Canceling a picnic because of strong wind | Learn Dutch in English

About This Lesson

Use Canceling a picnic because of strong wind to practice Dutch conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

De wind is veel sterker dan gisteren.

duh VINT iss vayl STAIR-kuhr dahn GHISS-tuh-run. The wind is much stronger than yesterday.

Een picknick is vandaag misschien niet zo comfortabel.

uhn PICK-nick iss vun-DAHKH muh-SKHEEN neet zoh kom-for-TAH-buhl. A picnic might not be comfortable today.

De deken zou steeds wegwaaien.

duh DAY-kuhn zow STAYTS WEKH-vy-uhn. The blanket would keep blowing away.

Ook kan buiten eten lastig zijn.

OHK kahn BOYT-uhn AY-tuhn LAHS-tikh zine. Also, eating outside could be difficult.

Zullen we afzeggen en elkaar liever binnen ontmoeten?

ZUH-luhn vuh AHF-ZEGH-uhn en el-KAHR LEE-vuhr BIN-uhn ont-MOO-tuhn? Should we cancel and meet indoors instead?

Dat zou veiliger en gemakkelijker zijn.

daht zow VY-luh-ghuhr en ghuh-MAH-kuh-luh-kuhr zine. That would be safer and easier.

Laat me het in de groepschat aan iedereen vertellen.

LAHT muh uht in duh GROOPSKHAT ahn EE-duh-RAYN vuhr-TELL-uhn. Let me tell everyone in the group chat.

Een café bij het park zou een goede keuze zijn.

uhn kah-FAY bye duh PARK zow uhn GOO-duh KUR-zuh zine. A cafe near the park would be a good choice.

Word by Word

De “De” means “the” here and introduces “wind” in “De wind is veel sterker dan gisteren.” It is also used before “deken” in “De deken zou steeds wegwaaien.” A new example is “De fiets staat buiten.”

wind “Wind” means wind, the moving air discussed in the weather situation. It is used with “de” in “De wind” and can be described with words such as “sterker.” A new example is “De wind is koud.”

is “Is” means “is” in “De wind is veel sterker dan gisteren” and connects the wind with its description. It is the form used with “de wind” in this sentence. A new example is “Het weer is goed.”

veel “Veel” means “much” and strengthens the comparison in “veel sterker dan gisteren.” It comes directly before the comparative form “sterker.” A new example is “Deze tas is veel groter.”

sterker “Sterker” means stronger here: the wind has greater strength than yesterday. It is used in the comparison “veel sterker dan gisteren.” A new example is “De regen is sterker dan vanochtend.”

dan “Dan” means “than” and introduces the point of comparison in “sterker dan gisteren.” It follows a comparative form such as “sterker.” A new example is “Vandaag is het warmer dan gisteren.”

gisteren “Gisteren” means yesterday, the day used as the comparison point in “sterker dan gisteren.” It refers to the day before today. A new example is “Ik werkte gisteren thuis.”

Een “Een” means “a” in “Een picknick is vandaag misschien niet zo comfortabel.” It introduces one unspecified picnic. A new example is “Een wandeling klinkt goed.”

picknick “Picknick” means picnic, the planned outdoor activity in the dialogue. It is used after “Een” in “Een picknick.” A new example is “We organiseren een picknick in het park.”

vandaag “Vandaag” means today and identifies the day on which the picnic may be uncomfortable. In “is vandaag misschien niet zo comfortabel,” it appears before the possibility word “misschien.” A new example is “Vandaag blijf ik binnen.”

misschien “Misschien” means maybe and shows that the speaker is expressing a possibility rather than a certainty. In “vandaag misschien niet zo comfortabel,” it comes before the negative description. A new example is “Misschien regent het later.”

niet “Niet” means not and makes “niet zo comfortabel” negative in “Een picknick is vandaag misschien niet zo comfortabel.” It appears before the degree expression “zo comfortabel.” A new example is “De stoel is niet comfortabel.”

zo “Zo” means so in “niet zo comfortabel,” describing the degree of comfort. Together with “niet,” it means that the picnic may not be that comfortable. A new example is “Het is zo koud buiten.”

comfortabel “Comfortabel” means comfortable and describes how pleasant the picnic would be in “niet zo comfortabel.” It follows “zo” in the degree expression “zo comfortabel.” A new example is “Deze stoel is comfortabel.”

deken “Deken” means blanket in “De deken zou steeds wegwaaien.” It refers to the blanket being used for the picnic. A new example is “Ik neem een deken mee.”

zou “Zou” means would and presents the blanket blowing away as a likely result or imagined consequence in “De deken zou steeds wegwaaien.” It is followed by the infinitive “wegwaaien.” A new example is “Dat zou handig zijn.”

steeds “Steeds” means continually or repeatedly in “zou steeds wegwaaien.” It shows that the blanket would keep blowing away, not just move once. A new example is “De deur gaat steeds open.”

wegwaaien “Wegwaaien” means blow away, describing the wind carrying the blanket away in “De deken zou steeds wegwaaien.” It follows “zou” in this sentence. A new example is “De bladeren kunnen wegwaaien.”

Ook “Ook” means also and adds another problem after the blanket blowing away. It introduces the additional point in “Ook kan buiten eten lastig zijn.” A new example is “Ook morgen ben ik vrij.”

kan “Kan” means can or could here and expresses the possibility that eating outside may be difficult. It is followed by “buiten eten” and the infinitive “zijn” in “kan buiten eten lastig zijn.” A new example is “Het kan vandaag regenen.”

buiten “Buiten” means outside in “buiten eten,” referring to eating outdoors rather than indoors. It comes before “eten” in this expression. A new example is “De kinderen spelen buiten.”

eten “Eten” means eating in “buiten eten,” the activity that may be difficult in the strong wind. In this expression it names the activity together with “buiten.” A new example is “Buiten eten is gezellig.”

lastig “Lastig” means difficult or troublesome in “buiten eten lastig zijn.” It describes the practical problem caused by the wind. A new example is “Dat is lastig met deze wind.”

zijn “Zijn” means be in “kan buiten eten lastig zijn.” It follows “kan” and completes the statement that eating outside may be difficult. A new example is “Het kan moeilijk zijn.”

Zullen “Zullen” introduces the suggestion “Zullen we afzeggen en elkaar liever binnen ontmoeten?” Here it asks whether the speakers should take the proposed action. It is used with “we” and an infinitive such as “afzeggen.” A new example is “Zullen we morgen bellen?”

we “We” means we and refers to the two speakers together in “Zullen we afzeggen.” It is the subject of the suggestion. A new example is “We gaan naar een café.”

afzeggen “Afzeggen” means cancel in “Zullen we afzeggen,” referring to canceling the picnic plan. It follows “zullen we” as the proposed action. A new example is “We moeten de afspraak afzeggen.”

en “En” means and and links the two suggested actions “afzeggen” and “elkaar liever binnen ontmoeten.” It joins actions within the same sentence. A new example is “We eten en praten.”

elkaar “Elkaar” means each other in “elkaar liever binnen ontmoeten.” It shows that the speakers will meet one another indoors. It is used with “ontmoeten” in this expression. A new example is “We helpen elkaar.”

liever “Liever” means rather or preferably and shows the preferred alternative in “elkaar liever binnen ontmoeten.” The preference is to meet indoors instead of continuing with the picnic outside. A new example is “Ik drink liever thee.”

binnen “Binnen” means indoors in “elkaar liever binnen ontmoeten.” It identifies the place chosen as an alternative to being outside. A new example is “Het is koud, dus we blijven binnen.”

ontmoeten “Ontmoeten” means meet in “elkaar liever binnen ontmoeten.” It follows “zullen we” and takes “elkaar” as the people meeting one another. A new example is “We willen elkaar morgen ontmoeten.”

Dat “Dat” means that and refers to the suggestion to cancel the picnic and meet indoors. In “Dat zou veiliger en gemakkelijker zijn,” it is the subject of the evaluation. A new example is “Dat is een goed idee.”

veiliger “Veiliger” means safer and describes the indoor plan in “Dat zou veiliger en gemakkelijker zijn.” It compares the suggested indoor meeting with the windy outdoor picnic. A new example is “Binnen is het veiliger.”

gemakkelijker “Gemakkelijker” means easier and says that the indoor plan would require less effort or cause fewer practical problems. It appears alongside “veiliger” in “veiliger en gemakkelijker.” A new example is “Deze route is gemakkelijker.”

Laat “Laat” means let in “Laat me het in de groepschat aan iedereen vertellen.” It introduces the speaker’s proposal to carry out the action. It is used with “me” and an infinitive, as in “Laat me vertellen.”

me “Me” means me in “Laat me ... vertellen,” referring to the speaker as the person who will tell the group. It follows “Laat” in this request. A new example is “Laat me even kijken.”

het “Het” means it in “Laat me het in de groepschat aan iedereen vertellen,” referring to the information about the changed plan. It is the thing being told. A new example is “Ik begrijp het.”

in “In” means in and shows the place or channel in “in de groepschat.” It is followed by “de groepschat.” A new example is “Ik schrijf het in de agenda.”

groepschat “Groepschat” means group chat, the channel where the speaker will share the information. It appears after “in” in “in de groepschat.” A new example is “We bespreken het in de groepschat.”

aan “Aan” means to in “aan iedereen vertellen” and marks the people who receive the information. The reusable pattern is “iets aan iemand vertellen,” with the thing before “aan” and the recipient after it. A new example is “Ik vertel het aan mijn vriend.”

iedereen “Iedereen” means everyone and refers to all the people in the group chat. In “aan iedereen vertellen,” it is the group receiving the information. A new example is “Iedereen weet het al.”

vertellen “Vertellen” means tell in “Laat me het in de groepschat aan iedereen vertellen.” It is used with the information being told and the recipient introduced by “aan.” A new example is “Ik wil het nieuws aan iedereen vertellen.”

café “Café” means cafe, the proposed indoor meeting place near the park. It appears after “Een” in “Een café.” A new example is “We zitten in een café.”

bij “Bij” means near in “bij het park,” locating the café close to the park. It is followed by the place “het park.” A new example is “Er is een winkel bij het station.”

park “Park” means park in “bij het park,” the outdoor location used to identify where the café is. It appears after “het” in the phrase “het park.” A new example is “Het park is dichtbij.”

goede “Goede” means good in “een goede keuze,” describing the proposed café as a suitable option. It appears before the noun “keuze.” A new example is “Dat is een goede oplossing.”

keuze “Keuze” means choice in “Een café bij het park zou een goede keuze zijn.” It refers to the selected alternative for meeting indoors. A new example is “Dat is een moeilijke keuze.”

Grammar Points

... is + bijvoeglijk naamwoord op -er

Binnen is het veiliger.

BIN-uhn iss uht VY-luh-ghuhr.

Indoors is safer.

De vergrotende trap krijgt vaak -er: veilig wordt veiliger. Gebruik dit om twee situaties te vergelijken.

Laat + persoon + bijwoord

Laat iedereen binnen.

LAHT EE-duh-RAYN BIN-uhn.

Let everyone inside.

Laat kan een opdracht of toestemming uitdrukken. Het werkwoord dat volgt staat in de infinitief of wordt weggelaten.

Dutch Vocabulary

buiten adv

BOYT-uhn outside

Ook kan buiten eten lastig zijn.

comfortabel adj

kom-for-TAH-buhl comfortable

Een picknick is vandaag misschien niet zo comfortabel.

deken noun

DAY-kuhn blanket

De deken zou steeds wegwaaien.

eten verb

AY-tuhn to eat; eating

Ook kan buiten eten lastig zijn.

gisteren adv

GHISS-tuh-run yesterday

De wind is veel sterker dan gisteren.

lastig adj

LAHS-tikh difficult

Ook kan buiten eten lastig zijn.

picknick noun

PICK-nick picnic

Een picknick is vandaag misschien niet zo comfortabel.

steeds adv

STAYTS 계속; continuously

De deken zou steeds wegwaaien.

sterk adj

STAIRK strong sterker

De wind is veel sterker dan gisteren.

vandaag adv

vun-DAHKH today

Een picknick is vandaag misschien niet zo comfortabel.

wegwaaien verb

WEKH-vy-uhn to blow away

De deken zou steeds wegwaaien.

wind noun

VINT wind

De wind is veel sterker dan gisteren.

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

The blanket would keep blowing away.

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De deken zou steeds wegwaaien.

Also, eating outside could be difficult.

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Ook kan buiten eten lastig zijn.

That would be safer and easier.

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Dat zou veiliger en gemakkelijker zijn.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

yesterday

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gisteren

wind

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wind

comfortable

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comfortabel

picnic

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picknick