Snowy streets and bus delays | Learn Dutch in English

About This Lesson

Use Snowy streets and bus delays to practice Dutch conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Er is 's nachts veel sneeuw gevallen.

air iss s NAKHTS vayl snayw khuh-VAH-luhn It snowed a lot during the night.

De stoepen kunnen vanmorgen glad zijn.

duh STOO-puhn KUH-nuhn vahn-MOR-khuhn khlat zine The sidewalks may be icy this morning.

Dan moet ik laarzen met meer grip aantrekken.

dahn moot ik LAHR-zuhn met mayr khrip AHN-treh-kuhn Then I should wear boots with better grip.

Je moet ook voorzichtiger lopen dan normaal.

yuh moot ohk vohr-ZIKH-tuh-khur LOH-puhn dahn nohr-MAHL You should also walk more carefully than usual.

Denk je dat de bussen vertraging krijgen?

denk yuh daht duh BUH-suhn vur-TRAH-khing KRY-khuhn Do you think buses will be delayed?

Waarschijnlijk, omdat het verkeer langzaam rijdt in de sneeuw.

vahr-SKHINE-luhk, ohm-DAHT hut vur-KAYR LAHNG-zahm rite in duh snayw Probably, because traffic moves slowly in snow.

Laat me de ov-app bekijken voordat ik vertrek.

laht muh duh OH-vay ap buh-KY-kuhn vohr-DAHT ik vur-TREK Let me check the transport app before leaving.

Dat kan je tijd besparen.

daht kahn yuh tite buh-SPAH-run That may save you time.

Word by Word

Er In “Er is 's nachts veel sneeuw gevallen.”, “Er” introduces the event that snow fell; it is not a place reference. A common use is to begin a sentence with “Er is” when saying that something exists or has happened. This form is useful in a weather report or a brief update.

is Here “is” is the form of zijn used as the auxiliary in “Er is 's nachts veel sneeuw gevallen.”, describing a completed event. It occurs with “gevallen” in this sentence. You can reuse this auxiliary construction when reporting something that has happened, such as overnight weather.

's In “'s nachts”, “'s” is part of the time expression meaning during or at night. It does not stand alone here; its meaning comes from the complete expression “'s nachts”. Use this expression when locating an event in the night.

nachts In “'s nachts”, “nachts” helps express the time at night. Together with “'s”, it places the snowfall during the night. This expression is useful when describing when a weather event occurred.

veel “Veel” indicates a large amount of snow in “veel sneeuw”. It is used with “sneeuw”, which is treated as an uncounted substance here. This pattern is useful for describing heavy or light quantities in a weather report.

sneeuw “Sneeuw” means snow and names what fell in “Er is 's nachts veel sneeuw gevallen.”. It combines directly with “veel” to describe the amount. You would use it when talking about winter weather or snowy conditions.

gevallen “Gevallen” means fallen here and describes the snow in “Er is 's nachts veel sneeuw gevallen.”. It is the form of vallen used with the auxiliary “is” in this completed-event construction. This form is useful when reporting that snow has fallen.

De “De” is the definite article before the plural noun “stoepen” in “De stoepen kunnen vanmorgen glad zijn.”. It identifies the sidewalks being discussed. This article is reused before plural nouns when referring to specific things.

stoepen “Stoepen” means sidewalks in “De stoepen kunnen vanmorgen glad zijn.”. It is the plural form of stoep and names the walking surfaces that may be slippery. This word is useful when discussing street conditions or walking routes.

kunnen “Kunnen” expresses possibility in “De stoepen kunnen vanmorgen glad zijn.”, meaning that the sidewalks may be slippery. It is followed by “zijn”, which stays at the end of the clause. Use this modal construction when making a possibility or cautious prediction.

vanmorgen “Vanmorgen” means this morning and specifies when the sidewalks may be slippery in “De stoepen kunnen vanmorgen glad zijn.”. It functions as a time expression in the sentence. Use it when giving a morning weather or travel update.

glad “Glad” means slippery here, especially because of ice, in “De stoepen kunnen vanmorgen glad zijn.”. It describes the condition of the sidewalks after “zijn”. The expression “glad zijn” is useful when warning someone about slippery ground.

zijn “Zijn” means be and completes the possibility in “De stoepen kunnen vanmorgen glad zijn.”. It is the infinitive that follows “kunnen”. This combination is useful for describing a possible condition, such as sidewalks being slippery.

Dan “Dan” means then and connects the slippery sidewalks with the speaker’s next decision in “Dan moet ik laarzen met meer grip aantrekken.”. It signals a consequence of the situation just mentioned. Use it when responding to information with a resulting action.

moet “Moet” expresses necessity or strong advice in “Dan moet ik laarzen met meer grip aantrekken.”. It is the form of moeten used with “ik” and is followed by the infinitive “aantrekken”. This pattern is useful when stating what you need or should do.

ik “Ik” means I and identifies the speaker as the person who will put on the boots in “Dan moet ik laarzen met meer grip aantrekken.”. It is the subject of “moet”. Use it whenever you describe your own action, need, or plan.

laarzen “Laarzen” means boots in “Dan moet ik laarzen met meer grip aantrekken.”. It is the plural form of laars and is the clothing item being put on. This word is useful when choosing footwear for snow, rain, or slippery streets.

met “Met” means with and links the boots to their added feature in “laarzen met meer grip”. It introduces what the boots have. Use this preposition when describing an object together with a feature or accompanying item.

meer “Meer” means more in “laarzen met meer grip”, indicating a greater amount of grip than the current boots provide. It modifies “grip” rather than naming the boots themselves. This pattern is useful when comparing equipment or requesting a greater amount of a quality.

grip “Grip” means grip or traction in “laarzen met meer grip”. It describes how well the boots hold on to the ground. Use it when discussing footwear or another surface-contacting object in slippery conditions.

aantrekken “Aantrekken” means put on here and refers to putting on the boots in “Dan moet ik laarzen met meer grip aantrekken.”. It follows “moet” as the action that is necessary. This verb is useful when getting dressed before going outside.

Je “Je” means you and addresses the other person in “Je moet ook voorzichtiger lopen dan normaal.”. It is the person receiving the advice. Use this pronoun when giving one person a direct instruction or warning.

ook “Ook” means also and adds another piece of advice in “Je moet ook voorzichtiger lopen dan normaal.”. It shows that walking carefully is in addition to the earlier advice about boots. Use it when adding a further action or recommendation.

voorzichtiger “Voorzichtiger” means more carefully in “Je moet ook voorzichtiger lopen dan normaal.”. It compares the recommended way of walking with the usual way. This form is useful when advising someone to take extra care in a risky situation.

lopen “Lopen” means walk here in “Je moet ook voorzichtiger lopen dan normaal.”. It is the infinitive that follows “moet” and names the action to be done carefully. Use it when giving advice about moving on foot.

normaal “Normaal” means usual or normal in “voorzichtiger lopen dan normaal.”. It provides the baseline against which the more careful walking is compared. This word is useful when describing a change from ordinary behavior.

Denk “Denk” means think in “Denk je dat de bussen vertraging krijgen?”. It begins a question asking for the other person’s opinion or prediction. Use the expression “Denk je dat de bussen vertraging krijgen?” when asking someone what they expect to happen.

dat “Dat” means that and introduces the statement being considered in “Denk je dat de bussen vertraging krijgen?”. It links the question about someone’s opinion to the possible bus delays. Use it to introduce what someone thinks or expects.

bussen “Bussen” means buses in “Denk je dat de bussen vertraging krijgen?”. It is the plural form of bus and is the subject of the possible delay. Use it when discussing several buses or bus service in a travel situation.

vertraging “Vertraging” means delay and names the problem the buses may experience in “vertraging krijgen”. It is singular even though the sentence concerns the buses as a group. This noun is useful when discussing late public transport.

krijgen “Krijgen” means get or experience in “Denk je dat de bussen vertraging krijgen?”. Together with “vertraging”, it describes buses experiencing a delay. Use the expression “vertraging krijgen” when talking about transport or another service becoming delayed.

Waarschijnlijk “Waarschijnlijk” means probably and signals that the answer is likely but not certain in “Waarschijnlijk, omdat het verkeer langzaam rijdt in de sneeuw.”. It appears at the beginning as the speaker’s prediction. Use it when giving a cautious forecast based on the circumstances.

omdat “Omdat” means because and introduces the reason in “omdat het verkeer langzaam rijdt in de sneeuw.”. It connects the predicted bus delay with slow traffic. Use it to explain why something is expected or has happened.

het “Het” is the definite article before “verkeer” in “het verkeer langzaam rijdt in de sneeuw.”. It identifies the traffic being discussed. This article is used before this noun in the expression “het verkeer”.

verkeer “Verkeer” means traffic and is the thing that moves slowly in “het verkeer langzaam rijdt in de sneeuw.”. It refers collectively to road vehicles rather than to one individual vehicle. Use it when discussing road conditions and travel speed.

langzaam “Langzaam” means slowly here and describes how the traffic moves in “het verkeer langzaam rijdt”. It modifies the action “rijdt”. Use it when explaining reduced movement or speed in difficult conditions.

rijdt “Rijdt” means moves or drives here, with traffic as the subject in “het verkeer langzaam rijdt”. It is the form of rijden used with “het verkeer”. This form is useful when describing how traffic moves on the road.

in “In” means in and places the movement in the snowy conditions in “in de sneeuw”. It links the action to the surrounding weather. Use this preposition when describing movement or activity within a place or condition.

Laat “Laat” begins the request “Laat me de ov-app bekijken voordat ik vertrek.”, meaning that the speaker wants to check the app. It introduces an action the speaker is asking to be allowed to do. Use this expression when announcing that you are going to check or do something.

me “Me” means me in “Laat me de ov-app bekijken voordat ik vertrek.”. It identifies the person who will perform the action of checking the app. Use it after “Laat” when asking someone to let you do something.

ov-app “Ov-app” means public transport app in “Laat me de ov-app bekijken voordat ik vertrek.”. It identifies the app used to check transport information. This word is useful when planning a journey by bus or other public transport.

bekijken “Bekijken” means check or view here and describes inspecting the transport app in “Laat me de ov-app bekijken voordat ik vertrek.”. It follows “Laat me” as the action the speaker wants to perform. Use it when looking at information on an app, screen, or document.

voordat “Voordat” means before and introduces the earlier action in “voordat ik vertrek.”. It shows that checking the app happens before leaving. Use it to order two actions in time when one must happen first.

vertrek “Vertrek” means leave or depart in “voordat ik vertrek.”. It is the form of vertrekken used with “ik” and describes the speaker’s departure. Use this expression when planning to check something before setting out.

kan “Kan” expresses possibility or ability in “Dat kan je tijd besparen.”, meaning that the action may save time. It is the form of kunnen used with “Dat” and is followed by “besparen”. Use it when describing a possible benefit of an action.

tijd “Tijd” means time and is what may be saved in “Dat kan je tijd besparen.”. It is the object connected to “besparen”. Use the expression “tijd besparen” when an action makes a process quicker or avoids wasted time.

besparen “Besparen” means save in “Dat kan je tijd besparen.”. With “tijd”, it describes avoiding unnecessary time or making the journey more efficient. Use the expression “tijd besparen” when explaining the practical benefit of checking information in advance.

Grammar Points

omdat + bijzin: werkwoord achteraan

Omdat het verkeer langzaam rijdt, krijgt de bus waarschijnlijk vertraging.

ohm-DAHT hut vur-KAYR LAHNG-zahm rite, KRYKHT duh BUHS vahr-SKHINE-luhk vur-TRAH-khing

Because traffic is moving slowly, the bus will probably be delayed.

In een bijzin met omdat staat het vervoegde werkwoord aan het einde: verkeer langzaam rijdt.

Dutch Vocabulary

's nachts adv

s NAKHTS at night; during the night

Er is 's nachts veel sneeuw gevallen.

aantrekken verb

AHN-TREK-uhn to put on; to wear

Dan moet ik laarzen met meer grip aantrekken.

glad adj

khlat icy; slippery

De stoepen kunnen vanmorgen glad zijn.

grip noun

khrip grip; traction

Dan moet ik laarzen met meer grip aantrekken.

laars noun

LAHRS boot laarzen

Dan moet ik laarzen met meer grip aantrekken.

lopen verb

LOH-puhn to walk

Je moet ook voorzichtiger lopen dan normaal.

normaal adv

nohr-MAHL usual; normally

Je moet ook voorzichtiger lopen dan normaal.

sneeuw noun

snayw snow

Er is 's nachts veel sneeuw gevallen.

stoep noun

STOOP sidewalk stoepen

De stoepen kunnen vanmorgen glad zijn.

vallen verb

VAH-luhn to fall gevallen

Er is 's nachts veel sneeuw gevallen.

vanmorgen adv

vahn-MOR-khuhn this morning

De stoepen kunnen vanmorgen glad zijn.

voorzichtig adj

vohr-ZIKH-tukh careful voorzichtiger

Je moet ook voorzichtiger lopen dan normaal.

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

The sidewalks may be icy this morning.

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De stoepen kunnen vanmorgen glad zijn.

That may save you time.

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Dat kan je tijd besparen.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

grip; traction

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grip

this morning

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vanmorgen

sidewalk

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stoepen

to fall

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gevallen