Check the weather before leaving | Learn Dutch in English

About This Lesson

Use Check the weather before leaving to practice Dutch conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Kun je de weerapp controleren voordat we vertrekken?

koon yuh duh VAIR-ap kohn-troh-LAY-run vohr-DAHT wuh fer-TREK-uhn? Can you check the weather app before we leave?

Er is volgens de app een kans op regen.

air iss FOL-ghens duh ap uhn kahns op RAY-ghun. It says there is some chance of rain.

De lucht ziet er al bewolkt uit.

duh lukht zeet er ahl buh-VOLKT owt. The sky looks cloudy already.

De temperatuur daalt vanavond ook.

duh tem-puh-rah-TEUR dahlt vah-NOH-vunt ohk. The temperature will also drop this evening.

Zal ik een lichte jas meenemen?

zahl ik uhn LIKH-tuh yahs MAY-nay-mun? Should I carry a light jacket?

Een lichte jas en een kleine paraplu zouden handig zijn.

uhn LIKH-tuh yahs en uhn KLY-nuh pah-rah-PLOO ZOW-dun HAN-dikh zyn. A light jacket and a small umbrella would help.

Dan kan ik ze allebei in mijn tas doen.

dahn kahn ik zuh ahl-uh-BY in mine tahs doohn. Then I can put both in my bag.

Dat zou genoeg moeten zijn voor de regen en de koelere avond.

daht ZOW ghuh-NOOK MOO-tun zyn vohr duh RAY-ghun en duh KOO-luh-ruh AH-vunt. That should be enough for the rain and the cooler evening.

Word by Word

Kun “Kun” means “can” in the request “Kun je de weerapp controleren voordat we vertrekken?” Together with “je”, it asks whether the other person is able or willing to do something. A reusable request pattern is “Kun je” followed by an action.

je “Je” means “you” and refers to the person being asked to check the weather app. In “Kun je”, it identifies the listener as the person who may perform the action. This form is commonly used in direct requests.

de “De” means “the” before a specific noun, as in “de weerapp”, “De lucht”, and “de temperatuur”. Its capitalized form “De” appears at the beginning of a sentence. Reuse it before a known or specific noun.

weerapp “Weerapp” means “weather app”, the app being checked before leaving. It is the specific source of the weather information in the dialogue. The word can be used as the object of an action such as “de weerapp controleren”.

controleren “Controleren” means “to check” the weather app for information. After “Kun je”, it names the action the listener is being asked to do. A reusable pattern is “iets controleren”, meaning to check something.

voordat “Voordat” means “before” and introduces the later action in “voordat we vertrekken”. It connects the app check with the departure that follows. Reuse it before a clause describing what happens later.

we “We” means “we” and refers to the two people who plan to leave together. In “we vertrekken”, it is the subject of the leaving action. It is useful when describing an action shared by the speaker and another person.

vertrekken “Vertrekken” means “leave” or “depart” in “voordat we vertrekken”. With “we”, it describes the pair’s planned departure. It can be reused for leaving a place or starting a journey.

Er “Er” introduces the existence statement “Er is”, meaning that there is a chance of rain. The same form also appears as “er” inside “ziet er al bewolkt uit”, where it belongs to the expression for how something looks. “Er is” is a common pattern for saying that something exists or is present.

is “Is” means “is” in “Er is volgens de app een kans op regen”. Here it states that a chance of rain exists. The reusable pattern “Er is” introduces something that exists or is available.

volgens “Volgens” means “according to” and identifies the app as the source of the weather information in “volgens de app”. It is useful when reporting what a person, source, or service says. Reuse it before the source being cited.

app “App” means “app” and refers to the weather application in “volgens de app”. Here it is the source that indicates a chance of rain. It can be used after “de” or another determiner when referring to a specific application.

een “Een” means “a” or “an” in “een kans op regen”, “een lichte jas”, and “een kleine paraplu”. It introduces one non-specific item or possibility here, not the number “one”. The capitalized form “Een” appears at the start of a sentence.

kans “Kans” means “chance” or “possibility” in “een kans op regen”. It describes the possibility that rain will occur. A common reusable pattern is “een kans op” followed by what may happen.

op “Op” means “of” in the expression “kans op regen”, showing what the chance concerns. Here it connects the possibility with rain. Reuse the pattern “kans op” before the possible event or thing.

regen “Regen” means “rain”, the weather that may occur and that the jacket and umbrella are meant to help with. In “kans op regen”, it names the possible event. It can be used after “op” when discussing a chance of rain.

lucht “Lucht” means “sky” in “De lucht ziet er al bewolkt uit”. It is the thing whose appearance is being described. In weather descriptions, it can be used with words describing clouds or visibility.

ziet “Ziet” means “looks” in the expression “ziet er al bewolkt uit”; here it describes the sky’s appearance rather than an act of seeing. The form works with the subject “De lucht”. A reusable pattern is “iets ziet er ... uit” for describing how something appears.

al “Al” means “already” in “ziet er al bewolkt uit”. It shows that the sky has this cloudy appearance at the time of speaking. It is useful for saying that a situation is true sooner or earlier than expected.

bewolkt “Bewolkt” means “cloudy” and describes the sky in “ziet er al bewolkt uit”. It is used as part of the expression describing how the sky appears. It can be reused for a weather description involving clouds.

uit “Uit” is part of the expression “ziet er al bewolkt uit”, which means “looks cloudy”. It completes the pattern that describes appearance, rather than meaning “out” by itself here. Reuse it at the end of “ziet er ... uit”.

temperatuur “Temperatuur” means “temperature” in “De temperatuur daalt vanavond ook”. It identifies what becomes lower during the evening. It can be used with verbs describing a rise or fall in temperature.

daalt “Daalt” means “drops” or “decreases” in “De temperatuur daalt vanavond ook”. With “De temperatuur” as its subject, it says that the temperature becomes lower. A reusable pattern is “de temperatuur daalt” when discussing cooling conditions.

vanavond “Vanavond” means “this evening” and specifies when the temperature drops. It places the change in the evening of the current day. It can be used to give a time for a planned or expected event.

ook “Ook” means “also” or “too” in “daalt vanavond ook”. It adds the temperature drop to the other weather information already mentioned. It is commonly placed near the action or information being added.

Zal “Zal” means “shall” or “should” in the question “Zal ik een lichte jas meenemen?” Here it asks whether the speaker should take the jacket along. “Zal ik” is a reusable pattern for asking whether to perform an action or offering to do it.

ik “Ik” means “I” and identifies the speaker as the person who may take the jacket. In “Zal ik ... meenemen?”, it is the subject of the proposed action. It is used when the speaker refers to themself.

lichte “Lichte” means “light”, describing the jacket as not heavy or thick in “een lichte jas”. It helps specify what kind of jacket would be practical to carry. It can be placed before a noun to describe a light item.

jas “Jas” means “jacket” or “coat” in “een lichte jas”. It is the outer garment the speaker considers taking for the cooler evening. It can be used as the object of “meenemen” when discussing carrying a jacket along.

meenemen “Meenemen” means “take along” or “carry with you” in “een lichte jas meenemen”. It describes bringing the jacket from the current place to another place. A reusable pattern is “iets meenemen” when preparing items for a journey or outing.

en “En” means “and” and links the jacket with the umbrella in “Een lichte jas en een kleine paraplu”. It joins two items that are considered together. Reuse it between two words or groups with the same role in a sentence.

kleine “Kleine” means “small” in “een kleine paraplu”. It describes the umbrella as compact enough to carry. It can be placed before a noun to specify a small object.

paraplu “Paraplu” means “umbrella”, the second item suggested for the rain. In “een kleine paraplu”, it is described as small and easy to pack. It can be used with “meenemen” or “in mijn tas doen” when discussing carrying it.

zouden “Zouden” means “would” in “Een lichte jas en een kleine paraplu zouden handig zijn”. With “handig zijn”, it presents the two items as a useful suggestion or expected help. It can be reused to make a cautious suggestion about what would be useful.

handig “Handig” means “useful” or “convenient” in “zouden handig zijn”. The complete expression says that the jacket and umbrella would be practical to have. It is useful when evaluating an item or action as practical in a situation.

zijn “Zijn” means “be” in “zouden handig zijn”, where it links the jacket and umbrella to the description “handig”. It is also used in “genoeg moeten zijn” to link something with being enough. Here it follows a modal form and completes the description or assessment.

Dan “Dan” means “then” in “Dan kan ik ze allebei in mijn tas doen”. It presents the speaker’s next action as a consequence of the suggestion. A reusable pattern is “Dan kan ik ...” when explaining what can happen next.

kan “Kan” means “can” or “be able to” in “Dan kan ik ... doen”. It says that the speaker is able to put the two items in the bag. It is commonly followed by a person and an action expressed later in the sentence.

ze “Ze” means “them” in “ze allebei in mijn tas doen” and refers to the jacket and umbrella mentioned just before. It is the object of the action of putting them in the bag. This form is useful for referring back to known items without repeating their names.

allebei “Allebei” means “both” and emphasizes that the two mentioned items will be put in the bag. In “ze allebei”, it specifies that the reference includes the jacket and the umbrella together. It is useful when referring to two known people or things.

in “In” means “in” in “in mijn tas doen”, showing the destination or container for the items. It connects the action of putting with the bag. Reuse it before a container when saying that something is placed inside it.

mijn “Mijn” means “my” and identifies the bag as belonging to the speaker in “mijn tas”. It appears before the noun it specifies. It can be reused before a noun when referring to something connected with the speaker.

tas “Tas” means “bag” in “in mijn tas doen”. It is the container where the jacket and umbrella will be placed. It can be used after “in” when describing putting something inside a bag.

doen “Doen” means “put” in the construction “ze allebei in mijn tas doen”. It describes placing both items inside the bag, and it follows “kan”. A reusable pattern is “iets in een tas doen” for putting something into a bag.

Dat “Dat” means “that” and refers back to the plan of taking the jacket and umbrella in “Dat zou genoeg moeten zijn”. It allows the speaker to evaluate the previous idea without repeating it. “Dat zou ...” is a reusable pattern for giving an expected assessment of a prior action or situation.

zou “Zou” means “would” in “Dat zou genoeg moeten zijn”. Together with “moeten zijn”, it expresses the expectation that the suggested items will be sufficient. The reusable pattern “zou ... moeten zijn” gives a cautious expectation or assessment.

genoeg “Genoeg” means “enough” in “genoeg moeten zijn”. It says that the protection or preparation should be sufficient for the conditions mentioned. It can be used before “voor” to specify what something is sufficient for.

moeten “Moeten” means “should” or “need to” in “genoeg moeten zijn”. Here it expresses an expectation that the items will be enough, rather than a direct instruction to someone. It follows “zou” in this cautious assessment.

voor “Voor” means “for” in “genoeg moeten zijn voor de regen en de koelere avond”. It identifies the weather conditions the preparation is intended to cover. A reusable pattern is “genoeg voor” followed by the situation or purpose.

koelere “Koelere” means “cooler” in “de koelere avond”. It describes the evening as having lower or more comfortable-cool temperatures than the earlier conditions implied. It appears before the noun it describes in this weather context.

avond “Avond” means “evening” in “de koelere avond”. It identifies the time of day for which the jacket and umbrella should be sufficient. It can be combined with a time word such as “vanavond” when discussing evening weather.

Grammar Points

Voordat + bijzin: het werkwoord staat achteraan

Voordat we vertrekken, controleer ik de weerapp.

vohr-DAHT wuh fer-TREK-uhn, kohn-troh-LAIR ik duh VAIR-ap.

Before we leave, I check the weather app.

After voordat, the conjugated verb moves to the end of the subordinate clause.

eruitzien: scheidbaar werkwoord

De lucht ziet er bewolkt uit.

duh lukht zeet er buh-VOLKT owt.

The sky looks cloudy.

In a main clause, ziet and uit are separated; er stays between them.

Dutch Vocabulary

bewolkt adj

buh-VOLKT cloudy

De lucht ziet er al bewolkt uit.

controleren verb

kohn-troh-LAY-run to check

Kun je de weerapp controleren voordat we vertrekken?

dalen verb

DAH-lun to drop; to fall daalt

De temperatuur daalt vanavond ook.

eruitzien verb

air-OWT-zeen to look; to seem ziet er ... uit

De lucht ziet er al bewolkt uit.

kans noun

kahns chance

Er is volgens de app een kans op regen.

lucht noun

lukht sky

De lucht ziet er al bewolkt uit.

regen noun

RAY-ghun rain

Er is volgens de app een kans op regen.

temperatuur noun

tem-puh-rah-TEUR temperature

De temperatuur daalt vanavond ook.

vertrekken verb

fer-TREK-uhn to leave

Kun je de weerapp controleren voordat we vertrekken?

volgens prep

FOL-ghens according to

Er is volgens de app een kans op regen.

voordat conj

vohr-DAHT before

Kun je de weerapp controleren voordat we vertrekken?

weerapp noun

VAIR-ap weather app

Kun je de weerapp controleren voordat we vertrekken?

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

The temperature will also drop this evening.

Show Answer

De temperatuur daalt vanavond ook.

Should I carry a light jacket?

Show Answer

Zal ik een lichte jas meenemen?

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to check

Show Answer

controleren

weather app

Show Answer

weerapp

rain

Show Answer

regen

to leave

Show Answer

vertrekken