at the end of the clause after “nodig” because the subject is “je hersenen.” A reusable pattern is “iets nodig hebben.”

Moet “Moet” expresses “should” or “must” in the question “Moet ik de woordenschat later herhalen?” It asks whether the speaker is expected or advised to review later. A common question pattern is “Moet ik” followed by an action.

de “de” means “the” in “de woordenschat.” It introduces the specific vocabulary being discussed. It appears directly before the noun it determines.

woordenschat “woordenschat” means “vocabulary” in “de woordenschat later herhalen.” It refers to the vocabulary that the speaker may review later. A common pattern is “de woordenschat” followed by an action such as “herhalen.”

later “later” means “later” and places the review at a time after the current break. In “de woordenschat later herhalen”, it appears before the action at the end of the question. It can be used to postpone an activity.

herhalen “herhalen” means “review” or “repeat” in “de woordenschat later herhalen.” It is the action the speaker asks about doing later. After “Moet ik”, the action appears as “herhalen” at the end of the question.

Begin “Begin” tells someone to start in “Begin met de makkelijkere woorden.” It introduces advice about the first items to review. A common command pattern is “Begin met” followed by what to start with.

met “met” means “with” in “Begin met de makkelijkere woorden.” It introduces the words that should be used first. The reusable pattern is “Begin met” plus an object.

makkelijkere “makkelijkere” means “easier” in “de makkelijkere woorden.” It describes the words that are less difficult than others. It appears before the noun “woorden” and agrees with that noun phrase in the dialogue.

woorden “woorden” means “words” in “de makkelijkere woorden.” These are the vocabulary items to review first. A useful pattern is “Begin met de ... woorden” when choosing which words to start with.

als “als” means “when” in “als je terugkomt.” It introduces the time at which the listener returns. The pattern “als” plus a situation is useful for describing what happens when something occurs.

terugkomt “terugkomt” means “comes back” or “returns” in “als je terugkomt.” It describes the listener returning after the break. In the pattern “als je terugkomt”, it completes the time clause about coming back.

doe “doe” means “put” in “Ik doe mijn notitieboek dicht.” Together with “dicht”, “doe ... dicht” means to close something. A useful pattern is “Ik doe” followed by an object and “dicht.”

mijn “mijn” means “my” in “mijn notitieboek.” It identifies the notebook as belonging to the speaker. It is placed directly before the noun it describes.

notitieboek “notitieboek” means “notebook” in “Ik doe mijn notitieboek dicht.” It is the object that the speaker closes while resting. A common pattern is “mijn notitieboek” for “my notebook.”

dicht “dicht” means “closed” or “shut” in “Ik doe mijn notitieboek dicht.” Together, “doe ... dicht” describes closing the notebook. The object appears between “doe” and “dicht” in this pattern.

terwijl “terwijl” means “while” in “terwijl ik rust.” It introduces an action happening at the same time as closing the notebook. A common pattern is “terwijl” followed by a subject and an action.

Dan “Dan” means “then” in “Dan kunnen we rustiger verdergaan.” It connects the next result to closing the notebook and taking a rest. It is useful at the beginning of a sentence when describing what happens next.

kunnen “kunnen” means “can” in “kunnen we rustiger verdergaan.” It expresses that the speakers will be able to continue in a calmer way. After “kunnen”, the action “verdergaan” appears later in the sentence.

we “we” means “we” in “kunnen we rustiger verdergaan.” It refers to the speaker and the other person together. In this question-like word order after “Dan”, it appears after “kunnen.”

rustiger “rustiger” means “more calmly” in “rustiger verdergaan.” It describes continuing with less pressure or disturbance after the break. It is placed before the action “verdergaan” to describe how the action will happen.

verdergaan “verdergaan” means “continue” or “go on” in “Dan kunnen we rustiger verdergaan.” It describes returning to the study activity after the break. A useful pattern is “kunnen we ... verdergaan” when saying that people can continue.

Grammar Points

Scheidbaar werkwoord: wegleggen → Leg ... weg

Leg het werk even weg.

lekh ut wairkh AY-vuhn wekh.

Put the work aside for a moment.

In a main clause, the prefix weg moves to the end: Leg ... weg.

terwijl + werkwoord aan het einde

Je rust even uit, terwijl je later verdergaat.

yuh rüst AY-vuhn owt, ter-WILE yuh LAH-tur FAIR-dur-GHAHT.

You rest for a moment while you continue later.

After terwijl, the conjugated verb usually comes at the end of the clause.

Dutch Vocabulary

betekenen verb

buh-TAY-kuh-nun to mean betekent

Dat betekent meestal dat je hersenen een pauze nodig hebben.

concentreren verb

kon-sen-TRAY-run to concentrate

Het is nu moeilijk om me te concentreren.

even adv

AY-vuhn for a moment

Rust even uit.

hersenen noun

HAIR-suh-nuhn brain

Dat betekent meestal dat je hersenen een pauze nodig hebben.

lang adv

lahngkh long

Ik studeer al lang.

meestal adv

MAY-stahl usually

Dat betekent meestal dat je hersenen een pauze nodig hebben.

moeilijk adj

MOO-luk difficult

Het is nu moeilijk om me te concentreren.

pauze noun

POW-zuh break

Dat betekent meestal dat je hersenen een pauze nodig hebben.

studeren verb

stuh-DAIR-un to study studeer

Ik studeer al lang.

uitrusten verb

OWT-rüs-tun to rest Rust ... uit

Rust even uit.

wegleggen verb

WEKH-lekh-un to put aside Leg ... weg

Leg je werk even weg.

werk noun

wairkh work

Leg je werk even weg.

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

I've been studying for a long time.

Show Answer

Ik studeer al lang.

Put your work aside.

Show Answer

Leg je werk even weg.

Rest for a moment.

Show Answer

Rust even uit.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

usually

Show Answer

meestal

for a moment

Show Answer

even

long

Show Answer

lang

difficult

Show Answer

moeilijk