Making a Short Phone Call Before a Meeting | Learn Dutch in English

About This Lesson

Use Making a Short Phone Call Before a Meeting to practice Dutch conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Ik moet even kort bellen.

ik MOOT AY-vuhn KORT BELL-uhn. I need to make a short phone call.

Je kunt de gang gebruiken als je privacy nodig hebt.

yuh KUNT duh KHAHNG guh-BROY-kuhn ahls yuh PRAY-vuh-see NOH-dikh hebt. You can use the hallway if you need privacy.

Ik wil niet iedereen storen.

ik VILL neet EE-duh-rayn STOH-run. I don't want to disturb everyone.

Het is daar nu vast rustig.

hut iss DAHR noo VAHST RUHS-tikh. It should be quiet out there right now.

Ik kom terug voordat de vergadering begint.

ik KUM truhk vohr-DAHT duh vuh-GHAH-duh-ring buh-GHINT. I'll return before the meeting starts.

Dat is goed. We hebben nog genoeg tijd.

daht iss KHOOT. vuh HEB-uhn nokh guh-NOOKH TAYT. That works. We still have enough time.

Wil je mijn stoel vrijhouden terwijl ik bel?

vihl yuh mayn STOOL VRY-how-duhn tur-VYLE ik BELL. Please save my seat while I call.

Ik bewaar je aantekeningen hier.

ik buh-WAHR yuh AHN-tay-kuh-ning-un heer. I'll keep your notes here.

Word by Word

Ik "Ik" means "I" and identifies the speaker as the person who needs to make the call. It is used as the subject in "Ik moet even kort bellen" and can be reused in "Ik kom terug" when talking about your own action.

moet "moet" expresses that the speaker needs or has to do something here. It is followed by "even kort bellen" in the sentence, so the action comes after the need. Use "Ik moet ..." to state a necessary action in everyday conversation.

even "even" means briefly or for a moment in this context, making the phone call sound limited in duration. Together with "kort bellen", it presents the call as a quick interruption. It is useful when explaining that you will do something only for a short time.

kort "kort" describes the call as brief in "even kort bellen". It helps limit the expected length of the action rather than describing the phone itself. Use it with an activity when you want to say that the activity will take little time.

bellen "bellen" means to call and is the action required after "moet". In "Ik moet even kort bellen", it refers to making a short phone call. Use "kort bellen" when you want to say that you will make a brief call.

Je "Je" means "you" in "Je kunt de gang gebruiken", and the same word appears as "je" after "als" in "als je privacy nodig hebt". It identifies the person who may use the hallway or need privacy. Use "Je kunt ..." to tell someone what they can do.

kunt "kunt" expresses ability or permission here: the other person can use the hallway. It is followed by "de gang gebruiken" in "Je kunt de gang gebruiken". Use "Je kunt ..." when offering or explaining an available action.

de "de" marks the specific noun phrase "de gang" as "the hallway". It also appears in "de vergadering" for "the meeting". Learn it together with the noun phrase when referring to a particular hallway or meeting.

gang "gang" means hallway in "de gang". Here it is the place that the person can use for a private call. Use "de gang gebruiken" when talking about using the hallway.

gebruiken "gebruiken" means to use and describes what the listener may do with the hallway. It follows "kunt" in "Je kunt de gang gebruiken". Use it with a thing or place that someone uses for a purpose.

als "als" means "if" and introduces the condition "als je privacy nodig hebt". The hallway is offered on the condition that privacy is needed. Use "als ..." to connect an action or offer with a condition.

privacy "privacy" means privacy and is the thing the speaker may need in this situation. In "als je privacy nodig hebt", it appears with "nodig" and "hebt" to express needing privacy. Use "privacy nodig hebben" when explaining that privacy is necessary.

nodig "nodig" means needed or necessary in "privacy nodig hebt". Together, "privacy nodig hebben" expresses the idea of needing privacy; the whole construction carries that meaning. Use it with a needed thing before "hebben".

hebt "hebt" means "have" in the condition "als je privacy nodig hebt". It completes the expression about having a need for privacy and comes at the end of the clause introduced by "als". Use "als je ... nodig hebt" to describe a condition involving someone’s need.

wil "wil" expresses the speaker's desire or intention in "Ik wil niet iedereen storen". The following action is "iedereen storen", and "niet" makes the intention negative. Use "Ik wil ..." to say what you want to do.

niet "niet" makes the intention in "Ik wil niet iedereen storen" negative. It shows that the speaker does not want to disturb everyone. Use "Ik wil niet ..." when politely stating an action you do not want to take.

iedereen "iedereen" means "everyone" and refers to all the people who might be disturbed. In "iedereen storen", it is the group affected by the action. Use it when an action concerns all the people in a group.

storen "storen" means to disturb and is the action the speaker wants to avoid. It follows "wil niet" in "Ik wil niet iedereen storen". Use it with a person or group that may be interrupted or bothered.

Het "Het" means "it" and starts the statement about the conditions out there in "Het is daar nu vast rustig". Here it introduces the situation that is expected to be quiet. Use "Het is ..." to describe a situation or condition.

is "is" states the condition in "Het is daar nu vast rustig". It links the situation with the description "rustig", while "daar" identifies the location. Use "Het is ..." to describe how a place or situation is.

daar "daar" means "there" or "out there" and points to the area away from the speakers, such as the hallway. In "Het is daar nu vast rustig", it locates the expected quietness. Use it when referring to a place that is not here.

nu "nu" means "now" and limits the expectation of quietness to the present moment. In "Het is daar nu vast rustig", it helps describe the current situation. Use it when talking about what is true at this time.

vast "vast" expresses a confident assumption, meaning probably or surely in this sentence. It shows that the speaker expects the hallway to be quiet without claiming direct knowledge. Use it in "Het is daar nu vast rustig" when making a reassuring guess.

rustig "rustig" means quiet here and describes the place outside as having little or no disturbance. It follows "is" in "Het is daar nu vast rustig". Use it to describe a quiet place or situation.

kom "kom" means "come" and describes the speaker's return in "Ik kom terug". Its meaning here is completed by "terug", which indicates movement back to the meeting. Use "Ik kom terug" when telling someone that you will return.

terug "terug" means "back" and adds the return direction to "Ik kom terug". The complete expression says that the speaker will return before the meeting. Use it with a movement expression when someone goes back to an earlier place.

voordat "voordat" means "before" and places the return earlier than the meeting's start in "voordat de vergadering begint". It introduces the event that must happen later in the comparison. Use it to connect one action with a later event.

de vergadering "de vergadering" means "the meeting" and refers to the scheduled meeting that is about to begin. In "voordat de vergadering begint", it is the event used as the time reference. Use this phrase when talking about returning or doing something before the meeting.

begint "begint" means "starts" in "de vergadering begint". It describes the beginning of the meeting and appears at the end of the clause after "voordat". Use it with an event when saying that the event is starting.

Dat "Dat" means "that" and refers to the suggested plan in "Dat is goed". It makes the plan the subject of the response. Use "Dat is goed" to confirm that a suggestion or arrangement is acceptable.

goed "goed" means good or okay and gives a positive evaluation in "Dat is goed". The complete expression confirms that the plan works; "goed" supplies the positive assessment. Use "Dat is goed" when agreeing to an arrangement.

We "We" means "we" and refers to both people in "We hebben nog genoeg tijd". It is the subject of the statement about the time available. Use "We hebben ..." when describing something that the group has.

hebben "hebben" means "have" in "We hebben nog genoeg tijd". It combines with "genoeg tijd" to say that sufficient time is available. Use "genoeg tijd hebben" when reassuring someone that there is enough time.

nog "nog" means "still" and shows that the available time remains. In "We hebben nog genoeg tijd", it reassures the speaker that the deadline has not arrived yet. Use it when something continues to be available or true.

genoeg "genoeg" means "enough" and describes the amount of time as sufficient in "genoeg tijd". It reassures the listener that the short call can happen without making them late. Use "genoeg tijd" when saying that the available time is sufficient.

tijd "tijd" means "time" and is the thing that the speakers still have in "We hebben nog genoeg tijd". Together with "genoeg", it expresses sufficient available time. Use "genoeg tijd hebben" when discussing whether there is time for an action.

mijn "mijn" means "my" and shows that the seat belongs to or is reserved for the speaker in "mijn stoel". It identifies whose seat should remain free. Use it before a noun when referring to something belonging to you.

stoel "stoel" means chair or seat and refers here to the place the speaker wants to keep available. In "mijn stoel vrijhouden", it is the object being kept free. Use "mijn stoel" when referring to your seat in a room.

vrijhouden "vrijhouden" means to keep free or save, and in "mijn stoel vrijhouden" it means saving the speaker's seat while they are away. The complete phrase expresses the request, rather than the word alone expressing every part of the request. Use "mijn stoel vrijhouden" when asking someone to reserve your seat.

terwijl "terwijl" means "while" and introduces the action happening at the same time as keeping the seat free. In "terwijl ik bel", the call happens during that period. Use it to connect two simultaneous actions.

bel "bel" means "call" in "terwijl ik bel" and refers to the speaker making the phone call. It describes the action occurring while the seat is being kept free. Use "terwijl ik bel" when explaining that another action happens during your call.

bewaar "bewaar" means keep or store in "Ik bewaar je aantekeningen hier". It tells the other person that their notes will remain in this place. Use "Ik bewaar ... hier" when saying that you will keep something somewhere.

aantekeningen "aantekeningen" means notes and refers to the written material belonging to the other person. In "je aantekeningen", it is the thing that will be kept here. Use "je aantekeningen" when referring to someone else's notes.

hier "hier" means "here" and identifies the place where the notes will remain in "Ik bewaar je aantekeningen hier". It contrasts with a place where the speaker might take them. Use it to point out the current location of something.

Grammar Points

voordat + persoonsvorm aan het einde

Voordat de vergadering begint.

vohr-DAHT duh vuh-GHAH-duh-ring buh-GHINT.

Before the meeting begins.

In a clause with voordat, the finite verb usually comes at the end.

Dutch Vocabulary

bellen verb

BELL-uhn to call by phone

Ik moet even kort bellen.

even adv

AY-vuhn briefly; for a moment

Ik moet even kort bellen.

gang noun

KHAHNG hallway

Je kunt de gang gebruiken als je privacy nodig hebt.

gebruiken verb

guh-BROY-kuhn to use

Je kunt de gang gebruiken als je privacy nodig hebt.

iedereen pron

EE-duh-rayn everyone

Ik wil niet iedereen storen.

kort adv

KORT short; briefly

Ik moet even kort bellen.

nodig adj

NOH-dikh necessary; needed

Je kunt de gang gebruiken als je privacy nodig hebt.

privacy noun

PRAY-vuh-see privacy

Je kunt de gang gebruiken als je privacy nodig hebt.

rustig adj

RUHS-tikh quiet; calm

Het is daar nu vast rustig.

storen verb

STOH-run to disturb

Ik wil niet iedereen storen.

terugkomen verb

tuh-RUHK-koh-muhn to return; to come back kom terug

Ik kom terug voordat de vergadering begint.

vast adv

VAHST probably; surely

Het is daar nu vast rustig.

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

I need to make a short phone call.

Show Answer

Ik moet even kort bellen.

I don't want to disturb everyone.

Show Answer

Ik wil niet iedereen storen.

It should be quiet out there right now.

Show Answer

Het is daar nu vast rustig.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

privacy

Show Answer

privacy

necessary; needed

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nodig

everyone

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iedereen

to disturb

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storen