Using Example Sentences to Learn New Vocabulary | Learn Dutch in English

About This Lesson

Use Using Example Sentences to Learn New Vocabulary to practice Dutch conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Ik onthoud nieuwe woorden tijdens het studeren.

ik ont-HOWT NEE-vuh VOR-dun TIDE-uns ut stew-DAY-run. I remember new words during study time.

Maar ik vergeet ze wanneer ik probeer te spreken.

mahr ik ver-KHAYT zuh wan-NAIR ik proh-BAYR tuh SPRAY-kun. But I forget them when I try to speak.

De woorden zijn misschien niet verbonden met situaties waarin je ze echt zou gebruiken.

duh VOR-dun zine muh-SKHEEN neet ver-BON-dun met sit-ew-AH-tsees vah-RIN yuh zuh AYKHT zow khuh-BROYK-un. The words may not be connected to situations where you would actually use them.

Ik schrijf meestal de vertaling op en bekijk dezelfde lijst later opnieuw.

ik skh-RYFE MAY-stul duh ver-TAH-ling op en buh-KYKE duh-ZELF-duh LAYST LAH-ter op-NEE-ow. I usually write the translation and review the same list later.

Probeer voor elk nuttig woord één eenvoudige voorbeeldzin toe te voegen.

proh-BAYR vor elk NUT-ukh VORT ayn AYN-vow-duh-khuh VOR-baylt-zeen TOO tuh VOO-khun. Try adding one simple example sentence for each useful word.

Ik kan zinnen schrijven over werk, boodschappen doen of berichten aan vrienden.

ik kan ZIN-un SKH-RY-vun OH-ver verk BOHT-skhah-pun doon of buh-RIKH-tun ahn VREEN-dun. I can write sentences about work, shopping, or messages to friends.

Door die situaties kun je de betekenis tijdens een gesprek gemakkelijker onthouden.

dohr dee sit-ew-AH-tsees kun yuh duh buh-TAY-kuh-nis TIDE-uns un khuh-SPREK khuh-MAK-uh-luh-kur ont-HOW-dun. Those situations will make the meaning easier to recall during conversation.

Ik zou waarschijnlijk minder woorden moeten leren en ze vaker moeten gebruiken.

ik zow vahr-SKHINE-luk MIN-der VOR-dun MOO-tun LAY-run en zuh VAH-kur MOO-tun khuh-BROYK-un. I should probably study fewer words and use them more often.

Door de woorden vaak te gebruiken, worden ze onderdeel van je actieve woordenschat.

dohr duh VOR-dun vakh tuh khuh-BROYK-un VOR-dun ON-der-dale vahn yuh AK-TEE-vuh VOR-dun-skhat. Repeated use will help the words become part of your active vocabulary.

Ik zal een kleine groep woorden kiezen en na de les persoonlijke voorbeelden schrijven.

ik zahl un KLY-nuh KHROOP VOR-dun KHEE-zun en nah duh les per-SOHN-luh-kuh VOR-bayl-dun SKH-RY-vun. I will choose a small set and write personal examples after class.

Die routine zou het oefenen van je woordenschat praktischer moeten maken.

dee roo-TEE-nuh zow ut OO-fuh-nun vahn yuh VOR-dun-skhat PRAK-tee-sur MOO-tun MAH-kun. That routine should make your vocabulary practice more practical.

Word by Word

Ik In the exact form "Ik", this means "I" and refers to the speaker. It begins a sentence here, while the same pronoun appears as "ik" in other lines; use "Ik" before a verb when describing your own action.

onthoud "onthoud" means "remember" or "retain" in "Ik onthoud nieuwe woorden". It is used with the thing remembered, so you can use "Ik onthoud ..." when talking about information you keep in mind.

nieuwe "nieuwe" means "new" and describes "woorden" that have not been learned before. It appears before the noun in "nieuwe woorden"; use the same pattern for newly learned items.

woorden "woorden" means "words", referring here to vocabulary being learned and remembered. It is used in "nieuwe woorden" and can be used when discussing several vocabulary items.

tijdens "tijdens" means "during" and connects an action with the time period in which it happens. In "tijdens het studeren", it introduces the activity; use "tijdens" before a time period or activity.

het In "het studeren", "het" means "the" and accompanies the activity expressed by "studeren". Together they refer to studying as an activity; use "het" before this kind of nominalized activity.

studeren "studeren" means "studying" in the phrase "het studeren". It names the activity that takes place during "tijdens het studeren"; use it when talking about time spent learning.

Maar "Maar" means "but" and introduces a contrast between remembering words and forgetting them later. It starts the contrasting sentence here; use "Maar" to connect an opposing point in conversation.

vergeet "vergeet" means "forget" in "ik vergeet ze", referring to words that are no longer remembered. It is used with the forgotten thing, so you can say who forgets what with this verb.

ze "ze" means "them" here and refers back to "nieuwe woorden". It comes after "vergeet" as the thing being forgotten; use it to refer back to previously mentioned plural items.

wanneer "wanneer" means "when" and introduces the time at which the forgetting happens. In "wanneer ik probeer te spreken", it links one event to another; use "wanneer" before a time-related clause.

probeer "probeer" means "try" in "ik probeer te spreken". It introduces an attempted action with "te" and an infinitive; use this pattern when describing an effort to do something.

te In "te spreken", "te" marks the infinitive that follows "probeer". It connects the attempt with the action being attempted; use "te" in the pattern "proberen te" followed by an action.

spreken "spreken" means "speak" in "te spreken". It names the communication action that the speaker is trying to perform; use it when referring to speaking a language or speaking generally.

De "De" means "the" before "woorden" in "De woorden". It identifies the words already being discussed; use "de" before a definite noun when referring to known items.

zijn "zijn" means "are" in "De woorden zijn misschien niet verbonden" and describes the words' relationship to situations. It links the subject with a description; use it when stating what something is like or how it is related.

misschien "misschien" means "perhaps" or "maybe" and makes the explanation less certain. In "zijn misschien niet verbonden", it softens the claim; use it when offering a possible explanation.

niet "niet" means "not" and negates the description "verbonden met situaties". It is placed before that description here; use it to say that a connection or condition does not apply.

verbonden "verbonden" means "connected" and describes a relationship with situations in "niet verbonden met situaties". It commonly appears with "met" to identify what something is connected to; use it when discussing links between ideas or things.

met In "verbonden met situaties", "met" means "with" or "to" and introduces what the words are connected to. Use "verbonden met" before the related person, thing, or situation.

situaties "situaties" means "situations" and refers to real contexts in which the words could be used. It appears in "situaties waarin je ze echt zou gebruiken"; use it when describing different circumstances.

waarin "waarin" means "in which" or "where" and introduces information about the situations. In "situaties waarin je ze echt zou gebruiken", it links the noun to its relative clause; use it after a noun when specifying the setting for an action.

je "je" means "you" in "je ze echt zou gebruiken" and refers to the learner being addressed. It is the subject of the imagined use; use "je" before a verb when addressing someone directly.

echt "echt" means "actually" or "really" and emphasizes real use rather than only studying the words. In "echt zou gebruiken", it highlights practical use; use it to stress that something is genuine or real.

zou "zou" means "would" and frames the use of the words as an imagined situation in "zou gebruiken". It combines with the following infinitive; use this form when discussing what someone would do in a possible context.

gebruiken "gebruiken" means "use" in "zou gebruiken" and refers to applying the words in real situations. It appears after "zou" as the action being imagined; use it with the thing being used.

schrijf "schrijf" means "write" in "Ik schrijf meestal de vertaling op". It describes the speaker's regular note-taking action; use it with the material being written, especially when recording study information.

meestal "meestal" means "usually" and shows that writing down the translation is a regular habit. It appears after "schrijf" in "Ik schrijf meestal"; use it to describe what normally happens.

vertaling "vertaling" means "translation" and is the information being written down in "de vertaling op". It names the translated version of a word or expression; use it when discussing language-learning notes.

op In the exact sequence "de vertaling op", "op" is the particle that completes the meaning of writing something down with "schrijf" earlier in the sentence. The written item comes before this particle here; use this placement when recording something in notes.

en "en" means "and" and joins the actions of writing down the translation and reviewing the list. It connects two related actions; use "en" to link items or actions in one statement.

bekijk "bekijk" means "review" or "look at" in "bekijk dezelfde lijst". It is used with the list being examined; use it when returning to study material or inspecting something.

dezelfde "dezelfde" means "the same" and shows that the list is not a different one from the earlier list. It appears before "lijst" in "dezelfde lijst"; use it before a noun when referring to an identical item.

lijst "lijst" means "list" and is the study list that the speaker reviews. It appears in "dezelfde lijst"; use it for an ordered collection of words, tasks, or other items.

later "later" means "later" and places the review at a subsequent time. In "later opnieuw", it describes when the repeated review happens; use it when arranging an action for a future point.

opnieuw "opnieuw" means "again" and shows that the list is reviewed another time. It appears after "later" in "later opnieuw"; use it when repeating an action.

voor In "voor elk nuttig woord", "voor" means "for" and identifies what the added example sentence is intended for. Use "voor" before the person, item, or group that receives or benefits from something.

elk "elk" means "each" and considers the useful words one by one in "elk nuttig woord". It is followed here by the singular noun "woord"; use it when assigning something individually to every item.

nuttig "nuttig" means "useful" and describes a word that is worth learning and using. It appears before "woord" in "elk nuttig woord"; use it to identify something that has practical value.

woord "woord" means "word" and refers to one vocabulary item in "elk nuttig woord". It is singular after "elk"; use it when referring to one unit of vocabulary.

eenvoudige "eenvoudige" means "simple" and describes the example sentence being recommended. It appears before "voorbeeldzin" in "één eenvoudige voorbeeldzin"; use it to describe an example that is not complicated.

voorbeeldzin "voorbeeldzin" means "example sentence" and is the sentence to be added for each useful word. It appears as the object of "toe te voegen"; use it when showing how a word works in context.

toe In "toe te voegen", "toe" is the particle that contributes the meaning of adding something. Together with "voegen", it describes putting an additional example into the study material; use this combination when adding one item to an existing set.

voegen "voegen" means "add" in the expression "toe te voegen". With "toe", it describes adding an example sentence to the vocabulary work; use it when an additional item is included in something already present.

kan "kan" means "can" in "Ik kan zinnen schrijven" and expresses the speaker's ability to write sentences. It is followed by the action "schrijven"; use "kan" before an infinitive to describe ability or possibility.

zinnen "zinnen" means "sentences" and is what the speaker can write. It appears in "zinnen schrijven"; use it when referring to complete pieces of written language or examples.

schrijven "schrijven" means "write" and follows "kan" in "Ik kan zinnen schrijven". It names the action the speaker is able to perform; use it with the material being written.

over In "zinnen schrijven over werk", "over" means "about" and introduces the topic of the sentences. Use "over" before a subject when saying what a text, conversation, or example concerns.

werk "werk" means "work" and is one possible everyday topic for the example sentences. It appears after "over" in "over werk"; use it when discussing work-related situations.

boodschappen In the exact phrase "boodschappen doen", "boodschappen" refers to shopping or everyday errands. Together with "doen", it names the activity; use this phrase when talking about going shopping or running errands.

doen In "boodschappen doen", "doen" supplies the action of doing the shopping or errands. It forms a fixed everyday expression with "boodschappen"; use the two words together for this activity.

of "of" means "or" and presents alternatives among work, shopping, and messages to friends. It links the choices in the list; use it when offering one option, another option, or another possibility.

berichten "berichten" means "messages" and is another topic for personal example sentences. It appears in "berichten aan vrienden"; use it when referring to written messages sent to people.

aan In "berichten aan vrienden", "aan" means "to" and introduces the recipients of the messages. Use "aan" before the person or group a message is addressed to.

vrienden "vrienden" means "friends" and identifies the recipients in "berichten aan vrienden". It refers to several friends; use it when talking about messages or actions directed toward friends.

Door "Door" means "through" or "by means of" in "Door die situaties". It presents the situations as the means that makes remembering easier; use "Door" at the start of a phrase explaining how a result is achieved.

die "die" means "those" and points back to the situations just mentioned. In "die situaties", it identifies those particular contexts; use it before a noun when referring back to specific items.

kun "kun" means "can" in "kun je de betekenis ... onthouden" and expresses what the learner is able to do. It appears before "je" and the action phrase; use "kun je" when telling someone what they can do.

betekenis "betekenis" means "meaning" and refers to the sense of a word that can be remembered. It is the object of "onthouden" in "de betekenis ... onthouden"; use it when discussing what a word or expression signifies.

een In "een gesprek", "een" means "a" or "an" and introduces one conversation as the setting. Use "een" before a singular noun when referring to one non-specific instance.

gesprek "gesprek" means "conversation" and appears in "tijdens een gesprek" as the setting for using vocabulary. Use it when talking about a spoken exchange between people.

gemakkelijker "gemakkelijker" means "easier" or "more easily" and describes recalling the meaning with less difficulty. In "gemakkelijker onthouden", it modifies the act of remembering; use it when comparing how difficult two actions or methods are.

waarschijnlijk "waarschijnlijk" means "probably" and qualifies the speaker's conclusion in "Ik zou waarschijnlijk". It signals that the idea is likely but not certain; use it when giving a cautious prediction or opinion.

minder "minder" means "fewer" here because it modifies the plural noun "woorden". In "minder woorden leren", it expresses reducing the number of words studied; use "minder" before a smaller quantity.

moeten "moeten" means "should" or "need to" in "moeten leren" and "moeten gebruiken". With "zou", it expresses a recommendation or personal plan; use it before an infinitive when describing something that is required or advisable.

leren "leren" means "learn" or "study" in "minder woorden moeten leren". It follows "moeten" and takes "woorden" as what is learned; use it when describing acquiring knowledge or vocabulary.

vaker "vaker" means "more often" and says that the words should be used with greater frequency. It appears in "ze vaker moeten gebruiken"; use it when recommending increased repetition of an action.

vaak "vaak" means "often" in "de woorden vaak te gebruiken" and describes repeated use. It appears before the action phrase; use it when saying that something happens regularly.

worden "worden" means "become" in "worden ze onderdeel van je actieve woordenschat". It describes a change in status caused by repeated use; use it when something comes to be in a new state or role.

onderdeel "onderdeel" means "part" in "onderdeel van je actieve woordenschat". It describes the words as belonging within a larger vocabulary; use "onderdeel van" to express membership in a whole.

van In "onderdeel van je actieve woordenschat", "van" means "of" and introduces the larger whole to which something belongs. Use "onderdeel van" before the group or system containing the part.

actieve "actieve" means "active" and describes vocabulary that has become usable through repeated practice. It appears before "woordenschat" in "je actieve woordenschat"; use it to describe an active form of something.

woordenschat "woordenschat" means "vocabulary" and refers to the collection of words a learner can use. It appears in "je actieve woordenschat"; use it when discussing someone's vocabulary as a whole.

zal "zal" means "will" in "Ik zal ... kiezen" and marks the speaker's future intention. It is followed by the action "kiezen"; use "zal" before an infinitive when stating a plan or intention.

kleine "kleine" means "small" and describes the limited group of words the speaker plans to select. It appears before "groep" in "een kleine groep woorden"; use it to describe a limited size or amount.

groep "groep" means "group" or "set" in "een kleine groep woorden". It refers to several words chosen together for study; use it when treating multiple items as one collection.

kiezen "kiezen" means "choose" and follows "zal" in "Ik zal ... kiezen". It names the planned act of selecting a small set; use it with the item or items being selected.

na "na" means "after" in "na de les" and places the writing activity after the class. Use "na" before an event or time period when scheduling something to happen later.

les "les" means "class" or "lesson" in "na de les". It identifies the classroom session after which the speaker will write examples; use it when referring to a lesson or class period.

persoonlijke "persoonlijke" means "personal" and describes examples connected to the speaker rather than general examples. It appears before "voorbeelden" in "persoonlijke voorbeelden"; use it for something related to an individual.

voorbeelden "voorbeelden" means "examples" and refers to the personal sentences the speaker will write. It appears in "persoonlijke voorbeelden schrijven"; use it when giving concrete cases that illustrate a word or idea.

routine "routine" means "routine" and refers to the repeated study method of choosing words and writing examples. It is the subject of "Die routine"; use it when describing a regular sequence of activities.

oefenen In "het oefenen van je woordenschat", "oefenen" means "practicing" and names the activity of working with vocabulary. It is followed by "van" and the thing being practiced; use this phrase when discussing regular practice.

praktischer "praktischer" means "more practical" and describes vocabulary practice that is more connected to real use. It appears in "praktischer maken"; use it when comparing a method with a less practical one.

maken In "praktischer maken", "maken" means "make" and expresses causing the vocabulary practice to become more practical. It works with the object and description in "het oefenen van je woordenschat praktischer moeten maken"; use it when describing an action's effect on something.

Grammar Points

te + infinitief

toe te voegen

TOO tuh VOO-khun

to add

Dutch uses te + infinitive for “to do”; in toe te voegen, te voegen means “to add”.

Comparatief op -er

een gemakkelijker gesprek

un khuh-MAK-uh-luh-kur khuh-SPREK

an easier conversation

Many Dutch adjectives form the comparative with -er: gemakkelijk becomes gemakkelijker.

Dutch Vocabulary

bekijk verb

buh-KYKE review

Ik schrijf meestal de vertaling op en bekijk dezelfde lijst later opnieuw.

gebruiken verb

khuh-BROYK-un use

De woorden zijn misschien niet verbonden met situaties waarin je ze echt zou gebruiken.

meestal adv

MAY-stul usually

Ik schrijf meestal de vertaling op en bekijk dezelfde lijst later opnieuw.

onthoud verb

ont-HOWT remember

Ik onthoud nieuwe woorden tijdens het studeren.

proberen verb

proh-BAY-run try

Maar ik vergeet ze wanneer ik probeer te spreken.

schrijf verb

skh-RYFE write

Ik schrijf meestal de vertaling op en bekijk dezelfde lijst later opnieuw.

situaties noun

sit-ew-AH-tsees situations

De woorden zijn misschien niet verbonden met situaties waarin je ze echt zou gebruiken.

spreken verb

SPRAY-kun speak

Maar ik vergeet ze wanneer ik probeer te spreken.

studeren verb

stew-DAY-run studying

Ik onthoud nieuwe woorden tijdens het studeren.

verbonden adj

ver-BON-dun connected

De woorden zijn misschien niet verbonden met situaties waarin je ze echt zou gebruiken.

vergeet verb

ver-KHAYT forget

Maar ik vergeet ze wanneer ik probeer te spreken.

vertaling noun

ver-TAH-ling translation

Ik schrijf meestal de vertaling op en bekijk dezelfde lijst later opnieuw.

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

usually

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meestal

situations

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situaties

studying

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studeren

forget

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vergeet