Choosing a quieter room for studying | Learn Dutch in English

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Use Choosing a quieter room for studying to practice Dutch conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Welke kamer zal ik gebruiken om te studeren?

VEL-kuh KAH-muhr zahl ik guh-BROY-kuh om tuh styoo-DAY-run? Which room should I use for studying?

Wat dacht je van de slaapkamer of de keuken?

Vaht DAKHT yuh vahn duh SLAHP-kah-muhr awf duh KUR-kuhn? What about the bedroom or the kitchen?

De keuken is lichter, maar het wordt er lawaaierig.

Duh KUR-kuhn is LIKH-tuhr, mahr ut VORT uhr lah-WAH-yuh-rikh. The kitchen is brighter, but it gets noisy.

De slaapkamer is rustiger en comfortabeler.

Duh SLAHP-kah-muhr is ROOS-tuh-ghuhr un kom-for-TAH-buh-luhr. The bedroom is quieter and more comfortable.

Ik moet me kunnen concentreren zonder onderbrekingen.

Ik moot muh KUN-un kon-sen-TRAY-run ZON-duhr ON-duhr-BRAY-king-un. I need to focus without interruptions.

Dan is de rustigere kamer een logische keuze.

DAHN is duh ROOS-tuh-ghuhr KAH-muhr uhn LOH-ghis-uh KUR-zuh. Then the quieter room makes more sense.

Ik studeer vandaag in de slaapkamer.

Ik styoo-DAYR vahn-DAHKH in duh SLAHP-kah-muhr. I'll study in the bedroom today.

Doe de deur dicht als het op de gang lawaaierig wordt.

Doo duh DUR DIKHT ahls ut awp duh GHAHNG lah-WAH-yuh-rikh VORT. Close the door if the hallway gets noisy.

Word by Word

Welke “Welke” means “which” and asks the listener to choose one item from known options. In “Welke kamer” it comes directly before the noun and identifies the choice being asked about. A new example is “Welke stoel wil je?” for choosing a chair.

kamer “Kamer” means “room”; here it refers to a room in the home that could be used for studying. It appears after “Welke” in “Welke kamer”. A new example is “Deze kamer is rustig.”

zal “Zal” presents the possible action in “Welke kamer zal ik gebruiken om te studeren?” and makes the question about what the speaker should choose. It is used with “ik” before the following verb “gebruiken”. A new example is “Zal ik de deur sluiten?” when offering to do something.

ik “Ik” means “I” and identifies the speaker as the person who will use the room. In “zal ik gebruiken”, it is placed after “zal”. A new example is “Ik studeer vandaag.”

gebruiken “Gebruiken” means “use”; here it describes using a room for studying. It follows “zal ik” in “zal ik gebruiken”. A new example is “Ik wil deze tafel gebruiken.”

om “Om” introduces the purpose in “om te studeren”, meaning that the room will be used for studying. It works together with “te” before the verb “studeren”. A new example is “Ik kom om te helpen.”

te “Te” marks the infinitive in “om te studeren”, so “studeren” expresses the purpose of using the room. The full purpose phrase is “om te studeren”. A new example is “Ze gaat naar buiten om te wandelen.”

studeren “Studeren” means “study”; in “om te studeren” it states the activity for which the room is needed. It follows “te” in this purpose phrase. A new example is “Ik wil vanavond studeren.”

Wat “Wat” means “what”, but in “Wat dacht je van de slaapkamer of de keuken?” the full expression asks for someone’s view of the suggested options. It is the first word of this suggestion. A new example is “Wat dacht je van morgen?” when suggesting another time.

dacht “Dacht” contributes to the suggestion in “Wat dacht je van de slaapkamer of de keuken?”, asking what the listener thinks about the options. In this expression it is followed by “je van” and the suggested choice. A new example is “Wat dacht je van deze stoel?” when suggesting a chair.

je “Je” means “you” and identifies the person whose opinion is requested in “Wat dacht je van de slaapkamer of de keuken?”. It appears after “dacht”. A new example is “Waar woon je?”

van “Van” introduces the options being suggested in “Wat dacht je van de slaapkamer of de keuken?”. Here it connects the question to the proposed rooms. A new example is “Wat dacht je van een pauze?” when suggesting a break.

de “De” is the definite article “the” before “slaapkamer” and “keuken”. It presents these as specific rooms known in the home. A new example is “de tafel” for a specific table.

slaapkamer “Slaapkamer” means “bedroom”; here it is one of the rooms being considered for studying. It appears in “de slaapkamer”. A new example is “De slaapkamer is boven.”

of “Of” means “or” and separates the two room options in “de slaapkamer of de keuken”. It links alternatives in a choice. A new example is “Wil je thee of koffie?”

keuken “Keuken” means “kitchen”; here it is the other room being considered for studying. It appears in “de keuken”. A new example is “De keuken is licht.”

is “Is” means “is” and links “de keuken” with its description “lichter”. It appears in “De keuken is lichter”. A new example is “De kamer is rustig.”

lichter “Lichter” means “brighter” in “De keuken is lichter”. It compares the kitchen’s brightness with the bedroom’s brightness. A new example is “Deze kamer is lichter dan de gang.”

maar “Maar” means “but” and contrasts the kitchen being brighter with it becoming noisy. It introduces the second, opposing point in “lichter, maar het wordt er lawaaierig”. A new example is “Ik wil komen, maar ik ben moe.”

het “Het” is the neutral subject in “het wordt er lawaaierig”, referring to the situation becoming noisy rather than naming a particular object. It appears before “wordt”. A new example is “Het wordt koud.”

wordt “Wordt” means “becomes” or “gets”; here it says that the situation in the kitchen gets noisy. It appears in “het wordt er lawaaierig”. A new example is “Het wordt donker.”

er “Er” points to the place or situation in “het wordt er lawaaierig”, meaning that it gets noisy there. It does not name the place again because the kitchen has already been mentioned. A new example is “Het is er rustig.”

lawaaierig “Lawaaierig” means “noisy”; here it describes the kitchen becoming unsuitable for quiet studying. It follows “het wordt er” in “het wordt er lawaaierig”. A new example is “De straat is lawaaierig.”

rustiger “Rustiger” means “quieter” and describes the bedroom in comparison with the kitchen. It appears in “De slaapkamer is rustiger en comfortabeler”. A new example is “Deze plek is rustiger.”

en “En” means “and” and joins the two descriptions “rustiger” and “comfortabeler”. It connects qualities of the bedroom in “rustiger en comfortabeler”. A new example is “De kamer is groot en licht.”

comfortabeler “Comfortabeler” means “more comfortable” and gives another advantage of the bedroom. It follows “en” in “rustiger en comfortabeler”. A new example is “Deze stoel is comfortabeler.”

moet “Moet” means “must” or “need to”; here it expresses the speaker’s need to be able to concentrate. It is followed by “me kunnen concentreren”. A new example is “Ik moet nu werken.”

me “Me” refers back to the speaker in “me kunnen concentreren”, meaning that the speaker needs to concentrate personally. It appears before “kunnen”. A new example is “Ik was me aan het wassen.”

kunnen “Kunnen” means “be able to” or “can”; here it expresses the ability to concentrate without interruptions. It follows “moet me” and comes before “concentreren”. A new example is “Ik wil kunnen slapen.”

concentreren “Concentreren” means “concentrate” or “focus”; in “me kunnen concentreren” it describes the mental activity the speaker needs to do. The reflexive form is shown by “me” before it. A new example is “Ik kan me hier concentreren.”

zonder “Zonder” means “without” and introduces what must be absent for the speaker to focus. Here it is followed by “onderbrekingen” in “zonder onderbrekingen”. A new example is “Ik werk zonder muziek.”

onderbrekingen “Onderbrekingen” means “interruptions”; here it refers to things that stop or disturb the speaker while studying. It follows “zonder”. A new example is “Ik wil werken zonder onderbrekingen.”

Dan “Dan” means “then” and connects the need for quiet with the conclusion about which room to choose. It appears at the beginning of “Dan is de rustigere kamer een logische keuze”. A new example is “Dan nemen we de bus.”

een “Een” means “a” or “an” and introduces “logische keuze” as one choice that makes sense. It comes directly before “logische”. A new example is “Dat is een goed idee.”

logische “Logische” means “logical” or “reasonable”; here it describes the choice of the quieter room as sensible. It appears before “keuze” in “een logische keuze”. A new example is “Dat is een logische stap.”

keuze “Keuze” means “choice”; here it refers to selecting the quieter room for studying. It appears in “een logische keuze”. A new example is “Dit is een moeilijke keuze.”

studeer “Studeer” means “study”; in “Ik studeer vandaag in de slaapkamer” it states the speaker’s plan for studying in the bedroom today. It follows “Ik” and comes before the time and place information. A new example is “Ik studeer vanavond thuis.”

vandaag “Vandaag” means “today” and specifies when the speaker will study in “Ik studeer vandaag in de slaapkamer”. It appears after “studeer”. A new example is “Vandaag werk ik thuis.”

in “In” means “in” and introduces the place where the speaker will study: “in de slaapkamer”. It comes before the article and room noun. A new example is “Ik werk in de keuken.”

Doe “Doe” is the form used in the instruction “Doe de deur dicht”, meaning “close” in this expression. It comes first in the instruction and is followed by the object “de deur”. A new example is “Doe het raam dicht.”

deur “Deur” means “door”; here it is the object that should be closed. It appears in “de deur” before “dicht”. A new example is “De deur is open.”

dicht “Dicht” means “closed” or “shut”; in “Doe de deur dicht” it completes the instruction to close the door. It comes after “de deur”. A new example is “De winkel is dicht.”

als “Als” means “if” or “when” and introduces the condition that the hallway becomes noisy. It begins “als het op de gang lawaaierig wordt”. A new example is “Bel me als je thuis bent.”

op “Op” is part of the location phrase “op de gang”, which means in or on the hallway area. It comes directly before “de gang”. A new example is “Ik wacht op de gang.”

gang “Gang” means “hallway”; here it is the place where it may become noisy. It appears in the location phrase “op de gang”. A new example is “De gang is smal.”

Grammar Points

om te + infinitief

om te studeren

om tuh styoo-DAY-run

to study; for studying

Use om te before an infinitive to express purpose, similar to “to study” in English.

separable verb: dichtdoen → Doe ... dicht

Doe de deur dicht.

Doo duh DUR DIKHT

Close the door.

In a main-clause imperative, the prefix dicht moves to the end of the sentence.

Dutch Vocabulary

comfortabeler adj

kom-for-TAH-buh-luhr more comfortable

De slaapkamer is rustiger en comfortabeler.

gebruiken verb

guh-BROY-kuh(n) to use

Welke kamer zal ik gebruiken om te studeren?

kamer noun

KAH-muhr room

Welke kamer zal ik gebruiken om te studeren?

keuken noun

KUR-kuhn kitchen

Wat dacht je van de slaapkamer of de keuken?

lawaaiierig adj

lah-WAH-yuh-rikh noisy

De keuken is lichter, maar het wordt er lawaaierig.

lichter adj

LIKH-tuhr brighter; lighter

De keuken is lichter, maar het wordt er lawaaierig.

om te studeren phrase

om tuh styoo-DAY-run for studying; to study

Welke kamer zal ik gebruiken om te studeren?

rustiger adj

ROOS-tuh-ghuhr quieter; calmer

De slaapkamer is rustiger en comfortabeler.

slaapkamer noun

SLAHP-kah-muhr bedroom

Wat dacht je van de slaapkamer of de keuken?

wat dacht je van phrase

vaht DAKHT yuh vahn what about

Wat dacht je van de slaapkamer of de keuken?

welke det

VEL-kuh which

Welke kamer zal ik gebruiken om te studeren?

worden verb

VOR-duhn to become; to get wordt

De keuken is lichter, maar het wordt er lawaaierig.

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

The bedroom is quieter and more comfortable.

Show Answer

De slaapkamer is rustiger en comfortabeler.

I'll study in the bedroom today.

Show Answer

Ik studeer vandaag in de slaapkamer.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

room

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kamer

bedroom

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slaapkamer

kitchen

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keuken

which

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welke