Letting someone with a baby go first | Learn Dutch in English

Dutch lesson set in a contemporary Amsterdam everyday setting: In a public line, one person offers to let someone managing a baby and stroller go ahead..

EN → NL / Level: B1

About This Lesson

Use Letting someone with a baby go first to practice Dutch conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Excuseer me, het moet lastig zijn om met een baby en een kinderwagen in deze rij te staan.

ek-suh-ZAYR muh, hut moot LAH-stikh zine um met uh BAY-bee un uh KIN-der-vah-ghun in day-zuh rye tuh stahn. Excuse me, this line must be hard to manage with a baby and a stroller.
B

Het is best lastig geweest.

hut iss best LAH-stikh khuh-VAYST. It has been tricky.
B

Ik probeer de kinderwagen stil te houden en de baby rustig te houden terwijl we wachten.

ik proh-BAYR duh KIN-der-vah-ghun steel tuh HOW-dun un duh BAY-bee ROOS-tikh tuh HOW-dun TER-vile vuh VAKH-tun. I am trying to keep the stroller still and the baby calm while we wait.
A

Wilt u voor mij gaan?

vilt oo voor may khahn? Would you like to go before me?
B

Dat is erg attent. Weet u het zeker?

daht iss erkh uh-TENT. vate oo ut ZAY-kur? That is very considerate. Are you sure?
A

Dat weet ik zeker.

daht vate ik ZAY-kur. I am sure.
A

Ik heb geen haast.

ik hep khane hahst. I am not in a hurry.
A

Dit lijkt lastig te regelen.

dit like LAH-stikh tuh RAY-ghuh-lun. This looks hard to manage.
B

Dat zou echt verschil maken.

daht zow aykht vur-SKHIL MAH-kun. That would make a real difference.
A

Dan hoef ik maar even langer te wachten.

dahn hooff ik mahr AY-vun LAHNG-ur tuh VAKH-tun. It will only add a short wait for me.
B

Als we voor u gaan, zou dat ons helpen voordat de baby onrustiger wordt.

ahls vuh voor oo khahn, zow daht ons HELP-un vohr-DAHT duh BAY-bee on-ROOS-ti-ghur vort. Going ahead of you would help us before the baby gets more restless.
A

Ik zou hopen dat iemand mij ook zo zou helpen.

ik zow HOH-pun daht EE-munt may ohk zoh zow HELP-un. I would hope someone would offer the same help to me.
B

Ik waardeer het. Hierdoor is het wachten een stuk minder stressvol.

ik vahr-DAYR ut. HEER-door iss ut VAKH-tun un stook MIN-dur STRESS-vol. I appreciate it. This makes the wait much less stressful.

Word by Word

Excuseer “Excuseer” is a polite way to get someone’s attention, meaning “excuse me” here. It is used at the start of “Excuseer me” when addressing another person in public. This is useful when you want to begin a polite question or offer.
me “me” means “me” in the polite expression “Excuseer me.” It identifies the person asking for attention and follows “Excuseer” in this expression. You can use “Excuseer me” before a question or comment to someone you do not know.
het In “het moet lastig zijn,” “het” refers to the situation of standing in the line with the baby and stroller, meaning “it.” In “Het is best lastig geweest,” it again refers to the situation being discussed. This form is useful when the situation itself is the subject of the sentence.
moet “moet” expresses a strong conclusion here: the situation must be difficult. It appears in “het moet lastig zijn,” with the following form “zijn.” You can reuse this pattern when you infer that a situation has a particular quality.
lastig “lastig” means difficult or tricky in “het moet lastig zijn” and “best lastig geweest.” It describes the experience of managing the line with a baby and stroller. The pattern “lastig zijn” is useful for describing a situation that is difficult to handle.
zijn “zijn” means “be” in “het moet lastig zijn.” It connects the situation with the description “lastig” after “moet.” This form is useful after a modal expression when describing what something must be like.
om “om” introduces the infinitive phrase “om ... te staan,” describing the activity that is difficult. Here it helps connect “lastig” with standing in the line. This construction is useful for saying that an activity is difficult, easy, or possible.
met “met” means “with” and shows accompaniment in “met een baby en een kinderwagen.” It introduces the people or things present while someone is standing in the line. This preposition is useful before a person or object that accompanies an activity.
een “een” introduces an unspecified singular noun in “een baby” and “een kinderwagen,” meaning “a.” It presents the baby and stroller as things involved in the situation. This form is useful before a singular noun when the listener does not need a specific one identified.
baby “baby” means baby and refers to the small child in the line. It appears in “een baby” and later in “de baby.” You can use this noun when talking about a baby in everyday situations such as waiting, traveling, or shopping.
en “en” joins “een baby” and “een kinderwagen,” meaning “and.” It connects two accompanying things in the same description. This conjunction is useful for listing people or objects together.
kinderwagen “kinderwagen” means stroller and refers to the vehicle being kept still in the line. It appears after “een” in “een kinderwagen” and after “de” in “de kinderwagen.” This noun is useful when discussing moving around with a baby.
in “in” shows location in “in deze rij,” meaning in this line or queue. It identifies where the person is standing. This preposition is useful before a place or area where someone or something is located.
deze “deze” means “this” and points to the particular line in “deze rij.” It identifies the line the speakers are currently in. This form is useful when indicating a nearby or currently relevant noun.
rij “rij” means line or queue in “deze rij.” It names the group of people waiting together. This noun is useful in public situations involving shops, transport, or services.
te “te” marks the infinitive in “te staan.” Together with “om,” it forms the infinitive phrase connected to “lastig.” This marker is useful before an infinitive in many constructions describing an activity.
staan “staan” means stand in “in deze rij te staan,” referring to standing in the line. It names the activity that is difficult with the baby and stroller. This form is useful when describing someone’s position in a queue or place.
is In “Het is best lastig geweest,” “is” helps express that the situation has been difficult. In “Hierdoor is het wachten,” it links the waiting with its current result. This form is useful for describing a present state or, with “geweest,” a state that has existed.
best “best” means quite or rather in “best lastig geweest.” It strengthens “lastig” without making it an extreme statement. The combination “best lastig” is useful when something is fairly difficult or troublesome.
geweest “geweest” means “been” in “is best lastig geweest,” referring to the difficulty experienced up to now. It appears together with “is” to describe a situation that has been difficult. This form is useful when reporting how an experience has been so far.
Ik “Ik” means “I” and marks the speaker as the subject in “Ik probeer,” “Ik heb,” and other lines. It comes before the verb in these statements. This pronoun is useful whenever you describe your own action, state, or opinion.
probeer “probeer” means “try” in “Ik probeer de kinderwagen stil te houden.” It introduces an effort to keep both the stroller and baby in a particular state. This form is useful before an activity expressed with “te” and an infinitive.
de “de” is the definite article meaning “the” in “de kinderwagen” and “de baby.” It identifies the specific stroller and baby already central to the conversation. This article is useful before a specific noun being discussed.
stil “stil” means still or motionless in “de kinderwagen stil te houden.” It describes the state the speaker is trying to maintain for the stroller. The pattern of keeping something “stil” is useful when preventing movement or noise.
houden “houden” means keep or hold in “stil te houden” and “rustig te houden.” It expresses maintaining the stroller or baby in the stated condition. This verb is useful in the pattern of keeping something in a particular state.
rustig “rustig” means calm in “de baby rustig te houden.” It describes the state the speaker is trying to maintain for the baby while waiting. This word is useful when talking about keeping a person or situation calm.
terwijl “terwijl” means “while” and introduces the simultaneous activity in “terwijl we wachten.” It shows that waiting happens at the same time as trying to manage the stroller and baby. This conjunction is useful before a clause describing an action happening during another action.
we “we” means “we” and refers to the speaker and the baby together in “we wachten.” It is the subject of the waiting activity. This pronoun is useful when the speaker includes themselves and at least one other person.
wachten In “terwijl we wachten,” “wachten” means wait. The same form appears in “het wachten,” where it refers to the activity of waiting. This word is useful for describing time spent waiting in a line or for a service.
Wilt “Wilt” expresses a polite offer or question in “Wilt u voor mij gaan?” meaning “Would you like to go before me?” It appears with “u” in this formal way of addressing someone. This pattern is useful when politely offering someone a choice or action.
u “u” means “you” in the formal question “Wilt u voor mij gaan?” It identifies the person being offered a place ahead in the line. This form is useful when addressing someone politely or formally.
voor “voor” means “before” or “ahead of” in “voor mij gaan.” Here it describes moving to a position ahead of the speaker in the line. This preposition is useful for describing position or order relative to another person.
mij “mij” means “me” in “voor mij gaan,” identifying the person whose place is being moved ahead of. It follows “voor” in this expression. This form is useful when describing a position or action in relation to the speaker.
gaan “gaan” means go in “voor mij gaan,” where the complete expression means go ahead of me. It also appears in “Als we voor u gaan,” referring to the other people moving ahead. This verb is useful for describing movement or taking a position in a queue.
Dat “Dat” means “that” in “Dat is erg attent” and refers to the offer just made. In “Dat weet ik zeker,” it points to the certainty being expressed. This form is useful when referring back to an action, statement, or situation.
erg “erg” means “very” in “erg attent.” It intensifies the description of the offer as considerate. This word is useful before an adjective when emphasizing its degree.
attent “attent” means considerate or thoughtful in “Dat is erg attent.” It describes the offer to let the other person go first. This word is useful when thanking someone for a kind and thoughtful action.
Weet “Weet” means know in “Weet u het zeker?” The question asks whether the other person is certain about the offer. This form is useful in polite questions about someone’s knowledge or certainty.
zeker “zeker” means sure or certain in “Weet u het zeker?” and “Dat weet ik zeker.” It describes confidence about whether the offer is genuine. The pattern with “weten” is useful when checking or expressing certainty.
heb “heb” means have in “Ik heb geen haast.” Here it is part of the expression for saying that the speaker is not in a hurry. This form is useful when stating that you have or do not have something.
geen “geen” means no or not any before “haast” in “Ik heb geen haast.” It negates the noun phrase and shows that the speaker has no hurry. This form is useful before a noun when saying that something is absent or unavailable.
haast “haast” means hurry in “Ik heb geen haast.” The complete phrase says that the speaker is not pressed for time. This noun is useful in the expression for saying that someone has or does not have time pressure.
Dit “Dit” means “this” and is the subject of “Dit lijkt lastig te regelen.” It points to the situation the speaker is observing. This form is useful when identifying a nearby or currently visible situation.
lijkt “lijkt” means looks or seems in “Dit lijkt lastig te regelen.” It presents the difficulty as the speaker’s observation rather than a direct command or fact. This form is useful before a description of how something appears.
regelen “regelen” means manage or arrange in “lastig te regelen.” It describes handling the situation with the baby and stroller. This infinitive is useful after “te” when describing something that needs to be managed or arranged.
zou “zou” expresses a hypothetical or softened result in “Dat zou echt verschil maken” and “zou dat ons helpen.” It also softens the personal wish in “Ik zou hopen.” This form is useful when discussing what would happen or expressing a tentative hope.
echt “echt” means really or genuinely in “echt verschil maken.” It emphasizes that the help would have a meaningful effect. This word is useful for strengthening a statement about a real result or impact.
verschil “verschil” means difference in “echt verschil maken.” Together, “verschil maken” means to make a meaningful difference or have an effect. This noun is useful when talking about how much an action changes a situation.
maken “maken” means make in “verschil maken.” In this expression, it describes producing an effect rather than physically creating an object. This verb is useful in the common pattern of saying that an action makes a difference.
Dan “Dan” means then or in that case in “Dan hoef ik maar even langer te wachten.” It introduces the consequence of letting the other person go first. This word is useful when responding to a proposal by explaining what will happen as a result.
hoef “hoef” expresses what the speaker needs to do in “Dan hoef ik maar even langer te wachten.” With “maar,” it means that the speaker only needs to wait a little longer. This form is useful when describing a limited obligation or small extra effort.
maar “maar” means only or just in “maar even langer te wachten.” It limits the amount of additional waiting the speaker expects. This word is useful when emphasizing that an amount or action is small.
even “even” means briefly or just a little in “maar even langer te wachten.” It makes the extra waiting sound short and manageable. This word is useful for downplaying a short amount of time or a small action.
langer “langer” means longer in “even langer te wachten.” It compares the speaker’s waiting time with the waiting time without letting the other person go first. This form is useful when describing an increase in duration.
Als “Als” means “if” in “Als we voor u gaan.” It introduces the condition under which going ahead would help the speakers. This conjunction is useful before a condition that leads to a possible result.
ons “ons” means “us” in “dat ons helpen.” It identifies the speaker and the baby as the people who would benefit from going ahead. This form is useful when an action helps or affects the speaker together with others.
helpen “helpen” means help in “dat ons helpen” and “zou helpen.” It describes the benefit of moving ahead before the baby becomes more restless. This verb is useful when saying that an action benefits someone.
voordat “voordat” means “before” and introduces the time condition in “voordat de baby onrustiger wordt.” It shows that the speakers want to go ahead before a later change occurs. This conjunction is useful before a clause that must happen first in time.
onrustiger “onrustiger” means more restless in “de baby onrustiger wordt.” It describes a possible increase in the baby’s restlessness while waiting. This form is useful when comparing a later state with an earlier, calmer state.
wordt “wordt” means becomes or gets in “de baby onrustiger wordt.” It connects the baby with the new state of being more restless. This form is useful when describing a change into a particular condition.
hopen “hopen” means hope in “Ik zou hopen dat iemand mij ook zo zou helpen.” It introduces the speaker’s wish that someone would offer similar help. The pattern with “dat” is useful for expressing a hope about a situation.
iemand “iemand” means someone in “iemand mij ook zo zou helpen.” It refers to an unspecified person who might offer the same kind of help. This word is useful when the particular person is unknown or unimportant.
ook “ook” means also or too in “mij ook zo zou helpen.” It adds that the speaker would want to receive the same help as someone else might receive. This word is useful for adding a comparable person, action, or situation.
zo “zo” means in that way or like that in “mij ook zo zou helpen.” It refers back to the considerate help being offered in the conversation. This form is useful when pointing to a manner of acting that has just been mentioned.
waardeer “waardeer” means appreciate in “Ik waardeer het.” It expresses gratitude for the other person’s considerate offer. This form is useful when thanking someone for help or kindness.
Hierdoor “Hierdoor” means as a result of this or because of this in “Hierdoor is het wachten een stuk minder stressvol.” It points back to the offer to let the speakers go ahead. This word is useful at the start of a sentence explaining the result of a previous action.
stuk “stuk” contributes the meaning “considerably” in “een stuk minder stressvol.” It is not referring to a physical piece here; the whole expression says that the waiting is noticeably less stressful. This expression is useful when describing a clear reduction in degree.
minder “minder” means less in “minder stressvol.” It shows that the waiting has a lower level of stress after the offer. This form is useful before a description when comparing a reduced degree.
stressvol “stressvol” means stressful in “het wachten een stuk minder stressvol.” It describes the emotional difficulty of waiting with the baby and stroller. This word is useful when talking about an experience that creates pressure or tension.

Grammar Points

terwijl + bijzin: werkwoord achteraan

terwijl iemand wacht

ter-VILE EE-munt VAKH-tun

while someone waits

After terwijl, Dutch places the conjugated verb at the end of the subordinate clause.

Dutch Vocabulary

attent adj
uh-TENT considerate; thoughtful
baby noun
BAY-bee baby
haast noun
hahst hurry
kinderwagen noun
KIN-der-vah-ghun stroller
lastig adj
LAH-stikh difficult; tricky
rij noun
rye line; queue
rustig adj
ROOS-tikh calm
stil adj
steel still; stationary
terwijl conj
ter-VILE while
voor mij gaan phrase
voor may khahn to go before me; to go ahead of me
wachten verb
VAKH-tun to wait
zeker adj
ZAY-kur sure; certain

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

It has been tricky.

Show AnswerHet is best lastig geweest.

Would you like to go before me?

Show AnswerWilt u voor mij gaan?

I am sure.

Show AnswerDat weet ik zeker.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

calm

Show Answerrustig

while

Show Answerterwijl

baby

Show Answerbaby

stroller

Show Answerkinderwagen