Borrowing time and renewal | Learn Dutch in English

About This Lesson

Use Borrowing time and renewal to practice Dutch conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Hoe lang mag ik dit boek lenen?

hoo LAHNG mahkh ik dit book LAY-nun? How long can I keep this book?

Op het briefje staat de inleverdatum.

awp ut BREEF-yuh staht duh IN-lay-vur-DAH-tum. The slip shows the due date.

Wat moet ik doen als ik meer tijd nodig heb?

vaht moot ik doon als ik mair tite NOH-dikh hep? What should I do if I need more time?

Je kunt de leentijd online verlengen als niemand anders op het boek wacht.

yuh kunt duh LAYN-tite AWN-line vur-LENG-un als NEE-mahnt AHN-durs awp ut book vahkht. You can extend the loan online if no one else is waiting for the book.

Kan ik dat vanuit huis doen?

kahn ik daht vah-NOWT howss doon? Can I do that from home?

Log vanuit huis in op je bibliotheekaccount.

lawkh vah-NOWT howss in awp yuh bib-lee-oh-TAYK-uh-KOWNT. Log in to your library account from home.

Dan moet ik het briefje bij het boek houden.

dahn moot ik ut BREEF-yuh bye ut book HOW-dun. Then I should keep the slip with the book.

Het helpt je om het op tijd terug te brengen.

ut helpt yuh um ut awp TITE tuh-RUKH tuh BRENG-un. It will help you return it on time.

Word by Word

Hoe “Hoe” asks how or to what extent; here it starts the question about the length of the borrowing period. It commonly appears at the beginning of a question about manner, degree, or duration. Use it when asking for practical information, such as how something works or how long it takes.

lang “lang” means long here and combines with “Hoe” to ask about duration. In “Hoe lang” it refers to the amount of time something is allowed to continue. This is useful when asking about borrowing periods, waiting times, or the length of an activity.

mag “mag” expresses permission: the speaker asks whether they are allowed to borrow the book for a certain time. It is used with a person and another verb, as in “mag ik ... lenen”. Use it when asking for permission or explaining what someone is allowed to do.

ik “ik” means I and identifies the speaker as the person asking about borrowing the book. It is the subject in “mag ik dit boek lenen”. Use it when talking about your own actions, needs, or permissions.

dit “dit” means this and points to the particular book being discussed. Here it appears directly before “boek” in “dit boek”. Use it before a nearby or clearly identified thing when you want to distinguish it from other things.

boek “boek” means book and is the item the speaker wants to borrow. It appears after “dit” and is also the object of “lenen”. Use it for a book in a library, at school, or in another reading context.

lenen “lenen” means borrow in “dit boek lenen”: receiving a book temporarily with the intention of returning it. It follows “mag” in this question. Use it when talking about borrowing an object from a library, friend, or other lender.

Op “Op” means on at the beginning of “Op het briefje”, referring to information written on the slip. The same word appears as lowercase “op” in “op het boek” and “op tijd”; capitalization here is because it starts a sentence. Use it with a surface, a location, or a fixed expression when the context supports that meaning.

het “het” appears as “het” before “briefje” and “boek”, meaning the, and as “Het” at the start of the last sentence, meaning it. Its exact meaning depends on its place in the dialogue. Use “het” before the relevant noun or as “Het” when referring back to something already mentioned.

briefje “briefje” means slip or small note; here it is the slip that shows the due date. It is the object after “Op het”. Use it for a short written note or paper containing information.

staat “staat” means is written or appears in “Op het briefje staat de inleverdatum”. The sentence presents the due date as information shown on the slip. Use it when saying that information is written or displayed somewhere.

de “de” means the and introduces “inleverdatum”, the specific due date shown on the slip. It is part of the noun phrase “de inleverdatum”. Use it before this noun when referring to the due date in this context.

inleverdatum “inleverdatum” means due date, specifically the date by which the book should be returned. It is the information that “staat” on the slip. Use it when discussing return deadlines for library materials or other borrowed items.

Wat “Wat” means what and asks which action or thing is involved in “Wat moet ik doen”. It starts a question about the appropriate next step. Use it to ask what someone should do or what something means.

moet “moet” expresses that something is required or should be done; here the speaker asks what action is needed. It is followed by “ik” and the verb “doen” in “moet ik doen”. Use it when asking about an obligation, instruction, or necessary action.

doen “doen” means do and refers to the action the speaker should take. In “Wat moet ik doen”, it completes the question about the needed next step. Use it after a modal verb when asking or saying what action someone should take.

als “als” means if and introduces the condition “als ik meer tijd nodig heb”. It connects the possible need for more time with the question about what to do. Use it to introduce a condition in practical instructions or questions.

meer “meer” means more and modifies “tijd” in “meer tijd”, meaning an additional amount of time. It is used here because the speaker wants to continue borrowing beyond the current period. Use it before a noun when asking for or describing an increased amount.

tijd “tijd” means time and refers here to extra time for keeping the book. It appears in the expression “meer tijd”. Use it when discussing duration, available time, or a deadline.

nodig “nodig” means needed in “tijd nodig hebben”, the construction used for needing time. The speaker uses it to explain that more time is required. Use it before “hebben” in this construction when saying that something is needed.

heb “heb” means have and is part of “tijd nodig heb”, meaning need time in this sentence. It appears at the end of the condition after “als”. Use it with “nodig” to say that you need something, such as time or help.

Je “Je” means you and identifies the person receiving the library instruction. It appears as “Je” at the start of the sentence and as lowercase “je” later in “helpt je”; capitalization in “Je” is sentence-initial. Use it for an informal or neutral direct instruction or statement about another person.

kunt “kunt” means can and expresses that the listener has the option or ability to extend the loan online. It is followed by the activity “de leentijd online verlengen”. Use it with a verb when explaining what someone can do.

leentijd “leentijd” means loan period, the amount of time for which the book may be borrowed. It is the object of “verlengen” in the dialogue. Use it when discussing the length of a library loan and possible extensions.

online “online” means online and says that the loan extension is done through an internet service. It modifies the action of extending the loan. Use it for actions completed through a website or digital account.

verlengen “verlengen” means extend or renew; here it means adding time to the current loan period. It follows “kunt” in “kunt de leentijd online verlengen”. Use it when making a period, appointment, subscription, or loan last longer.

niemand “niemand” means no one and refers to no other person waiting for the book. It introduces the person-related condition in the sentence. Use it when saying that not a single person is involved or present.

anders “anders” means else or other in “niemand anders”, meaning no one else. It distinguishes other people from the current borrower. Use it after a person word when referring to someone different from the person already being discussed.

wacht “wacht” means waits or is waiting; here it describes another person waiting for the book. It appears in the expression “op het boek wacht”. Use it with “op” and the awaited person or thing when saying that someone is waiting for something.

Kan “Kan” means can and asks whether the speaker is able or allowed to do something from home. It starts the question “Kan ik dat vanuit huis doen?”. Use it at the beginning of a question about possibility or ability; the capital letter is sentence-initial.

dat “dat” means that and refers back to extending the loan online. It is the object of “doen” in the question about doing the action from home. Use it to point back to an action or thing already mentioned.

vanuit “vanuit” means from, with the starting point expressed as a place or position. In “vanuit huis” it means from home, emphasizing where the action is carried out. Use it before a place when describing the point from which an action happens.

huis “huis” means home or house; in “vanuit huis” it refers to being at home while carrying out the library action. It follows “vanuit” in this location phrase. Use it when describing an action done from home.

Log “Log” is the command form meaning log in, telling the listener to access an account. It is followed by “in” and the account phrase in “Log ... in op je bibliotheekaccount”. Use it in instructions for entering a digital account; capitalization is because it starts the sentence.

in “in” is part of the expression “Log ... in”, meaning access an account digitally. In this dialogue it is separated from “Log” by “vanuit huis” but still belongs to the same verb expression. Use it with “inloggen” or the separated instruction “log ... in” when talking about account access.

bibliotheekaccount “bibliotheekaccount” means library account, the account used to manage library loans online. It follows “op” in the login instruction. Use it when referring to the digital account connected to library services.

Dan “Dan” means then and connects the earlier instruction with the speaker’s conclusion about keeping the slip. It introduces the result or next step in “Dan moet ik ...”. Use it when drawing a conclusion or describing what happens next.

bij “bij” means with or beside in “bij het boek”, meaning together with or next to the book. It identifies where the slip should be kept. Use it before a person or thing when describing something being kept with or located beside it.

houden “houden” means keep or hold; here it means keep the slip with the book. It follows “moet ik” in “moet ik het briefje bij het boek houden”. Use it when telling someone to retain or keep something in a particular place.

helpt “helpt” means helps and says that keeping the slip provides assistance with returning the book on time. It is followed by “je” for the person helped. Use it with a person and an action or result when explaining that something makes an action easier.

om “om” introduces the purpose construction “om het op tijd terug te brengen”, meaning in order to return it on time. Here it connects the help with its intended action. Use “om” before “te” and an infinitive when expressing the purpose of an action.

terug “terug” means back and adds the idea of returning something to its previous place or owner. In “terug te brengen” it contributes the meaning return, not simply bring. Use it with a verb when describing something being brought or sent back.

te “te” is used before “brengen” in the purpose construction “om het op tijd terug te brengen”. Together with “om” it introduces the action that the help makes possible. Use it before an infinitive after “om” when stating the purpose of an action.

brengen “brengen” means bring; with “terug” it means return the book. It appears in “om het op tijd terug te brengen”, where the object “het” is the thing being returned. Use it with “terug” when bringing an item back to a library, person, or place.

Grammar Points

hoe lang

Hoe lang?

hoo LAHNG?

How long?

Dutch uses the fixed phrase hoe lang to ask about duration or length.

niemand anders

niemand anders

NEE-mahnt AHN-durs

no one else

Niemand means “no one”; anders adds the meaning “else” and follows the pronoun.

Dutch Vocabulary

anders adv

AHN-durs else; different

Als niemand anders op het boek wacht.

briefje noun

BREEF-yuh slip; note

Op het briefje staat de inleverdatum.

doen verb

doon to do

Wat moet ik doen als ik meer tijd nodig heb?

hoe lang phrase

hoo LAHNG how long

Hoe lang mag ik dit boek lenen?

inleverdatum noun

IN-lay-vur-DAH-tum due date; return date

Op het briefje staat de inleverdatum.

leentijd noun

LAYN-tite loan period

Je kunt de leentijd online verlengen.

lenen verb

LAY-nun to borrow

Hoe lang mag ik dit boek lenen?

niemand pron

NEE-mahnt no one; nobody

Als niemand anders op het boek wacht.

nodig hebben phrase

NOH-dikh HEB-un to need nodig heb

Wat moet ik doen als ik meer tijd nodig heb?

online adv

AWN-line online

Je kunt de leentijd online verlengen.

staan verb

stahn to stand; to be written staat

Op het briefje staat de inleverdatum.

verlengen verb

vur-LENG-un to extend; renew

Je kunt de leentijd online verlengen.

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

The slip shows the due date.

Show Answer

Op het briefje staat de inleverdatum.

Can I do that from home?

Show Answer

Kan ik dat vanuit huis doen?

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

due date; return date

Show Answer

inleverdatum

to stand; to be written

Show Answer

staat

to borrow

Show Answer

lenen

to extend; renew

Show Answer

verlengen