Choosing whether to keep waiting | Learn Dutch in English

Dutch lesson set in a contemporary Amsterdam everyday setting: Near a slow service desk line, a person asks whether to keep waiting or leave a request for later review..

EN → NL / Level: B1

About This Lesson

Use Choosing whether to keep waiting to practice Dutch conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Pardon, deze rij gaat langzaam.

pahr-DON, DAY-zuh RYE khaht LANG-zahm. Excuse me, this line has been moving slowly.
B

Probeer je te beslissen of het de moeite waard is om te blijven?

ahr yuh TRY-ing tuh buh-SLISS-uhn off ut duh MOOY-tuh VAHRT iss um tuh BLYE-vuhn? Are you trying to decide whether it is worth staying?
A

Ja, dat probeer ik. Weet je of de balie achterloopt?

yah, daht proh-BAYR ik. VAYT yuh off duh BAH-lee AKH-ter-LOHPT? I am. Do you know if the service desk is running behind?
B

Verschillende verzoeken vragen extra aandacht, dus de rij gaat langzaam.

fur-SKHIL-uhn-duh fur-ZOO-kuhn VRAH-khuhn EHK-strah AHN-dahkht, duhs duh RYE khaht LANG-zahm. Several requests need extra attention, so the line is moving slowly.
A

Ik kan hier niet veel langer blijven.

ik kahn heer neet vayl LAHNG-uhr BLYE-vuhn. I cannot stay here much longer.
B

Je kunt blijven wachten of je verzoek bij de balie achterlaten.

yuh kuhnt BLYE-vuhn VAKH-tuhn off yuh fur-ZOOK by duh BAH-lee AKH-ter-LAH-tuhn. You can keep waiting, or leave your request at the desk.
A

Het zou helpen om het verzoek achter te laten als iemand het later kan beoordelen.

ut zow HELP-uhn um ut fur-ZOOK AKH-ter tuh LAH-tuhn ahls IH-mahnt ut LAH-ter kahn buh-OHR-duh-luhn. Leaving the request would help if someone can review it later.
B

De balie kan contact met je opnemen wanneer ze een update hebben.

duh BAH-lee kahn KON-takt met yuh AWP-nay-muhn vah-NAIR zuh uhn UP-dayt HEB-uhn. The desk can contact you when they have an update.
A

Dat geeft me een duidelijke keuze.

daht KHAYFT muh uhn DOW-duh-luh-kuh KUR-zuh. That gives me a clear choice.
B

Dan is het misschien beter om het achter te laten als je volgende verplichting niet kan wachten.

dahn iss ut miss-KHEEN BAY-ter um ut AKH-ter tuh LAH-tuhn ahls yuh VOL-khun-duh vur-PLIKH-ting neet kahn VAKH-tuhn. Then leaving it may be better if your next commitment cannot wait.

Word by Word

Pardon Pardon is a polite way to say ‘excuse me’ when getting someone’s attention. In Pardon, deze rij gaat langzaam, it opens a conversation with someone near the service desk. Use it when addressing an unfamiliar person in a public place.
deze Deze means ‘this’ and points to the particular queue being discussed in deze rij. It comes directly before the noun it identifies. Use deze when referring to something nearby or clear from the situation, such as the current line.
rij Rij means ‘line’ or ‘queue’ in deze rij and de rij. Here it refers to people waiting for service. Use it in a service situation when talking about where people are waiting.
gaat Gaat means ‘goes’ or ‘moves’ in de rij gaat langzaam, describing the progress of the queue. The adverb langzaam tells how the rij gaat. This is useful when reporting how quickly or slowly a line is moving.
langzaam Langzaam means ‘slowly’ in gaat langzaam and describes the pace of the queue. It explains why waiting may take a long time. Use it to describe slow progress in a line or service process.
Probeer Probeer means ‘try’ in the question Probeer je te beslissen and is capitalized because it begins the sentence. The same form appears as probeer in dat probeer ik, where the speaker confirms that they are trying. Use it when asking about or confirming an effort.
je Je means ‘you’ in Probeer je te beslissen and met je, and it means ‘your’ before je verzoek and je volgende verplichting. Its meaning comes from its role in the surrounding phrase. Use je when addressing one person informally or referring to that person’s things.
te Te marks the infinitive in te beslissen and om te blijven, connecting the action to the surrounding expression. In te beslissen, it follows probeer; in om te blijven, it follows om. Use te with an infinitive in these kinds of action phrases.
beslissen Beslissen means ‘decide’ in te beslissen of het de moeite waard is om te blijven. The phrase te beslissen of introduces the question being considered. Use beslissen with of when choosing between possibilities or evaluating a situation.
of Of means ‘whether’ in beslissen of het de moeite waard is and Weet je of de balie achterloopt. In wachten of je verzoek achterlaten, it means ‘or’ and connects two options. Its role is clear from whether it introduces a question or joins alternatives.
het Het means ‘it’ in het de moeite waard is and ‘the’ in het verzoek. In het later kan beoordelen and om het verzoek achter te laten, it refers back to the request. Use the exact form according to whether it points to a situation, identifies the request, or replaces the request.
de moeite waard De moeite waard is a fixed expression meaning ‘worth it’ or ‘worthwhile’ in het de moeite waard is om te blijven. De, moeite, and waard work together, so the whole expression—not one component alone—gives this meaning. Use it when deciding whether an action justifies the time or effort.
is Is links the subject with an evaluation in de moeite waard is and Dan is het misschien beter. Here it states that staying is worthwhile or that leaving may be better. Use is to connect something with an evaluation or description.
om Om introduces an infinitive phrase in om te blijven and om het verzoek achter te laten. It connects the action to the evaluation in de moeite waard is and zou helpen. Use om with te plus an infinitive when discussing an action as an option, purpose, or result.
blijven Blijven means ‘stay’ in om te blijven, referring to remaining in the queue. In blijven wachten, it contributes the idea of continuing to wait. Use these phrases when deciding whether to remain somewhere or continue an activity.
Ja Ja means ‘yes’ and confirms the question just asked. In Ja, dat probeer ik, it gives a brief affirmative reply before explaining what the speaker is trying to do. Use it to agree or confirm in a conversation.
dat Dat means ‘that’ in dat probeer ik and Dat geeft me een duidelijke keuze. It refers to the situation or information already mentioned rather than introducing a new object. Use dat to point back to something previously said.
ik Ik means ‘I’ in dat probeer ik and Ik kan hier niet veel langer blijven. It identifies the speaker as the person trying or unable to stay longer. Use ik as the subject when talking about your own actions or situation.
Weet Weet means ‘know’ in Weet je of de balie achterloopt. Together with je, it asks whether the other person has information about the service desk. Use Weet je of to ask if someone knows whether something is true.
de De is the definite article in de rij, de balie, and de moeite waard. It identifies a specific queue, desk, or fixed expression understood from the situation. Use it before the definite nouns or expression shown in this dialogue.
balie Balie means ‘service desk’ or ‘counter’ in de balie and bij de balie. It is the place handling the requests and providing updates. Use it when speaking about a desk or counter in a service setting.
achterloopt Achterloopt means ‘is running behind’ in of de balie achterloopt. It says that the service desk is behind schedule, explaining the slow queue. Use it when asking or reporting whether a service process is delayed.
Verschillende Verschillende means ‘several’ in Verschillende verzoeken, referring to multiple requests that need attention. It describes the requests before the noun verzoeken. Use it when referring to more than one relevant item without specifying the exact number.
verzoeken Verzoeken means ‘requests’ in Verschillende verzoeken vragen extra aandacht. These are the matters being handled by the service desk. Use it for formal requests made to an office or service desk.
vragen Vragen means ‘require’ in verzoeken vragen extra aandacht. The requests are presented as needing additional attention, not as asking a question. Use it when a situation or item requires something such as extra attention.
extra Extra means ‘additional’ in extra aandacht. It shows that the requests need more attention than usual. Use it before a noun when describing an added amount or degree of something.
aandacht Aandacht means ‘attention’ in extra aandacht. It is what the requests require from the service desk. Use it when explaining that a person, request, or problem needs focused consideration.
dus Dus means ‘so’ or ‘therefore’ and links the reason to the result in dus de rij gaat langzaam. The extra attention explains why the queue is moving slowly. Use dus to draw a conclusion from information just given.
kan Kan means ‘can’ in iemand het later kan beoordelen and De balie kan contact met je opnemen. It expresses ability or possibility for someone to review the request or contact the listener. Use kan before an action to describe what is possible.
hier Hier means ‘here’ in Ik kan hier niet veel langer blijven. It identifies the current place where the speaker is waiting. Use hier when referring to the place where the conversation or action is happening.
niet Niet means ‘not’ and negates the surrounding idea in niet veel langer blijven and niet kan wachten. In the first phrase, the speaker cannot remain much longer; in the second, the next obligation cannot wait. Use it to deny or negate an action or condition.
veel Veel means ‘much’ in niet veel langer blijven and measures the additional duration. It shows that the speaker cannot stay for much more time. Use it with a duration or amount when describing a large quantity or degree.
langer Langer means ‘longer’ in niet veel langer blijven and compares the possible future duration with the time already spent waiting. It modifies the decision to remain. Use it when discussing continuing for more time.
kunt Kunt means ‘can’ in Je kunt blijven wachten or je verzoek bij de balie achterlaten. With je as the subject, it presents two available options. Use it to tell someone what they are able or permitted to do.
wachten Wachten means ‘wait’ in blijven wachten, referring to remaining in the queue. With blijven, it means continuing to wait rather than leaving. Use blijven wachten when discussing whether to continue waiting.
verzoek Verzoek means ‘request’ in je verzoek and het verzoek. It refers to the matter that can be left at the desk for later review. Use it for a formal request being handled by a service office.
bij Bij means ‘at’ or ‘by’ in bij de balie. It gives the location where the request can be left. Use bij when locating an action or object near a person, place, or service point.
achterlaten Achterlaten means ‘leave behind’ or ‘leave at a place’ in je verzoek bij de balie achterlaten. Here it means leaving the request with the desk instead of continuing to wait in person. The same action appears as achter te laten after om in om het verzoek achter te laten.
zou Zou means ‘would’ in Het zou helpen om het verzoek achter te laten. It presents the benefit of leaving the request as a possible result rather than a certainty. Use it when describing a possible or conditional benefit.
helpen Helpen means ‘help’ or ‘be useful’ in zou helpen om het verzoek achter te laten. The complete phrase says that leaving the request would be useful if it can be reviewed later. Use zou helpen om when suggesting that an action could improve a situation.
achter Achter contributes the idea of leaving something behind in achter te laten. The complete expression achter te laten means ‘to leave it behind or at the desk’; achter alone does not express the whole action. Use the full phrase when describing leaving a request for later handling.
laten Laten is the verb element in achter te laten and contributes to the meaning ‘leave’ within that expression. The complete phrase achter te laten means leaving the request at the desk. Keep laten together with achter and te in this reusable construction.
als Als means ‘if’ in als iemand het later kan beoordelen and als je volgende verplichting niet kan wachten. It introduces a condition for the suggested choice. Use als to explain the circumstance under which an action or recommendation applies.
iemand Iemand means ‘someone’ in als iemand het later kan beoordelen. It refers to an unspecified person who may review the request. Use it when the person is not known or does not need to be identified.
later Later means ‘later’ in het later kan beoordelen. It places the review after the current waiting situation. Use it when an action will happen at a subsequent time.
beoordelen Beoordelen means ‘review’ or ‘assess’ in iemand het later kan beoordelen. It describes examining the request after it has been left at the desk. Use it when a person or office evaluates a request or case.
contact opnemen Contact opnemen means ‘get in contact with’ or ‘contact’ in De balie kan contact met je opnemen. Contact names the communication, while opnemen completes the fixed expression used for initiating it. Use the exact pattern contact met iemand opnemen when a desk or person will contact someone.
wanneer Wanneer means ‘when’ in wanneer ze een update hebben. It introduces the time at which the desk will contact the listener. Use it to connect an action with the time a condition is met.
ze Ze means ‘they’ in wanneer ze een update hebben and refers here to the desk or its staff. It is the subject of hebben, the people who will have an update. Use ze when referring to these people without naming an individual.
een Een means ‘a’ or ‘an’ in een update. It introduces one update without identifying a specific update in advance. Use it before a singular, non-specific item.
update Update means ‘update’ in een update, referring to new information about the request. The desk may have this information before contacting the listener. Use it when discussing new status information from a service or organization.
hebben Hebben means ‘have’ in wanneer ze een update hebben. Here it means that the desk or staff has new information available. Use it with an object such as een update when someone possesses or has information.
geeft Geeft means ‘gives’ in Dat geeft me een duidelijke keuze. The information gives the speaker a clearer decision between waiting and leaving the request. Use the pattern geeft me ... when something provides a person with an option, result, or feeling.
me Me means ‘me’ in geeft me een duidelijke keuze and identifies the person receiving the clear choice. It is the speaker, who now has enough information to decide. Use me when an action affects or provides something to the speaker.
duidelijke Duidelijke means ‘clear’ in een duidelijke keuze and describes a choice that is easy to understand. It comes before the noun keuze. Use it when an option or explanation removes uncertainty.
keuze Keuze means ‘choice’ in een duidelijke keuze, referring to the decision between continuing to wait and leaving the request. It names the options now understood by the speaker. Use it when discussing a decision between available possibilities.
Dan Dan means ‘then’ in Dan is het misschien beter om het achter te laten. It introduces the conclusion that follows from the information just given. Use it at the start of a response when drawing a consequence or making a recommendation.
misschien Misschien means ‘maybe’ or ‘perhaps’ in misschien beter. It makes the recommendation less certain and leaves room for the listener’s circumstances. Use it when offering a tentative suggestion.
beter Beter means ‘better’ in misschien beter om het achter te laten. It presents leaving the request as the preferable option in the stated situation. Use it when recommending one option as preferable to another.
volgende Volgende means ‘next’ in je volgende verplichting. It identifies the obligation that comes after the current waiting situation. Use it before a noun when referring to the next item or commitment in sequence.
verplichting Verplichting means ‘commitment’ or ‘obligation’ in je volgende verplichting. It refers to something the listener must attend to and that cannot wait. Use it for a duty or commitment that places a time constraint on a decision.

Grammar Points

de moeite waard

de moeite waard

duh MOOY-tuh VAHRT

worth it

A fixed Dutch expression meaning that something is worth the effort.

contact opnemen

contact opnemen

KON-takt AWP-nay-muhn

to contact

A fixed verb phrase used to express contacting someone or a service.

Dutch Vocabulary

aandacht noun
AHN-dahkht attention

extra aandacht

achterlopen verb
AKH-ter-LOH-puhn to be running behind achterloopt

of de balie achterloopt

balie noun
BAH-lee service desk; counter

de balie

beslissen verb
buh-SLISS-uhn to decide

te beslissen of het de moeite waard is

blijven verb
BLYE-vuhn to stay; to keep

om te blijven

de moeite waard phrase
duh MOOY-tuh VAHRT worth it

of het de moeite waard is om te blijven

langzaam adv
LANG-zahm slowly

De rij gaat langzaam.

Pardon intj
pahr-DON excuse me

Pardon, deze rij gaat langzaam.

proberen verb
proh-BAY-run to try probeer

Probeer je te beslissen?

rij noun
RYE line; queue

deze rij

verschillende det
fur-SKHIL-uhn-duh several; different

Verschillende verzoeken

verzoek noun
fur-ZOOK request

het verzoek

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Excuse me, this line has been moving slowly.

Show AnswerPardon, deze rij gaat langzaam.

That gives me a clear choice.

Show AnswerDat geeft me een duidelijke keuze.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to stay; to keep

Show Answerblijven

to be running behind

Show Answerachterloopt

slowly

Show Answerlangzaam

excuse me

Show AnswerPardon