Joining a Drawing Club | Learn Dutch in English

About This Lesson

Use Joining a Drawing Club to practice Dutch conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Ik denk erover om bij een tekenclub te gaan.

ik DENGK AY-roh-vur um bye ayn TAY-kun-klup tuh KHAHN. I'm thinking about joining a drawing club.

Zijn beginners welkom bij de club?

zayn buh-KHIN-urs VEL-kum bye duh klup? Do they welcome beginners?

Dat doen ze. De eerste bijeenkomst begint met eenvoudige schetsen.

daht DOON zuh. duh AYRST-uh bee-AYNG-kohmst buh-KHINT met AYN-vow-duh-ghuh SKHET-suhn. They do. The first session starts with simple sketches.

Hoe vaak komt de club bij elkaar?

HOO vakh kohmt duh klup bye uhl-KAHR? How often does the club meet?

De club komt elke week na het werk bij elkaar.

duh klup kohmt EL-kuh vayk nah ut verk bye uhl-KAHR. It meets every week after work.

Dat schema past misschien bij jouw routine.

daht SKHAY-mah pahst muh-SKHEEN bye yow roo-TEE-nuh. That schedule might fit your routine.

Ik ben zenuwachtig, maar ik wil het proberen.

ik ben zay-noo-WAHKH-tukh, mahr ik vil ut proh-BAY-run. I feel nervous, but I want to try.

Ga eerst naar één bijeenkomst voordat je beslist.

khah AIRST nahr ayn bee-AYNG-kohmst vor-DAHT yuh buh-LIS. Try one meeting before you decide.

Word by Word

Ik “Ik” means “I” and identifies the speaker as the person thinking about joining the club. It is used here as the subject in “Ik denk erover om bij een tekenclub te gaan.” A reusable pattern is “Ik denk erover om ...” when considering an action.

denk In “Ik denk erover om bij een tekenclub te gaan,” “denk” expresses thinking about or considering something. The form is followed by “erover” and the action being considered. “Ik denk erover om ...” is a useful pattern for describing a possible plan.

erover “Erover” means “about it” here and refers to the possible action of joining a drawing club. Together, “denk erover” expresses considering that option. It commonly appears in the pattern “erover denken om ...”.

om In “om bij een tekenclub te gaan,” “om” introduces the action that is being considered. Its meaning comes as part of the construction “om ... te gaan,” rather than from “om” alone. A reusable pattern is “om ... te + verb” for an action connected to an intention or plan.

bij In “bij een tekenclub te gaan,” “bij” places the person in relation to the club, as someone going to or joining it. The complete phrase “bij een tekenclub te gaan” expresses the club activity being considered. A useful pattern is “bij een club gaan” when talking about joining a club.

een “Een” means “a” in “een tekenclub” and introduces one drawing club without identifying a specific one. It comes directly before the noun “tekenclub.” The same article can introduce another singular, nonspecific noun.

tekenclub “Tekenclub” names a club where people draw. In “bij een tekenclub te gaan,” it is the club the speaker is considering joining. It is a compound word combining the drawing activity with “club”.

te In “te gaan,” “te” is used before “gaan” in the construction “om bij een tekenclub te gaan.” It links the introduced action to the plan or possibility. A reusable pattern is “te” followed by the verb in an infinitive construction.

gaan “Gaan” means “go”; with “bij een tekenclub” it refers to going to or joining that club. The exact phrase is “bij een tekenclub te gaan.” It is useful when describing going to a group or activity.

Zijn In “Zijn beginners welkom bij de club?” “Zijn” asks whether the beginners have a welcome status at the club. It appears at the beginning of this question before “beginners.” The pattern “Zijn ... welkom bij ...?” can ask whether people are welcome somewhere.

beginners “Beginners” means people who are new to the activity. Here it refers to people with little or no drawing experience who may attend the club. It is used as the subject in “Zijn beginners welkom bij de club?”.

welkom “Welkom” means welcome or accepted in the club. In “Zijn beginners welkom bij de club?” it asks whether beginners will be received positively. A useful pattern is “... zijn welkom bij ...” when saying that people are welcome somewhere.

de “De” means “the” in “bij de club” and refers to the particular club already being discussed. It comes before “club.” It is used here to point to that known club rather than an unspecified club.

club “Club” means the organized group that the speakers are discussing. In “bij de club,” it identifies the place or group where beginners may be welcome. The dialogue also uses “tekenclub” for a club focused on drawing.

Dat In “Dat doen ze,” “Dat” refers to the preceding idea that the club welcomes beginners. It points back to the action being confirmed. This use is common when responding briefly to confirm a previous statement.

doen In “Dat doen ze,” “doen” supplies the verb “do” while the whole phrase confirms that the club does welcome beginners. It refers back to the action instead of repeating it. “Dat doen ze” is a reusable way to confirm a previous action.

ze “Ze” means “they” in “Dat doen ze.” It refers to the people associated with the club who welcome beginners. Here it is the subject that carries out the action being confirmed.

eerste “Eerste” means “first” in “De eerste bijeenkomst.” It identifies the initial club session in the sequence of meetings. It is placed directly before “bijeenkomst” to describe which session is meant.

bijeenkomst “Bijeenkomst” means a meeting or session, here one gathering of the drawing club. “De eerste bijeenkomst” refers to the club’s initial session. “Een bijeenkomst” is a useful expression for one organized gathering.

begint “Begint” means starts or begins in “De eerste bijeenkomst begint met eenvoudige schetsen.” It tells what happens at the start of the first session. The pattern “begint met ...” introduces the first activity or material.

met In “begint met eenvoudige schetsen,” “met” introduces what the session starts with. The whole pattern “begint met ...” connects the beginning of an event to its first activity or material. Here that material is “eenvoudige schetsen.”

eenvoudige “Eenvoudige” means simple and describes the sketches used at the start of the session. It shows that the first drawing exercises are not complicated. It appears directly before “schetsen” in “eenvoudige schetsen.”

schetsen “Schetsen” means sketches, referring here to simple drawings used as beginner exercises. In “begint met eenvoudige schetsen,” it names the material the first session starts with. The phrase “eenvoudige schetsen” can describe basic drawing work.

Hoe “Hoe” means “how” in the question “Hoe vaak komt de club bij elkaar?” It begins a question about the frequency of the club’s meetings. Together with “vaak,” it asks how regularly something happens.

vaak “Vaak” means often in “Hoe vaak komt de club bij elkaar?” With “Hoe,” it asks about frequency rather than simply stating that something happens often. The pattern “Hoe vaak ...?” is used to ask how regularly an event occurs.

komt In “komt de club bij elkaar,” “komt” means comes, and with “bij elkaar” the complete phrase means meets or comes together. It describes the club gathering. A reusable pattern is “... komt bij elkaar” with a group as the subject.

elkaar In “bij elkaar,” “elkaar” expresses the participants coming together with one another. The complete phrase “bij elkaar komen” means to meet or gather. It is useful when describing people or a group meeting together.

elke “Elke” means every in “elke week.” It shows that the club meets during each week as part of a regular schedule. It comes before the time word “week.”

week “Week” means a week, the time period used in “elke week.” The phrase says that the club meets regularly once during each week. “Elke week” is a common expression for a weekly routine.

na “Na” means after in “na het werk.” It places the club meeting later than the work period. The phrase “na het werk” is a useful way to describe an activity that happens after work.

het “Het” means “the” in “na het werk” and identifies the work period being referred to. It comes before “werk.” In this dialogue, the full phrase means after work.

werk “Werk” means work in “na het werk.” It identifies the activity or period that comes before the club meeting. The exact phrase “na het werk” is useful for discussing plans after work.

schema “Schema” means schedule in “Dat schema past misschien bij jouw routine.” It refers to the club’s timing and regular meeting plan. It can be used when discussing whether a planned timetable suits someone.

past In “Dat schema past misschien bij jouw routine,” “past” means fits or suits. The pattern “past bij” connects the schedule with the routine it suits. It is useful for saying that a plan works well with someone’s circumstances.

misschien “Misschien” means maybe or perhaps and makes the statement less certain. In “Dat schema past misschien bij jouw routine,” the speaker suggests that the schedule could fit the routine. It is useful when expressing a possibility rather than a definite judgment.

jouw “Jouw” means “your” and refers to the routine belonging to the person being addressed. In “jouw routine,” it comes directly before the noun it describes. It can be used to identify something connected to the listener.

routine “Routine” means a regular pattern of activities, here the listener’s usual schedule. In “bij jouw routine,” it is what the club schedule may fit. The phrase “bij jouw routine passen” describes compatibility with someone’s usual way of organizing time.

ben “Ben” means “am” in “Ik ben zenuwachtig.” It describes the speaker’s current state. The pattern “Ik ben ...” can introduce a description of how the speaker feels or what state they are in.

zenuwachtig “Zenuwachtig” means nervous in “Ik ben zenuwachtig.” It describes the speaker’s feeling about trying the club. “Ik ben zenuwachtig” is a reusable way to say that you feel nervous in a situation.

maar “Maar” means “but” and connects two contrasting ideas in “Ik ben zenuwachtig, maar ik wil het proberen.” It links the nervous feeling with the decision to try anyway. The pattern “..., maar ...” is useful for contrasting two statements.

wil “Wil” means want in “ik wil het proberen.” It expresses the speaker’s desire to try the activity despite feeling nervous. A reusable pattern is “Ik wil ...” followed by the action or thing the speaker wants.

proberen “Proberen” means try in “ik wil het proberen.” It refers to trying the club or attending it to see how it feels. The pattern “iets proberen” can be used when the thing being tried is stated as the object.

Ga “Ga” means go and is used here to give the listener an instruction: “Ga eerst naar één bijeenkomst.” It tells the listener to attend one meeting. The pattern “Ga naar ...” gives a direction or suggestion to go somewhere.

eerst “Eerst” means first or beforehand in “Ga eerst naar één bijeenkomst voordat je beslist.” It places attending one meeting before making the decision. It is useful for ordering one action before another.

naar “Naar” means “to” and marks the destination in “naar één bijeenkomst.” It shows where the listener should go. The pattern “naar een bijeenkomst gaan” describes attending a meeting.

voordat “Voordat” means before and introduces the later action in “voordat je beslist.” It sets the decision after the suggested meeting. The pattern “voordat ...” is used to say that one event happens before another.

je “Je” means “you” and refers to the person being advised. In “voordat je beslist,” it is the person who will make the decision. It is used here to address the listener directly.

beslist “Beslist” means decide in “voordat je beslist.” It refers to choosing whether to join after trying one meeting. The exact pattern “voordat je beslist” is useful when advising someone to do something before making a decision.

Grammar Points

wil + infinitief

wil proberen

vil proh-BAY-run

want to try

After wil, the second verb stays in the infinitive form: wil proberen.

erover denken

erover denken

AY-roh-vur DENG-kuhn

to think about it

Dutch uses erover to refer to something previously mentioned after the preposition over.

Dutch Vocabulary

beginnen verb

buh-KHIN-un to begin; to start begint

De eerste bijeenkomst begint met eenvoudige schetsen.

beginner noun

buh-KHIN-ur beginner beginners

Zijn beginners welkom bij de club?

bij elkaar komen phrase

bye uhl-KAHR KOH-mun to meet; to get together komt ... bij elkaar

Hoe vaak komt de club bij elkaar?

bijeenkomst noun

bee-AYNG-kohmst meeting; session

De eerste bijeenkomst begint met eenvoudige schetsen.

denken verb

DENG-kuhn to think denk

Ik denk erover om bij een tekenclub te gaan.

eenvoudig adj

AYN-vow-dukh simple eenvoudige

De eerste bijeenkomst begint met eenvoudige schetsen.

erover adv

AY-roh-vur about it; about that

Ik denk erover om bij een tekenclub te gaan.

gaan verb

KHAHN to go

Ik denk erover om bij een tekenclub te gaan.

hoe vaak phrase

HOO vakh how often

Hoe vaak komt de club bij elkaar?

schets noun

SKHETS sketch schetsen

De eerste bijeenkomst begint met eenvoudige schetsen.

tekenclub noun

TAY-kun-klup drawing club

Ik denk erover om bij een tekenclub te gaan.

welkom adj

VEL-kum welcome

Zijn beginners welkom bij de club?

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Do they welcome beginners?

Show Answer

Zijn beginners welkom bij de club?

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to begin; to start

Show Answer

begint

to go

Show Answer

gaan

beginner

Show Answer

beginners

about it; about that

Show Answer

erover