Choosing a gift for a coworker | Learn Dutch in English

About This Lesson

Use Choosing a gift for a coworker to practice Dutch conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

We moeten een cadeau voor onze collega kiezen.

Wuh MOO-tun un kuh-DOH fohr ON-zuh kuh-LAY-khah KEE-zun. We need to choose a gift for our coworker.

Moet het nuttig of meer persoonlijk zijn?

MOOT ut NOO-tukh of mayr per-SOHN-lik zine? Should it be useful or more personal?

Ze houdt van thee, dus een theeset kan een goed idee zijn.

Zuh HOWT vahn TAY, dooss un TAY-set kahn un khoot ee-DAY zine. She likes tea, so a tea set might work.

Dat is persoonlijk, maar toch nuttig.

Daht iss per-SOHN-lik, mahr tokh NOO-tukh. That feels personal but still useful.

Laten we ook een klein kaartje toevoegen.

LAH-tun wuh OHK un KLINE KAHR-tyuh TOO-voo-khən. Let's add a small card too.

Iedereen kan het ondertekenen voordat we haar het cadeau geven.

EE-dur-AYN kahn ut ON-dur-TAY-kuh-nun vuh-FOHR-daht wuh hahr ut kuh-DOH KHAY-vun. Everyone can sign it before we give her the gift.

Word by Word

We In "We moeten een cadeau voor onze collega kiezen", "We" means the speakers together: “we.” It is used as the subject before an action, as in "We moeten". Use it when describing an action done by yourself and at least one other person.

moeten "moeten" expresses that the speakers need to or must do something. Here it is followed by the action in "moeten een cadeau voor onze collega kiezen". A reusable pattern is "moeten" followed by an action.

een "een" introduces one non-specific gift in "een cadeau". It has the meaning “a” or “an” here. Use it before a singular noun when the specific item has not yet been identified.

cadeau "cadeau" means “gift” in this dialogue. It is the thing the speakers need to choose and later give. A common pattern is "een cadeau voor" someone.

voor In "voor onze collega", "voor" shows who the gift is intended for: “for our coworker.” It connects the gift with its recipient or purpose. Use "voor" before the person who will receive something.

onze "onze" means “our” and shows that the coworker belongs to the speakers’ shared work context. It comes directly before "collega" in "onze collega". Use it before a noun when something belongs to or is associated with more than one speaker.

collega "collega" means “coworker” or “colleague.” Here it identifies the person who will receive the gift. Use "collega" for someone you work with, such as in "onze collega".

kiezen "kiezen" means “to choose” in "een cadeau voor onze collega kiezen". It names the action that the speakers need to carry out. After "moeten", use the action in this infinitive form.

Moet At the beginning of "Moet het nuttig of meer persoonlijk zijn?", "Moet" asks whether something should or must be a certain way. The question uses the pattern "Moet het ... zijn?" to ask about a choice or requirement. Use this question pattern when deciding what something should be.

het In "Moet het nuttig of meer persoonlijk zijn?", "het" means “it” and refers to the gift being discussed. It is the thing whose qualities are being considered. Use "het" to refer back to a thing already clear from the conversation.

nuttig "nuttig" describes the gift as useful or practical. In "Moet het nuttig ... zijn?", it is one possible quality of the gift. Use it when discussing whether an object will be useful.

of "of" connects the two alternatives "nuttig" and "meer persoonlijk". It means “or” in this choice question. Use "of" to present alternatives.

meer "meer" means “more” and increases the degree of "persoonlijk" in "meer persoonlijk". It presents a stronger personal quality as the other option. Use "meer" before a description when comparing degrees.

persoonlijk "persoonlijk" describes the gift as personal rather than mainly practical. It appears in "meer persoonlijk" and later in "Dat is persoonlijk". Use it for something connected to an individual’s tastes, feelings, or relationship.

zijn "zijn" means “to be” and completes the question "Moet het nuttig of meer persoonlijk zijn?". It links the gift with the qualities being considered. A reusable pattern is "iets ... zijn" when describing what something is like.

Ze In "Ze houdt van thee", "Ze" means “she” and refers to the female coworker. It is the person who likes tea. Use "Ze" as the subject when talking about a woman or girl already known in the conversation.

houdt In "Ze houdt van thee", "houdt" contributes to the meaning “likes.” It is used together with "van" in the expression "houdt van". Use this expression before the thing or activity someone likes.

van In "houdt van thee", "van" is part of the expression that means “likes”; it does not mean “of” by itself in this context. The expression is followed by the thing liked, here "thee". Use the pattern "houden van" followed by a noun or activity.

thee "thee" means “tea.” In "Ze houdt van thee", it is the drink that the coworker likes. Use it after "houdt van" when talking about a liking for tea.

dus "dus" means “so” or “therefore” and introduces the conclusion that a tea set could be a good idea. It links the reason "Ze houdt van thee" with the suggestion that follows. Use "dus" when one statement leads to a conclusion or suggestion.

theeset "theeset" means “tea set,” the proposed gift in this dialogue. It is a single object made for serving or enjoying tea. Use it when suggesting a tea-related set as a gift.

kan "kan" expresses possibility in "kan een goed idee zijn": the tea set might be a good idea. It presents the suggestion without stating that it is certain. Use "kan" before an action or description when something is possible.

goed "goed" means “good” and describes the idea in "een goed idee". It evaluates the tea set suggestion positively. Use "goed" before a noun when describing it as a positive or suitable option.

idee "idee" means “idea.” In "een goed idee", it refers to the suggestion of giving a tea set. Use the pattern "een goed idee" when approving or proposing a suggestion.

Dat In "Dat is persoonlijk, maar toch nuttig", "Dat" means “that” or “it” and refers back to the suggested gift. It introduces an evaluation of the suggestion. Use "Dat" to point back to something just mentioned.

is "is" means “is” and links "Dat" with the descriptions "persoonlijk" and "nuttig". The sentence evaluates the gift by saying what it is like. Use "is" with a subject followed by a description.

maar "maar" means “but” and introduces a contrast between "persoonlijk" and "toch nuttig". The gift has both qualities, even though they are being contrasted. Use "maar" to connect two statements with an opposing or balancing idea.

toch "toch" means “still” or “nevertheless” in "maar toch nuttig". It emphasizes that the gift remains useful despite also being personal. Use "toch" when an outcome or quality continues to hold despite another consideration.

Laten In "Laten we ook een klein kaartje toevoegen", "Laten" begins a suggestion meaning “let’s.” It invites the other person to do the action together. Use the pattern "Laten we" to propose a shared action.

ook "ook" means “also” or “too” and adds the card to the gift plan. It shows that this is an additional action or item. Use "ook" when adding another person, thing, or action to what has already been mentioned.

klein "klein" means “small” and describes the card in "een klein kaartje". It gives the listener a detail about the size of the additional item. Use "klein" before a noun when describing something as small.

kaartje "kaartje" means “card” or “small card” in this dialogue. It is the card that the group will add and sign. Use it when referring to a card or note included with a gift.

toevoegen "toevoegen" means “to add” in "een klein kaartje toevoegen". It describes putting the card together with the gift. After "Laten we", use the action in this infinitive form.

Iedereen "Iedereen" means “everyone” and refers to all the people in the group. Here, everyone can sign the card. Use it when referring to all members of a group without naming them individually.

ondertekenen "ondertekenen" means “to sign,” specifically to put one’s signature on something. In "kan het ondertekenen", the thing being signed is the card. Use it with a document, card, or other item that needs a signature.

voordat "voordat" means “before” and introduces the action that must happen first: signing the card. It connects "Iedereen kan het ondertekenen" with "we haar het cadeau geven". Use "voordat" before an action that happens earlier than another action.

haar In "we haar het cadeau geven", "haar" means “to her” and identifies the recipient of the gift. It appears before "het cadeau", the thing being given. A reusable pattern is "iemand iets geven", with the person before the thing.

geven "geven" means “to give” in "we haar het cadeau geven". The sentence describes giving the gift to the coworker after the card has been signed. Use the pattern "iemand iets geven" when saying who receives something and what they receive.

Grammar Points

Laten we + infinitief

Laten we kiezen.

LAH-tun wuh KEE-zun.

Let's choose.

Use “laten we” followed by the infinitive to make a suggestion for doing something together.

Dutch Vocabulary

cadeau noun

kuh-DOH gift

een cadeau voor onze collega

collega noun

kuh-LAY-khah coworker

onze collega

dus adv

dooss so; therefore

dus een theeset kan een goed idee zijn

goed idee phrase

khoot ee-DAY good idea

een goed idee

houden van verb

HOW-dun vahn to like; to love

Ze houdt van thee.

kiezen verb

KEE-zun to choose

een cadeau kiezen

laten we phrase

LAH-tun wuh let's

Laten we ook een klein kaartje toevoegen.

nuttig adj

NOO-tukh useful

nuttig zijn

persoonlijk adj

per-SOHN-lik personal

meer persoonlijk

thee noun

TAY tea

Ze houdt van thee.

theeset noun

TAY-set tea set

een theeset

toch adv

tokh still; nevertheless

maar toch nuttig

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

That feels personal but still useful.

Show Answer

Dat is persoonlijk, maar toch nuttig.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

tea set

Show Answer

theeset

to choose

Show Answer

kiezen

gift

Show Answer

cadeau

personal

Show Answer

persoonlijk