Managing Back Pain After Sitting | Learn Dutch in English

About This Lesson

Use Managing Back Pain After Sitting to practice Dutch conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Mijn rugpijn wordt erger na lange vergaderingen.

MINE RUKH-pine vort AIR-ghur nah LAHNG-uh vur-GHAH-duh-ring-uhn. My back pain gets worse after long meetings.

Je stoel helpt je misschien niet om een goede houding te houden.

Yuh STOOL helpt yuh mis-KHEEN neet om uhn GOO-duh HOW-ding tuh HOW-duhn. Your chair may not help you maintain good posture.

Zal ik vaker korte pauzes nemen?

Zahl ik VAH-kur KOR-tuh POW-zuhs NAY-muhn? Should I take more short breaks?

Korte pauzes kunnen helpen.

KOR-tuh POW-zuhs KUN-uhn HELP-uhn. Short breaks can help.

Sta op en rek je voorzichtig uit.

Stah awp en REK yuh vur-ZIKH-tikh OYT. Stand up and stretch gently.

Ik moet ook de hoogte van mijn scherm aanpassen.

Ik moet ohk duh HOHK-tuh van mine SKHERM AHN-pah-suhn. I also need to adjust my screen height.

Dat kan je helpen om comfortabeler te zitten.

Daht kan yuh HELP-uhn om kom-for-tah-BAY-lur tuh ZIT-uhn. That can help you sit more comfortably.

Ik ga deze veranderingen deze week proberen.

Ik gah DAY-zuh ver-AHN-duh-ring-uhn duh-ZUH WAYK proh-BAY-run. I will try these changes this week.

Ga naar een zorgverlener als de pijn aanhoudt.

Ghah NAHR uhn ZORKH-fur-LAY-nur ahls duh pine AHN-howt. See a healthcare professional if the pain continues.

Word by Word

Mijn “Mijn” means “my” and shows that the back pain belongs to the speaker. It comes directly before “rugpijn”, as in “Mijn rugpijn”; the same pattern can show possession before another noun.

rugpijn “Rugpijn” means back pain and names the symptom being discussed. In “Mijn rugpijn wordt erger”, it is the symptom whose condition is changing. This word is useful when describing back discomfort to someone.

wordt “Wordt” means gets or becomes here, showing a change in the pain. It appears in “wordt erger”, meaning that the pain is becoming worse. Use it before a description of a changing condition.

erger “Erger” means worse and describes an increase in the severity of the pain. In “wordt erger”, it shows that the condition is intensifying. Use it when describing a symptom or situation that has become less good.

na “Na” means after and places the back pain in time after the meetings. It appears in “na lange vergaderingen”. Use it before an event or time period that comes first.

lange “Lange” means long and describes the duration of the meetings. In “lange vergaderingen”, it comes directly before the noun. It is useful when explaining that an activity lasted a long time.

vergaderingen “Vergaderingen” means meetings and refers to the work meetings after which the pain gets worse. It appears in “lange vergaderingen”. Use it when talking about several meetings or work discussions.

Je “Je” means your here and shows that the chair belongs to or is used by the listener. In “Je stoel”, it comes before the noun. This form can also mean you in other contexts, but its meaning here is your.

stoel “Stoel” means chair and refers to the seat used during meetings. In “Je stoel helpt je misschien niet”, it is the thing being evaluated. Use it when discussing where someone sits.

helpt “Helpt” means helps and describes what the chair may or may not do for the listener. It appears in “helpt je misschien niet om een goede houding te houden”. Use it when describing whether something supports a person with an action.

misschien “Misschien” means maybe and makes the statement less certain. In “helpt je misschien niet”, it shows that the speaker is suggesting a possibility rather than stating a definite fact. Use it when giving a cautious opinion.

niet “Niet” means not and negates the possible help from the chair. It appears in “misschien niet”. Use it to say that an action or result does not happen.

om “Om” introduces the action connected to the help being discussed. In “om een goede houding te houden”, it works with “te” and the infinitive to introduce that action. Use this construction after a verb such as “helpen” when naming the action involved.

een “Een” means a and introduces the singular noun “houding” in “een goede houding”. It presents the posture as one example or type of posture. Use it before a singular noun when it is not identified more specifically.

goede “Goede” means good and describes the desired quality of the posture. In “een goede houding”, it comes before the noun it describes. Use it when describing something positively.

houding “Houding” means posture and refers to the way the body is held while sitting. It appears in “een goede houding te houden”. Use it when discussing body position or sitting technique.

te “Te” marks the infinitive “houden” in the action introduced by “om”. In “te houden”, it comes directly before the verb. Use it as part of the pattern “om een goede houding te houden”.

houden “Houden” means maintain or keep here, referring to maintaining good posture. In “een goede houding te houden”, it takes the posture as what is maintained. Use it when describing keeping something in a particular condition.

Zal “Zal” introduces a question about a proposed action. In “Zal ik vaker korte pauzes nemen?”, the speaker asks whether taking more frequent short breaks would be a good idea. Use “Zal ik” when asking about an action you might take.

ik “Ik” means I and identifies the speaker as the person considering the action. It appears in “Zal ik” before the rest of the question. Use it when talking about your own action or plan.

vaker “Vaker” means more often and increases the frequency of taking breaks. In “vaker korte pauzes nemen”, it says that the breaks should happen more frequently. Use it before an action when discussing increased frequency.

korte “Korte” means short and describes the length of the breaks. It appears in “korte pauzes”. Use it before a noun when specifying that an activity or period does not last long.

pauzes “Pauzes” means breaks and refers to brief periods away from the meeting or sitting. In “korte pauzes nemen”, it is the thing the speaker considers taking. Use it when discussing rest periods during an activity.

nemen “Nemen” means take in the expression about taking breaks. It appears in “korte pauzes nemen”. Use it with a break as the action of having or taking that break.

kunnen “Kunnen” means can and expresses the possibility that the short breaks will help. It appears in “kunnen helpen”. Use it before an infinitive to say that something is possible or may have an effect.

helpen “Helpen” means help and names the positive effect that short breaks may have. In “kunnen helpen”, it follows “kunnen”. Use it when offering advice about something that may support a person.

Sta “Sta” means stand and is used here as a direct instruction. In “Sta op”, the speaker tells the listener to stand up. Use it when giving this simple physical instruction.

op “Op” completes the instruction “Sta op”, which means stand up. It adds the upward direction to “Sta” rather than expressing the whole instruction by itself. Use it as part of “Sta op” for this command.

en “En” means and and links the two instructions in “Sta op en rek je voorzichtig uit”. It connects standing up with stretching. Use it to join actions or instructions.

rek “Rek” means stretch and is used as an instruction to stretch the body. It appears in “rek je voorzichtig uit”. Use it when telling someone to perform a stretching action.

voorzichtig “Voorzichtig” means gently or carefully and describes how the listener should stretch. In “rek je voorzichtig uit”, it encourages a careful movement. Use it when giving physical instructions that should be done with care.

uit “Uit” completes the stretching expression “rek je voorzichtig uit”, which means stretch out. It contributes to the action together with “rek”, the reflexive pronoun, and the rest of the expression. Use the full expression when giving this stretching instruction.

moet “Moet” means need to or must and expresses the speaker’s necessity to adjust the screen height. The complete action appears in “moet ook de hoogte van mijn scherm aanpassen”. Use it before an action that someone considers necessary.

ook “Ook” means also and adds the screen-height adjustment to the other suggested changes. It appears in “moet ook de hoogte van mijn scherm aanpassen”. Use it when adding another item or action.

de “De” means the and introduces the specific noun “hoogte” in “de hoogte van mijn scherm”. It points to the particular height being discussed. Use it before a noun that is identified in the situation.

hoogte “Hoogte” means height and refers to the vertical position of the screen. In “de hoogte van mijn scherm”, it is the setting that needs adjusting. Use it when discussing how high something is positioned.

van “Van” means of here and links the height to the screen in “de hoogte van mijn scherm”. It shows the relationship between the height and the thing that has that height. Use it to connect a characteristic or part with the relevant object.

scherm “Scherm” means screen and refers to the computer screen whose height the speaker wants to adjust. It appears in “de hoogte van mijn scherm”. Use it when discussing a screen in an office or other work setting.

aanpassen “Aanpassen” means adjust and names the action of changing the screen height to improve sitting comfort. It appears at the end of “de hoogte van mijn scherm aanpassen”. Use it when changing a setting or position so it suits a situation better.

Dat “Dat” means that and refers to the screen-height adjustment just mentioned. In “Dat kan je helpen”, it is the subject of the statement about a possible benefit. Use it to refer back to a recently mentioned thing or action.

kan “Kan” means can and expresses the possibility that the adjustment will help the listener. It appears in “kan je helpen”. Use it before an infinitive when saying that something may have an effect.

comfortabeler “Comfortabeler” means more comfortably and describes improved comfort while sitting. It appears in “comfortabeler te zitten”. Use it when comparing the comfort of one way of doing something with another.

zitten “Zitten” means sit and names the action whose comfort may improve. In “comfortabeler te zitten”, it follows “te”. Use it when discussing the act or position of sitting.

ga “Ga” expresses a future intention in “Ik ga deze veranderingen deze week proberen”. It shows that the speaker plans to try the changes. Use “Ik ga” before an infinitive to state a personal plan.

deze “Deze” means these and points to the specific changes already discussed. It appears in “deze veranderingen”. Use it before a plural noun for things that are near in the conversation or situation.

veranderingen “Veranderingen” means changes and refers to the adjustments to breaks, posture, and screen height. In “deze veranderingen”, it identifies the measures the speaker plans to try. Use it when talking about several modifications to a situation.

week “Week” means week and identifies the time period for the plan. It appears in “deze week”. Use it when setting a plan or action within a seven-day period.

proberen “Proberen” means try and names the action the speaker plans to carry out. It appears at the end of “Ik ga deze veranderingen deze week proberen”. Use it after a plan or intention when someone will test an action or change.

naar “Naar” means to and marks the healthcare professional as the destination of the visit. It appears in “naar een zorgverlener”. Use it before a destination or person someone goes to see.

zorgverlener “Zorgverlener” means healthcare professional and refers to the person the listener should consult if the pain continues. It appears in “naar een zorgverlener”. Use it when discussing professional medical or health-related care.

als “Als” means if and introduces the condition for seeking professional help. In “als de pijn aanhoudt”, it says that the visit is recommended when the pain continues. Use it before a condition or situation.

pijn “Pijn” means pain and refers to the symptom being monitored. It appears in “de pijn aanhoudt”, where the pain is the thing that continues. Use it when describing physical discomfort.

aanhoudt “Aanhoudt” means continues or persists and says that the pain does not stop. In “de pijn aanhoudt”, it describes the condition that triggers the advice to see a healthcare professional. Use it when a symptom or situation remains present.

Grammar Points

Adjectief + -e vóór een meervoudig zelfstandig naamwoord

lange vergaderingen

LAHNG-uh vur-GHAH-duh-ring-uhn

long meetings

In het Nederlands krijgt een bijvoeglijk naamwoord meestal -e vóór een meervoudig zelfstandig naamwoord.

Vergrotende trap met -er

comfortabeler zitten

kom-for-tah-BAY-lur ZIT-uhn

sit more comfortably

Voeg -er toe aan een bijvoeglijk naamwoord of bijwoord om een vergelijking met “more” uit te drukken.

Dutch Vocabulary

erger adj

AIR-ghur worse

Mijn rugpijn wordt erger na lange vergaderingen.

houden verb

HOW-duhn to maintain; to keep

Je stoel helpt je misschien niet om een goede houding te houden.

houding noun

HOW-ding posture

Je stoel helpt je misschien niet om een goede houding te houden.

korte adj

KOR-tuh short

Zal ik vaker korte pauzes nemen?

lange adj

LAHNG-uh long

Mijn rugpijn wordt erger na lange vergaderingen.

misschien adv

mis-KHEEN perhaps; maybe

Je stoel helpt je misschien niet om een goede houding te houden.

nemen verb

NAY-muhn to take

Zal ik vaker korte pauzes nemen?

pauzes noun

POW-zuhs breaks

Zal ik vaker korte pauzes nemen?

rugpijn noun

RUKH-pine back pain

Mijn rugpijn wordt erger na lange vergaderingen.

stoel noun

STOOL chair

Je stoel helpt je misschien niet om een goede houding te houden.

vaker adv

VAH-kur more often

Zal ik vaker korte pauzes nemen?

vergaderingen noun

vur-GHAH-duh-ring-uhn meetings

Mijn rugpijn wordt erger na lange vergaderingen.

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Should I take more short breaks?

Show Answer

Zal ik vaker korte pauzes nemen?

Short breaks can help.

Show Answer

Korte pauzes kunnen helpen.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

posture

Show Answer

houding

chair

Show Answer

stoel

more often

Show Answer

vaker

back pain

Show Answer

rugpijn