About This Lesson
Use Finding a quiet place to work to practice Dutch conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
Is er een rustige plek waar ik kan werken?
iss air un RUHS-tuh-ghuh plek vahr ik kun WER-kuh? Is there a quiet area where I can work?
B
Boven aan de linkerkant staan bureaus om rustig te studeren.
BOH-vun ahn duh LING-ker-kahnt stahn bü-ROHS um STÜ-dair-un. There are desks for quiet study upstairs on the left.
A
Kan ik daar kort bellen?
kahn ik dahr kort BEL-un? Could I take a short call there?
B
Die bureaus zijn alleen voor stil studeren.
dee bü-ROHS zine ah-LEEN vohr steel STÜ-dair-un. Those desks are only for silent study.
A
Dan ga ik ergens anders bellen.
dahn khah ik AIR-ghuns AHN-ders BEL-un. I'll take phone calls somewhere else, then.
B
De hal is beter om te bellen.
duh hahl iss BAY-ter um tuh BEL-un. The lobby is better for calls.
A
Een bureau boven is prima voor mij.
un bü-ROH BOH-vuh iss PREE-mah vohr my. An upstairs desk will work for me.
B
Het is meestal rustig in de middag.
ut iss MAY-stahl RUHS-tikh in duh MID-dahkh. It is usually calm in the afternoon.Word by Word
Is
In the question "Is er een rustige plek waar ik kan werken?", "Is" asks whether something exists. The same verb form appears as "is" in "Het is meestal rustig", where it connects the subject with a description. A reusable question pattern is "Is er ...?" when asking whether something is available.
er
In "Is er een rustige plek ...?", "er" introduces the idea that a place exists or is available. It works with "Is" in the pattern "Is er ...?". Use this pattern when asking whether there is a person, place, or thing.
een
In "een rustige plek", "een" introduces an unspecified place: a quiet place. It is also used in "Een bureau boven" to introduce an unspecified desk upstairs. Use "een" before a noun when you are not referring to one specific item.
rustige
In "een rustige plek", "rustige" describes the place as quiet or calm. It appears before the noun "plek" to specify what kind of place is wanted. Use the pattern "een rustige ..." for a quiet room, area, or other place.
plek
In "een rustige plek", "plek" means a place or spot where the speaker can work. It names the location being requested. A useful pattern is "een plek waar ...", followed by what can happen there.
waar
In "een rustige plek waar ik kan werken", "waar" introduces information about what can happen in that place. It means where and connects the place with "ik kan werken". Reuse the pattern "een plek waar ik kan ..." when describing a suitable location.
ik
In "waar ik kan werken", "ik" identifies the speaker as the person who can work there. It is also the subject in "Kan ik daar kort bellen?". Use "ik" when saying what you can do or what you need.
kan
In "waar ik kan werken", "kan" expresses ability, while in "Kan ik daar kort bellen?" it asks for permission. It is followed by an infinitive such as "werken" or "bellen". A useful question pattern is "Kan ik ...?" when asking whether you may do something.
werken
In "ik kan werken", "werken" means to work and follows "kan". The speaker is asking for a place where this activity is possible. Reuse "kan ik werken" or "ik kan werken" when talking about being able to work.
Boven
At the beginning of "Boven aan de linkerkant staan bureaus ...", "Boven" indicates that the desks are upstairs. The same form appears as "boven" in "Een bureau boven", where it describes the desk's location. Use "boven" to point out an upstairs or higher location.
aan
In "aan de linkerkant", "aan" is part of the location expression meaning on the left side. Together with "de linkerkant", it tells the listener where to look. Reuse the fixed pattern "aan de ...kant" when giving directions.
de
In "de linkerkant" and "De hal", "de" introduces a specific noun: the left side or the lobby. Its capitalized form "De" appears only because it starts the sentence. Use "de" before a specific noun in a location or description.
linkerkant
In "aan de linkerkant", "linkerkant" means the left side. The complete expression tells someone which side to use or look toward. Reuse "aan de linkerkant" when giving directions inside a building.
staan
In "staan bureaus", "staan" describes the desks as being positioned in a particular place. It is used to say where the desks are located, not what someone is doing with them. A useful pattern is "[things] staan [place]" when describing where objects are positioned.
bureaus
In "staan bureaus" and "Die bureaus", "bureaus" refers to the desks in the library. The first phrase presents their location, and the second refers back to those same desks. Use "de bureaus" when talking about specific desks.
om
In "om rustig te studeren", "om" introduces the purpose of the desks: studying quietly. It works together with "te" and the verb "studeren" in a purpose construction. Reuse the pattern "om ... te + verb" to explain what something is for.
rustig
In "om rustig te studeren", "rustig" describes how the studying should be done: quietly or calmly. In "Het is meestal rustig", it describes the place as calm. Use "rustig" with an activity or with "is" to describe a calm situation.
te
In "te studeren" and "om te bellen", "te" marks the verb in the purpose construction. It is used with "om" here to show what the desks or the lobby are intended for. Reuse "om te + verb" when expressing a purpose.
studeren
In "rustig te studeren", "studeren" means to study and names the purpose of the desks. It follows "te" after "om". Use "om te studeren" when explaining that a place or object is intended for studying.
daar
In "Kan ik daar kort bellen?", "daar" means there and refers to the desks or area just mentioned. It points to a location without naming it again. Use "daar" after asking or talking about a particular place.
kort
In "kort bellen", "kort" means briefly or for a short time. It limits the expected length of the phone call. Reuse the pattern "kort bellen" when saying that a call will not take long.
bellen
In "kort bellen", "ergens anders bellen", and "om te bellen", "bellen" means to make a phone call. It appears after "kan", after "ga", and after "te" in the dialogue. A useful question pattern is "Kan ik ... bellen?" when asking whether phone calls are allowed.
Die
In "Die bureaus", "Die" points to the desks that were just mentioned. It identifies those particular desks before the noun "bureaus". Use "Die ..." when referring to a specific previously mentioned item or group.
zijn
In "Die bureaus zijn alleen voor stil studeren", "zijn" links the desks with their intended use. The phrase after it explains what the desks are for. Reuse "[something] zijn voor ..." when describing an intended use.
alleen
In "alleen voor stil studeren", "alleen" means only and limits the permitted use of the desks. It makes clear that the desks are not for phone calls. Reuse "alleen voor ..." when stating that something has one restricted purpose.
voor
In "voor stil studeren", "voor" introduces the intended use of the desks. It also appears in "voor mij", where it means for me. Use "voor" to name a purpose or the person something is suitable for.
stil
In "stil studeren", "stil" means silently or without making noise. It specifies the required manner of studying at those desks. Reuse "stil" before an activity when the activity should be quiet.
Dan
At the beginning of "Dan ga ik ergens anders bellen", "Dan" means then and presents the speaker's next decision based on the previous information. It connects a condition or result with an action. Reuse the sentence pattern "Dan ga ik ..." when saying what you will do next.
ga
In "ga ik ergens anders bellen", "ga" says that the speaker is going to make a phone call somewhere else. It is followed by "bellen" to express the action the speaker plans to do. Reuse "ga ik + verb" when describing your next action.
ergens
In "ergens anders bellen", "ergens" means somewhere without naming the exact location. Together with "anders", it forms the expression somewhere else. Use "ergens" when the location is unknown or not important to mention.
anders
In "ergens anders", "anders" changes the location from the one already discussed and means else or different. The complete expression means somewhere else. Reuse "ergens anders" when choosing a different unspecified place.
hal
In "De hal", "hal" means the lobby or hall of the library. It is presented as a better place for phone calls. Use "de hal" when referring to this kind of entrance or common indoor area.
beter
In "De hal is beter om te bellen", "beter" means better or more suitable for making calls. It compares the lobby with the desks that are reserved for silent study. Reuse the pattern "[place] is beter om te ..." when recommending one place for an activity.
bureau
In "Een bureau boven", "bureau" means a desk upstairs. The indefinite article "Een" presents it as one suitable desk rather than a previously specified desk. Reuse "een bureau" when referring to a desk in general.
prima
In "Een bureau boven is prima voor mij", "prima" means fine or suitable for the speaker. It evaluates the upstairs desk positively as an acceptable choice. Reuse "is prima voor mij" when saying that an option suits you.
mij
In "prima voor mij", "mij" identifies the speaker as the person for whom the desk is suitable. It follows "voor" in this expression. Reuse "voor mij" when saying that something works for you.
Het
In "Het is meestal rustig in de middag", "Het" fills the subject position in a general statement about the place being calm. Here it works with "is" and does not mean the article "the". Reuse the complete pattern "Het is ..." when describing a general situation.
meestal
In "Het is meestal rustig", "meestal" means usually or most of the time. It shows that the place is calm in the afternoon as a regular pattern, not necessarily every time. Use "meestal" before the description of a usual situation.
in
In "in de middag", "in" introduces the time period when the place is usually calm. The complete phrase means in the afternoon. Reuse "in" with a named period of time such as "in de middag".
middag
In "de middag", "middag" means afternoon. Together with "in", it identifies the time when the library is usually calm. Reuse "in de middag" when talking about activities or conditions during the afternoon.
Grammar Points
rustige + zelfstandig naamwoord
rustige plek
RUHS-tuh-ghuh plekquiet place
Before a noun, rustig takes the -e ending: rustige.
rustig + werkwoord
rustig studeren
RUHS-tikh STÜ-dair-unto study quietly
Here, rustig describes the action, so it is an adverb rather than the adjective rustige.
Dutch Vocabulary
alleen
adv
ah-LEEN
only
bellen
verb
BEL-un
to call
boven
adv
BOH-vun
upstairs
bureaus
noun
bü-ROHS
desks
daar
adv
dahr
there
kort
adv
kort
briefly
linkerkant
noun
LING-ker-kahnt
left side
plek
noun
plek
place
rustig
adv
RUHS-tikh
quietly
rustig te studeren
rustige
adj
RUHS-tuh-ghuh
quiet
een rustige plek
studeren
verb
STÜ-dair-un
to study
werken
verb
WER-kuh
to work
Quiz
Word Order
Arrange the words in the correct order.
Could I take a short call there?
Show Answer
Kan ik daar kort bellen?I'll take phone calls somewhere else, then.
Show Answer
Dan ga ik ergens anders bellen.Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
to study
Show Answer
studerenleft side
Show Answer
linkerkantplace
Show Answer
plekquiet