About This Lesson
Use Choosing What You Need to practice Dutch conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
Ik kwam voor schoenen, maar de andere spullen die hier uitgestald zijn leiden me af.
ik kvahm vohr SKHOO-nun, mahr duh AHN-duh-ruh SPUH-lun dee heer OYT-khuh-stahlt zine LIE-dun muh ahf. I came for shoes, but the other items on display are distracting me.
B
Begin met wat je kwam halen voordat je iets anders toevoegt.
buh-GHIN met waht yuh kvahm HAH-lun vohr-DAHT yuh eets AHN-ders TOO-vookht. Start with what you came for before adding anything else.
A
De schoenen zijn nodig, maar die jas is alleen maar verleidelijk.
duh SKHOO-nun zine NOH-duhkh, mahr dee yahs is ah-LEEN mahr vur-LIE-duh-luk. The shoes are necessary, but the jacket is only tempting.
B
Houd de jas dan voorlopig uit je mandje.
howt duh yahs dahn VOHR-loh-pikh oyt yuh MAHN-yuh. Then keep the jacket out of your basket for now.
A
Deze sokken passen bij de schoenen en vervangen mijn versleten paar.
DAY-zuh SOK-un PAH-sun bye duh SKHOO-nun un vur-VAHNG-un mine vur-SLAY-tun pahr. These socks would match the shoes and replace my worn pair.
B
Ze passen beter bij je plan dan de jas.
zuh PAH-sun BAY-tur bye yuh plahn dahn duh yahs. They fit your plan better than the jacket.
A
Ik neem de schoenen en sokken mee en ga dan weg.
ik NAYM duh SKHOO-nun un SOK-un MAY un khah dahn wekh. I'll take the shoes and socks, then head out.
B
Zo blijft je winkeltrip doelgericht en praktisch.
zoh blayft yuh WING-kul-trip DOOL-khuh-rikht un PRAHK-tis. That keeps your shopping trip focused and practical.Word by Word
Ik
In "Ik kwam voor schoenen", "Ik" means I and identifies the speaker as the person who came. It is used as the subject before the verb. It is useful when explaining what you personally came to do.
kwam
In "Ik kwam voor schoenen", "kwam" means came. Its citation form is komen; kwam is the past form used here for the speaker's arrival. The pattern "Ik kwam voor ..." is useful when explaining why you came somewhere.
voor
In "voor schoenen", "voor" introduces the purpose of coming: for shoes. The pattern "Ik kwam voor ..." is useful when saying what you came to get or do. It commonly introduces the purpose before a noun.
schoenen
In "voor schoenen", "schoenen" means shoes. Its citation form is schoen; schoenen is the plural form used for more than one shoe. It is useful when naming the footwear needed for a purchase.
maar
In "maar de andere spullen", "maar" marks a contrast between coming for shoes and being distracted by other items. In "alleen maar verleidelijk", it is part of the whole expression meaning only or merely. It is useful when adding an opposing point.
de
In "de andere spullen" and "de jas", "de" means the and refers to specific items. It is used before these nouns to identify definite shop items. The pattern "de + noun" is useful when referring to a known item.
andere
In "de andere spullen", "andere" means other. Its citation form is ander; andere is the form used here before spullen. The pattern "de andere ..." is useful when distinguishing remaining items from the main choice.
spullen
In "de andere spullen", "spullen" means items or things, referring broadly to merchandise in the shop. Its citation form is spul; spullen is the plural form. The expression "andere spullen" is useful when discussing assorted items without naming each one.
die
In "die hier uitgestald zijn", "die" means that or which and links the items to information describing them. It introduces the description of which items are meant. This is useful when identifying things by their location or condition.
hier
In "hier uitgestald", "hier" means here and points to the current shop location. It tells the listener where the items are displayed. It is useful when directing attention to something at the place where you are.
uitgestald
In "hier uitgestald zijn", "uitgestald" means displayed or laid out for people to see. Its citation form is uitstallen. The pattern "hier uitgestald zijn" is useful when describing merchandise arranged for customers.
zijn
In "uitgestald zijn", "zijn" helps describe the items as being displayed. It connects the items with their current state. The pattern "... zijn" is useful when describing what something is like or how it is situated.
leiden
In "leiden me af", "leiden" means distract rather than physically lead. Its citation form is leiden; together with af and the object me, it forms the expression for distracting someone. The pattern "leiden ... af" is useful when something breaks a person's concentration.
me
In "leiden me af", "me" refers to the speaker as the person being distracted. It is an unstressed object form used with the verb. It is useful when saying that something affects or distracts you personally.
af
In "leiden me af", "af" contributes the idea of moving attention away; the whole expression means distract me. It is the separable particle placed after the object here. The pattern "leiden ... af" is useful for describing a loss of concentration.
Begin
In "Begin met wat je kwam halen", "Begin" is an instruction to start. Its citation form is beginnen; Begin is the imperative form used to tell someone what to do. The pattern "Begin met ..." is useful when giving the first step in a plan.
met
In "Begin met wat je kwam halen", "met" introduces what should be started with. It connects the instruction to the first item or activity. The pattern "Begin met ..." is useful when setting the order of actions.
wat
In "wat je kwam halen", "wat" means what and refers to the things the person came to get. It introduces the content of the instruction. The pattern "wat je ..." is useful when referring to something a person does, wants, or came for.
je
In "wat je kwam halen", "je" means you. In "je plan", the same form means your before a noun. Its meaning depends on its position, and it is useful in direct advice to one person or when referring to that person's plan.
halen
In "kwam halen", "halen" means get or collect, describing what the person came to obtain. Its citation form is halen. The pattern "kwam halen" is useful when explaining that someone came somewhere to get something.
voordat
In "voordat je iets anders toevoegt", "voordat" means before and sets a time boundary between two actions. It introduces the action that must wait. The pattern "voordat + clause" is useful when sequencing steps or setting a condition.
iets
In "iets anders", "iets" refers to an unspecified thing or item. Together with anders, it means something or anything else. The expression "iets anders" is useful when discussing an additional item without naming it.
anders
In "iets anders", "anders" means else or other and modifies the unspecified item iets. The whole expression means something or anything else, rather than anders standing alone. It is useful when referring to an additional alternative.
toevoegt
In "iets anders toevoegt", "toevoegt" means adds. Its citation form is toevoegen; this is the form used with je in the subordinate clause. It is useful when talking about adding another item to a list, basket, or plan.
nodig
In "De schoenen zijn nodig", "nodig" means necessary or needed. It is used with zijn to describe an item that is required. The expression "zijn nodig" is useful when separating essentials from optional purchases.
jas
In "die jas", "jas" means jacket and identifies the shop item being considered. It is contrasted with the necessary shoes in the dialogue. It is useful when naming a jacket in a purchase decision.
is
In "die jas is alleen maar verleidelijk", "is" links the jacket to its description: it is merely tempting. Its citation form is zijn; is is the form used here with die jas. It is useful for describing an item or situation.
alleen
In "alleen maar verleidelijk", "alleen" contributes the meaning only. Together with maar, the whole expression means merely tempting, showing that the jacket is attractive but not necessary. This expression is useful when limiting the reason for choosing something.
verleidelijk
In "alleen maar verleidelijk", "verleidelijk" means tempting or appealing. The dialogue contrasts this quality with nodig, so it describes desire rather than necessity. It is useful when acknowledging an attractive option while staying focused on essentials.
Houd
In "Houd de jas dan voorlopig uit je mandje", "Houd" gives the instruction to keep the jacket out of the basket. Its citation form is houden; Houd is the imperative form used here. The pattern "Houd ... uit ..." is useful when telling someone to keep an item outside a place or selection.
dan
In "Houd de jas dan voorlopig uit je mandje", "dan" means then and connects the advice to the preceding conclusion. It introduces the resulting action. It is useful when responding to a decision with a practical next step.
voorlopig
In "voorlopig uit je mandje", "voorlopig" means for now. It shows that leaving the jacket out is a temporary decision rather than necessarily a permanent rejection. It is useful when postponing a choice.
uit
In "uit je mandje", "uit" means out of and marks the basket as the place the jacket should remain outside. With Houd, it forms the instruction to keep something out of a container. This pattern is useful for managing what is included in a selection.
mandje
In "je mandje", "mandje" means basket, referring to the container for selected shopping items. It is modified by je to identify the shopper's basket. It is useful when discussing whether an item has been placed in the shopping basket.
Deze
In "Deze sokken", "Deze" means these and points to the socks being considered. It stands before the plural noun to select a specific group of items. It is useful when choosing one visible group of products in a shop.
sokken
In "Deze sokken", "sokken" means socks. Its citation form is sok; sokken is the plural form used here. It is useful when discussing clothing bought together with shoes.
passen
In "passen bij de schoenen", "passen" means match the shoes; in "passen beter bij je plan", it means fit or suit your plan better. The pattern "passen bij ..." is useful when discussing whether one item or choice matches another item or an intended plan.
bij
In "passen bij de schoenen" and "passen beter bij je plan", "bij" marks what something matches or suits. The pattern "passen bij + item or plan" is useful when discussing coordination or suitability.
en
In "passen bij de schoenen en vervangen mijn versleten paar", "en" joins two statements about the socks. It links related actions without introducing a contrast. It is useful for giving two connected reasons in one sentence.
vervangen
In "vervangen mijn versleten paar", "vervangen" means replace. It identifies the old pair as the item being replaced by the socks. It is useful when buying or using a new item in place of an old one.
mijn
In "mijn versleten paar", "mijn" means my and marks possession before the noun phrase. It identifies the pair as belonging to the speaker. The pattern "mijn + item" is useful when naming something that belongs to you.
versleten
In "versleten paar", "versleten" means worn-out and describes the condition of the pair. It explains why the old pair needs replacing. It is useful when describing clothing or equipment that has become worn through use.
paar
In "mijn versleten paar", "paar" means pair, referring here to the pair of socks. It lets the speaker refer to two matching items together. It is useful for items normally used as a set.
Ze
In "Ze passen beter bij je plan", "Ze" means they and refers back to the socks. It is used as the subject before the verb, avoiding repetition of sokken. It is useful when continuing to discuss the same plural items.
beter
In "passen beter bij je plan dan de jas", "beter" means better and compares the socks' suitability with the jacket's. The pattern "beter ... dan ..." keeps both options in the comparison. It is useful when explaining which choice fits a goal more closely.
plan
In "je plan", "plan" means plan, referring here to the intention to buy needed items and avoid extras. It follows the possessive je. The expression "passen beter bij je plan" is useful when saying that a choice fits an intended approach.
neem
In "Ik neem de schoenen en sokken mee", "neem" means take and announces the speaker's decision to take the items along. Its citation form is nemen; neem is the form used with Ik here. The pattern "neem ... mee" is useful when saying what you are taking with you.
mee
In "neem de schoenen en sokken mee", "mee" adds the sense of taking the items along. Its meaning belongs to the whole pattern "neem ... mee", not to mee alone. This pattern is useful when saying what you are taking from a place.
ga
In "ga dan weg", "ga" means go and describes the speaker's departure. Its citation form is gaan; ga is the form used with Ik in the sentence. The expression "ga dan weg" is useful when saying that you will leave after finishing an errand.
weg
In "ga dan weg", "weg" contributes the meaning away or off, so the whole phrase means leave or go away. It describes departure from the shop. It is useful when saying that you are leaving a place.
Zo
In "Zo blijft je winkeltrip doelgericht en praktisch", "Zo" means in this way or so and refers to the focused choice just described. It introduces the result of that choice. It is useful at the start of a conclusion about what an action achieves.
blijft
In "blijft je winkeltrip doelgericht en praktisch", "blijft" means stays or remains. Its citation form is blijven; this form says that the shopping trip continues to have the stated qualities. The pattern "blijven + description" is useful when something retains a state.
winkeltrip
In "je winkeltrip", "winkeltrip" means shopping trip and names the whole outing rather than one purchase. It is modified by je to refer to the speaker's trip. It is useful when evaluating how an entire shopping outing went.
doelgericht
In "doelgericht en praktisch", "doelgericht" means focused or directed toward a goal. Here the goal is buying needed shoes and socks without unnecessary extras. It is useful when praising a clear and controlled approach.
praktisch
In "doelgericht en praktisch", "praktisch" means practical and describes the shopping trip as useful and manageable. Together with doelgericht, it approves a choice that meets a real need. It is useful when describing a simple plan that works in practice.
Grammar Points
Scheidbare werkwoorden: leiden ... af, nemen ... mee, gaan ... weg
Voordat we weggaan, nemen we schoenen mee.
vohr-DAHT vuh WEKH-khahn, NAY-mun vuh SKHOO-nun MAY.Before we leave, we take shoes along.
In a main clause, the prefix moves to the end: meenemen becomes nemen ... mee, and weggaan becomes gaan ... weg.
voordat + bijzin met werkwoord aan het einde
Voordat we weggaan, nemen we schoenen mee.
vohr-DAHT vuh WEKH-khahn, NAY-mun vuh SKHOO-nun MAY.Before we leave, we take shoes along.
After voordat, Dutch places the conjugated verb at the end of the subordinate clause: voordat we weggaan.
Dutch Vocabulary
afleiden
verb
AF-LIE-dun
to distract
leiden ... af
leiden me af
beginnen
verb
buh-GHIN-un
to start
Begin
Begin met wat je kwam halen
halen
verb
HAH-lun
to get; to fetch
wat je kwam halen
jas
noun
yahs
jacket
de jas
komen
verb
KOH-mun
to come
kwam
Ik kwam voor schoenen
nodig
adj
NOH-duhkh
necessary; needed
De schoenen zijn nodig
schoen
noun
SKHOON
shoe
schoenen
voor schoenen
spul
noun
SPUHL
item; thing
spullen
de andere spullen
toevoegen
verb
TOO-voo-khun
to add
toevoegt
je iets anders toevoegt
uitgestald
adj
OYT-khuh-stahlt
displayed
die hier uitgestald zijn
verleidelijk
adj
vur-LIE-duh-luk
tempting
alleen maar verleidelijk
voordat
conj
vohr-DAHT
before
voordat je iets anders toevoegt
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
to start
Show Answer
Beginbefore
Show Answer
voordatto add
Show Answer
toevoegtto come