Choosing an activity based on the weather | Learn Dutch in English

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Dialogue

Zullen we morgen iets binnen of buiten doen?

ZULL-ən wə MOR-gən eets BIN-nən of BOW-tən doon? Should we do something indoors or outdoors tomorrow?

Bekijk de weersvoorspelling voordat we beslissen.

bə-VAYK də VAIRSS-voor-spə-SPELL-ing vohr-DAHT wə bə-SLISS-ən. Check the forecast before we decide.

Er staat dat het 's ochtends zonnig wordt.

air STAAT dat ut s OKH-tənts ZON-nukh vurt. It says the morning will be sunny.

Dan kunnen we voor de lunch een wandeling maken.

DAHN KUN-nən wə vohr də LUNTS uhn VAHN-də-ling MAH-kən. Then we could take a walk before lunch.

Als het later regent, kunnen we een café bezoeken.

AHLSS ut LAH-tər RAY-khənt, KUN-nən wə uhn kah-FAY bə-ZOO-kən. If it rains later, we can visit a cafe.

Dat houdt het plan flexibel.

dat HOWT ut plahn flex-ee-BELL. That keeps the plan flexible.

Laten we een ochtendwandeling plannen.

LAH-tən wə uhn OKH-tənt-VAHN-də-ling PLAH-nən. Let's plan on a morning walk.

We kunnen naar binnen gaan als het weer verandert.

wə KUN-nən naahr BIN-nən gahn ahlss ut vair vər-AHN-dərt. We can move indoors if the weather changes.

Word by Word

Zullen In “Zullen we morgen iets binnen of buiten doen?” this introduces a suggestion: “Shall we...?” or “Should we...?” It is useful for proposing a joint activity.

we “We” means “we” and refers to the two people making the plan together. It is the subject of “Zullen we morgen iets binnen of buiten doen?” and can be followed by a proposed action.

morgen “Morgen” means “tomorrow” and places the activity in the next day. In “Zullen we morgen iets binnen of buiten doen?”, it comes before the activity being discussed.

iets “Iets” means “something” and refers to an unspecified activity or thing. Here it is the object of “doen” in “iets binnen of buiten doen.”

binnen “Binnen” means “indoors” or “inside” in “iets binnen of buiten doen.” It identifies the indoor option and is contrasted with “buiten” in the same question.

of “Of” means “or” and connects the two alternatives “binnen” and “buiten.” It is used to offer a choice between options.

buiten “Buiten” means “outdoors” or “outside” in “iets binnen of buiten doen.” It identifies the outdoor option in the choice being discussed.

doen “Doen” means “do” in “iets binnen of buiten doen.” It is the action proposed after “Zullen we” and is used here with “iets” for doing an unspecified activity.

Bekijk “Bekijk” means “check” or “look at” in the instruction “Bekijk de weersvoorspelling.” It directly introduces the thing that should be checked, here “de weersvoorspelling.”

de “De” means “the” and identifies the specific forecast in “de weersvoorspelling.” It comes directly before the noun it determines.

weersvoorspelling “Weersvoorspelling” means “weather forecast.” In “Bekijk de weersvoorspelling voordat we beslissen,” it is the information to check before making a decision.

voordat “Voordat” means “before” and introduces the event that must happen later: “voordat we beslissen.” It is useful for ordering one action before another.

beslissen “Beslissen” means “decide” in “voordat we beslissen.” It completes the clause about making the decision after checking the forecast.

Er In “Er staat dat het 's ochtends zonnig wordt,” “Er” is an introductory element in the expression meaning “It says” or “It states.” It does not refer to a physical place here.

staat In “Er staat dat het 's ochtends zonnig wordt,” “staat” contributes the meaning “says” or “states,” as in information written in a forecast. The pattern “Er staat dat...” introduces the information being reported.

dat In “Er staat dat het 's ochtends zonnig wordt,” “dat” means “that” and introduces the information being stated. The same word appears capitalized as “Dat” at the start of “Dat houdt het plan flexibel.”

het In “dat het 's ochtends zonnig wordt,” “het” means “it” and functions as the subject of the weather statement. It is part of the sentence describing the morning’s weather.

's ochtends “'s ochtends” means “in the morning.” The components “'s” and “ochtends” work together as one time expression in “dat het 's ochtends zonnig wordt.”

zonnig “Zonnig” means “sunny” and describes the expected weather in “'s ochtends zonnig wordt.” It is used to state what the morning will be like.

wordt In “het 's ochtends zonnig wordt,” “wordt” contributes the meaning “will become” or “will be.” Together with “zonnig,” it expresses the expected change to sunny weather.

Dan “Dan” means “then” and connects the forecast to the suggested next action in “Dan kunnen we voor de lunch een wandeling maken.” It signals a consequence or plan based on what was just said.

kunnen “Kunnen” means “can” or “could” and presents an available possibility in “Dan kunnen we voor de lunch een wandeling maken.” It is followed by the subject and the action being considered.

voor “Voor” means “before” in “voor de lunch.” It places the walk earlier than lunch and comes directly before the time reference.

lunch “Lunch” means “lunch.” In “voor de lunch,” it is the time reference used to say when the walk should happen.

een “Een” means “a” or “an” and introduces “wandeling” in “een wandeling maken.” It marks one unspecified walk.

wandeling “Wandeling” means “walk.” In the expression “een wandeling maken,” it names the activity that the speakers could do before lunch.

maken “Maken” means “make” in the expression “een wandeling maken,” which means “take a walk.” Here it is the action placed after “kunnen” in “kunnen we voor de lunch een wandeling maken.”

Als “Als” means “if” and introduces the condition “Als het later regent.” It is used to connect a possible weather change with a backup plan.

later “Later” means “later” and refers to a time after the planned walk. In “Als het later regent,” it specifies when the rain may occur.

regent “Regent” means “rains” in “Als het later regent.” It describes the possible weather condition introduced by “Als.”

café “Café” means “cafe.” In “een café bezoeken,” it is the place the speakers can visit if it rains later.

bezoeken “Bezoeken” means “visit” in “kunnen we een café bezoeken.” It is the action that becomes possible in the rainy-weather plan and takes “een café” as its object.

houdt In “Dat houdt het plan flexibel,” “houdt” contributes the meaning “keeps.” Together with “het plan flexibel,” the sentence says that the arrangement allows the plan to remain flexible.

plan “Plan” means “plan.” In “Dat houdt het plan flexibel,” it is the plan that can remain adaptable when the weather changes.

flexibel “Flexibel” means “flexible” and describes the plan in “het plan flexibel.” It indicates that the speakers can change the activity if necessary.

Laten In “Laten we een ochtendwandeling plannen,” “Laten” helps form a suggestion meaning “Let’s.” The construction invites the other person to carry out the proposed action together.

ochtendwandeling “Ochtendwandeling” means “morning walk.” In “een ochtendwandeling plannen,” it is the activity the speakers decide to put into their plan.

plannen “Plannen” means “plan” in “Laten we een ochtendwandeling plannen.” It names the action proposed by the “Laten we...” construction.

naar “Naar” marks direction in “naar binnen gaan,” meaning “go indoors.” It comes before the destination or direction being expressed.

gaan “Gaan” means “go” in “naar binnen gaan.” Together with “naar binnen,” it describes moving indoors, and it follows “kunnen” in “We kunnen naar binnen gaan.”

weer “Weer” means “weather” in “als het weer verandert.” It refers to the weather that may cause the outdoor plan to change.

verandert “Verandert” means “changes” in “als het weer verandert.” It describes a change in the weather and introduces the condition for moving indoors.

Grammar Points

voordat + bijzin: het werkwoord staat aan het einde

voordat we beslissen

vohr-DAHT wə bə-SLISS-ən

before we decide

Na voordat komt een bijzin. Het vervoegde werkwoord staat achteraan: voordat we beslissen.

als + bijzin: het werkwoord staat aan het einde

als het regent

ahlss ut RAY-khənt

if it rains

Na als komt een bijzin. Het vervoegde werkwoord staat achteraan: als het regent.

Dutch Vocabulary

's ochtends adv

s OKH-tənts in the morning; in the mornings

beslissen verb

bə-SLISS-ən to decide

binnen adv

BIN-nən indoors; inside

buiten adv

BOW-tən outdoors; outside

iets pron

eets something; anything

lunch noun

luntsh lunch

staan verb

stahn to say; to state staat

voor prep

vohr before; in front of

voordat conj

vohr-DAHT before

wandeling noun

VAHN-də-ling walk

weersvoorspelling noun

VAIRSS-voor-spə-SPELL-ing weather forecast

zonnig adj

ZON-nukh sunny

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Check the forecast before we decide.

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Bekijk de weersvoorspelling voordat we beslissen.

That keeps the plan flexible.

Show Answer

Dat houdt het plan flexibel.

Let's plan on a morning walk.

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Laten we een ochtendwandeling plannen.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to say; to state

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staat

something; anything

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iets

sunny

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zonnig

before

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voordat