Using the shared laundry schedule | Learn Dutch in English

Sentence explanations

1. De gedeelde wasruimte is vandaag druk.

   The shared laundry room is busy today.

   gedeelde

   shared

   wasruimte

   laundry room

   vandaag

   today

   druk

   busy

   More detail

   gedeelde means “shared” here. It is the attributive form of gedeeld, related to delen (“to share”); the -e ending appears before the definite de-word wasruimte. Compare the reusable patterns een gedeelde wasruimte (“a shared laundry room”) and de gedeelde wasruimte (“the shared laundry room”). wasruimte is a noun meaning “laundry room.” Dutch commonly forms compounds by joining words; this compound refers to a room used for washing clothes. Its definite article is de, as shown by de gedeelde wasruimte. vandaag is the adverb “today.” It places the situation on the current day and can be moved for emphasis: Vandaag is de wasruimte druk. means “Today, the laundry room is busy.” druk is the adjective “busy” in this sentence. After the linking verb is, it appears as a predicate adjective and does not take the attributive -e ending: De wasruimte is druk. means “The laundry room is busy.” Together, De gedeelde wasruimte is the subject, is druk says what condition it is in, and vandaag specifies when. The complete utterance therefore means “The shared laundry room is busy today.”

2. Zet je naam op het rooster voordat je een was draait.

   Put your name on the schedule before starting a load.

   Zet

   put

   je

   your

   naam

   name

   rooster

   schedule

   voordat

   before

   was

   laundry load

   draait

   runs

   More detail

   Zet is the imperative of zetten, “to put” or “to place.” The imperative addresses one person directly; Dutch commonly leaves the subject unstated in this form. Example: Zet de tas hier. — “Put the bag here.” je before naam is the possessive form meaning “your.” In this use it identifies the name as belonging to the person addressed. Je can also be an unstressed personal pronoun in other positions, so its function comes from the construction. naam means “name.” Its plural is namen. Here it is the thing being placed on the schedule. rooster means “schedule” or “timetable.” With op het (“on the”), op het rooster means “on the schedule.” The article het belongs to the noun phrase; een in a different noun phrase, as in een was, is an indefinite article and does not by itself assert a numerical count. voordat introduces a subordinate clause meaning “before.” It places the event in that clause earlier than the main-clause event. Example: Bel me voordat je vertrekt. — “Call me before you leave.” was is the noun meaning “laundry” or, in this context, a wash/load of laundry. In the fixed sentence, een was draaien is the ordinary construction for running or doing a load of laundry; was here is not the past-tense form of “to be.” draait is the present-tense third-person singular form of draaien, “to run” or “to operate.” In je een was draait, the subject is je, and Dutch uses the same present-tense form for je and for third-person singular subjects: je draait. Example: De machine draait. — “The machine is running.” Together, Zet je naam op het rooster means “Put your name on the schedule.” voordat je een was draait adds the time condition “before you run a load.” The complete utterance is: Zet je naam op het rooster voordat je een was draait.

3. Later vanmiddag is er een wasmachine vrij.

   There's a washer open later this afternoon.

   Later vanmiddag

   later this afternoon

   is er

   there is

   wasmachine

   washing machine; washer

   vrij

   available; open

   More detail

   Later vanmiddag means “later this afternoon.” Later places the time after the current or previously relevant point; vanmiddag means “this afternoon.” Together, this is a reusable time expression and does not specify an exact clock time. is er is the Dutch existential pattern used to introduce something that exists or is available in a situation. Here, er is a grammatical placeholder rather than a reference to a particular place. Compare the reusable pattern Er is een probleem. — “There is a problem.” The singular verb is agrees with the singular noun phrase introduced afterward, een wasmachine. wasmachine is the noun “washing machine” or “washer.” Its article is de: de wasmachine; its plural is wasmachines. Dutch compounds such as this one are written as one word. In this utterance, the noun refers to a washer being available for use. vrij means “available” here, as in a machine that is not currently occupied. It is also a common adjective meaning “free,” but the availability meaning is the relevant one here. In this predicate position, it appears as vrij, without the attributive -e found in een vrije wasmachine — “an available washing machine.” Example: De stoel is vrij. — “The chair is free/available.” The sentence assembles as Later vanmiddag (time) + is er (there is) + een wasmachine (an unspecified washing machine) + vrij (available). Thus, it says that a washer will be available later this afternoon. The article een marks an indefinite singular noun phrase; in this sentence, it presents an unspecified washer rather than asserting a numerical count.

4. Stel een timer in.

   Set a timer.

   Stel … in

   set ... up

   timer

   timer

   More detail

   Stel ... in is the separable verb instellen, meaning “to set” or “to configure.” Here Stel is its imperative form, giving a direct instruction; the imperative does not by itself specify whether one person or more than one person is addressed. The separable particle in appears at the end of this clause. In a regular finite clause, the parts are separated: Je stelt een timer in. — “You set a timer.” timer is a Dutch noun meaning “timer,” a device or function that measures a set period and then signals or acts. Example: De timer loopt. — “The timer is running.” Together, Stel een timer in. means “Set a timer.” The indefinite article een introduces the timer as something to set; it does not by itself state a numeric count. The instruction does not specify the duration.

5. Zodat de volgende persoon niet hoeft te wachten.

   So the next person is not stuck waiting.

   Zodat

   so that

   volgende

   next

   persoon

   person

   niet

   not

   hoeft

   needs to; has to

   wachten

   wait

   More detail

   Zodat introduces a purpose or intended-result clause: “so that …”. It commonly follows an action or situation that is meant to produce the result. Example: Ik bel vroeg, zodat we tijd hebben. — “I call early so that we have time.” In this utterance, it connects the implied preceding action with the desired result. volgende means “next” here. It is the form used before the singular noun persoon in the definite phrase de volgende persoon. The same word can describe other nouns: de volgende bus — “the next bus.” persoon means “person.” Its plural is personen: twee personen — “two people.” In the fixed utterance it is singular because de volgende persoon refers to one next person, without specifying who that person is. niet supplies negation. Here it occurs before the verbal group hoeft te wachten, so the intended meaning is that the next person does not need to wait. Its exact position can matter in Dutch: Ik wacht niet means “I am not waiting,” while Ik hoef niet te wachten means “I do not need to wait.” hoeft is the third-person singular present form of hoeven, used here in the construction hoeft te + infinitive. hoeven expresses lack of necessity, and with niet it gives “does not need to.” Example: Zij hoeft niet te komen. — “She does not need to come.” The form is hoeft because the subject is the singular noun phrase de volgende persoon. wachten is the infinitive “to wait.” After hoeven in this negative necessity construction, it appears as te wachten: Je hoeft niet te wachten. — “You do not need to wait.” The word te belongs to the infinitive construction; it is not part of the base form wachten. Together, de volgende persoon identifies the singular person who comes next, and niet hoeft te wachten says that this person will not need to wait. The subordinate clause begins with zodat, producing the complete meaning: “so that the next person is not stuck waiting.”

6. Moet ik mijn kleren verplaatsen zodra het programma klaar is?

   Should I move my clothes as soon as the cycle ends?

   Moet ik

   should I

   kleren

   clothes

   verplaatsen

   move

   zodra

   as soon as

   programma

   cycle; program

   klaar

   finished; ready

   More detail

   Moet ik uses the present-tense modal verb moeten (“must/should”) with the first-person singular pronoun ik (“I”). In a yes/no question, the finite verb comes before the subject: Moet ik ...? This can express obligation (“must I?”) or a practical recommendation (“should I?”); the fixed translation and context support the latter here. After a modal verb, the other verb stays in the infinitive: Moet ik wachten? = “Should I wait?” kleren means “clothes” here. It is a plural noun, so the form refers to clothing items collectively rather than to one specific item. A useful related word is kleding, a generally uncountable or collective word for “clothing”: Ik koop kleding. = “I am buying clothes.” verplaatsen is the infinitive “to move” or “to relocate” something. In this sentence it is transitive: the clothes are the thing being moved. The modal moet carries the tense and person, while verplaatsen remains unchanged as an infinitive. For example, Ik moet de stoel verplaatsen. means “I have to move the chair.” zodra is a conjunction meaning “as soon as.” It introduces a time clause and marks the point at which the main action should happen. Dutch places the finite verb at the end of this subordinate clause: Zodra hij komt, bel ik je. = “As soon as he comes, I will call you.” programma means “program” and, in this context, refers to the machine’s cycle or program. The noun is neuter and is used here with the definite article het: het programma. Do not confuse this noun with kleren: the program is the thing that finishes, while the clothes are the thing to be moved. klaar means “finished” or “ready.” In het programma klaar is, it describes the program as finished; is is the singular present form of zijn (“to be”). The pattern iets is klaar means “something is finished/ready,” for example, Het eten is klaar. = “The food is ready.” Because zodra introduces a subordinate clause, the finite verb is comes after klaar: zodra het programma klaar is. Putting the parts together, Moet ik mijn kleren verplaatsen asks whether the speaker should move their clothes. zodra het programma klaar is specifies the time: this should happen as soon as the machine cycle has finished. The complete meaning is therefore “Should I move my clothes as soon as the cycle ends?”

7. Doe dat alsjeblieft; natte kleren die in de machine blijven, houden iedereen op.

   Please do; wet clothes left in a machine hold everyone up.

   Doe

   do

   dat

   that

   alsjeblieft

   please

   natte

   wet

   kleren

   clothes

   die

   that/which

   machine

   machine

   blijven

   stay; remain

   houden … op

   hold up; delay

   iedereen

   everyone

   More detail

   Doe is the imperative of doen (“to do”). It is the form used for a direct request or instruction here. Example: Doe de deur dicht. — “Close the door.” dat is a demonstrative pronoun meaning “that” and functions here as the object of Doe: “do that.” Its exact referent is supplied by the surrounding situation, not by the word itself. alsjeblieft is a polite word meaning “please.” In this position it softens the instruction without changing what action is requested. natte is the adjective nat (“wet”) with the attributive -e ending before the plural noun kleren. The useful pattern is nat after a linking verb but natte before this noun: De kleren zijn nat. — “The clothes are wet”; natte kleren — “wet clothes.” kleren is a plural noun meaning “clothes.” In this sentence it is the subject of the main clause houden iedereen op and the antecedent of the relative pronoun die; it is not itself the subject of the relative clause. Dutch commonly uses this plural form for clothing items collectively. die is a relative pronoun meaning “that” or “which.” Here it introduces information about kleren and is the subject of the following clause: kleren die ... blijven — “clothes that ... remain.” In this use, its form is compatible with the plural antecedent. machine is the noun “machine.” Together with the surrounding words, in de machine means “in the machine.” The preposition in expresses location here, and de is the definite article used with this noun. blijven means “remain” or “stay.” In die in de machine blijven, it is the present-tense plural form agreeing with kleren; this form is also identical in appearance to the infinitive. Example: De mensen blijven hier. — “The people remain here.” houden ... op is the separable verb construction ophouden in the sense “delay” or “hold up.” In the present tense, the finite part houden appears after the plural subject, while the particle op moves to the end: De files houden ons op. — “The traffic jams delay us.” This is different from the literal use of houden meaning “hold” or “keep.” iedereen means “everyone.” It refers to all relevant people as one grammatical unit, and here it is the object of houden ... op: the clothes delay everyone. The utterance first gives the instruction Doe dat alsjeblieft (“Please do that”). It then explains the relevant situation: natte kleren die in de machine blijven means “wet clothes that remain in the machine.” The main clause houden iedereen op says that those clothes delay everyone. Together: “Please do; wet clothes left in a machine hold everyone up.”

8. Ik breng mijn mand naar beneden voordat het programma klaar is.

   I'll bring my basket down before it finishes.

   Ik

   I

   breng

   bring

   mijn

   my

   mand

   basket

   naar beneden

   down

   voordat

   before

   programma

   program

   klaar

   finished

   More detail

   Ik is the first-person singular subject: “I.” Dutch subject pronouns include ik (“I”), jij/je (“you,” singular informal), and hij/zij/het (“he/she/it”). Here ik is the person who will bring the basket. breng is the present-tense form of brengen (“to bring,” or “to take” toward a destination). With ik, the present form is breng; for example, Ik breng het boek. means “I bring the book” or, in a suitable context, “I’m bringing the book.” Dutch can use the present tense for a planned near-future action; the English “I’ll bring” in the fixed translation conveys that intended reading here. mijn means “my” and marks possession. It is the possessive form used before both singular and plural nouns, as in mijn mand (“my basket”) and mijn boeken (“my books”). It does not itself state a numerical count. mand means “basket.” Its plural is manden: een mand means “a basket,” while twee manden means “two baskets.” In this sentence, mijn mand is the object being brought. naar beneden is a directional expression meaning “down” or “downward.” naar introduces movement toward a destination, and beneden identifies the lower direction or place. For example, We lopen naar beneden. means “We walk downstairs/down.” It describes where the basket is being taken, not merely its location. voordat means “before” and introduces the event that sets the time limit for the main action. It is a subordinating conjunction. In the clause after it, Dutch places the finite verb at the end: voordat het programma klaar is (“before the program is finished”). programma means “program.” Its singular form is programma, and its plural form is programma's: één programma means “one program,” while twee programma's means “two programs.” In this sentence, het programma is singular; the fixed translation identifies it as the thing referred to by “it.” klaar means “ready” or “finished.” Here it describes the program’s completed state, so het programma klaar is means “the program is finished.” The verb is is the present form of zijn (“to be”) for het programma; klaar itself does not carry that tense. Together, Ik breng mijn mand naar beneden means “I’ll bring my basket down,” and voordat het programma klaar is means “before the program is finished.” The complete utterance is therefore: “I’ll bring my basket down before it finishes.”

9. Dan blijft alles soepel lopen.

   That should keep things running smoothly.

   Dan

   that way

   blijft

   continues

   alles

   everything

   soepel

   smoothly

   lopen

   to run

   More detail

   Dan means “then” or, as here, “in that case/that way.” It links the utterance to a condition or preceding action without itself naming that condition. A reusable pattern is Dan + clause: “Then …” or “In that case …”. blijft is the present-tense third-person singular form of blijven, “to stay” or “to continue.” Here it means “continues/keeps,” and it agrees with singular alles. The construction blijven + infinitive expresses continuing to do something: Ik blijf lezen means “I continue reading.” alles means “everything” or “all things.” It is a singular neuter pronoun for agreement purposes, which is why the form is blijft, not a plural verb form. It refers here to things generally, as expressed by the fixed translation; the sentence does not specify individual items. soepel means “smoothly” in this sentence, describing how the action proceeds. The same form can also be an adjective meaning “smooth,” “flexible,” or “easy-going,” depending on what it modifies. In this sentence it functions adverbially with lopen. lopen is the infinitive of lopen. Its basic meanings include “to walk” and, in suitable contexts, “to run” or “to function/work.” After blijven, the infinitive is required: blijven lopen means “keep running” or “continue functioning.” Here the fixed translation selects the general sense “keep things running,” not necessarily physical movement. Together, Dan sets the result or consequence, blijft ... lopen expresses continued operation, and alles identifies what continues in that state. Soepel describes the manner of operation. The whole utterance therefore means: “That should keep things running smoothly.”