Managing expired food in a shared fridge | Learn Dutch in English

Dutch lesson set in a contemporary Amsterdam everyday setting: In a shared kitchen, two adults discuss expired food in a fridge and plan labels, a deadline, and a weekly cleanout..

EN → NL / Level: B1

About This Lesson

Use Managing expired food in a shared fridge to practice Dutch conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Er ligt weer verlopen eten in de gedeelde koelkast.

ur likht VAIR vur-LOH-pun AY-tun in duh khuh-DAYL-duh KOOL-kahst. There's expired food in the shared fridge again.
B

Het kan een hygiëneprobleem worden als het daar nog veel langer blijft liggen.

hut kahn un hee-khee-AY-nuh-proh-BLAYM VOR-dun ahls ut dahr nokh VAYL LAHNG-ur blayft LIKH-un. It could become a hygiene problem if it sits there much longer.
A

Op sommige bakjes staat geen naam, dus niemand weet van wie ze zijn.

op SOM-uh-khuh BAHK-yus staht khayn nahm, dus NIH-mahnt VAYT vahn VEE zuh zayn. Some containers aren't labeled, so nobody knows who owns them.
B

We zouden een bericht moeten ophangen waarin we mensen vragen hun naam en de datum erbij te zetten.

vuh ZOW-dun un buh-RIKHT MOO-tun OHP-hahng-un vah-RIN vuh MEN-sun VRAH-khun hun nahm un duh DAH-tum ur-BAY tuh ZET-un. We should post a notice asking people to add their names and dates.
A

Zullen we alles weggooien dat ouder is dan een week?

ZUL-un vuh AHL-us WEKH-GOY-un daht OW-dur iss dahn un VAYK? Should we throw away anything older than a week?
B

Dat moeten we pas doen nadat we iedereen een duidelijke deadline hebben gegeven.

daht MOO-tun vuh pahs DOON nah-DAHT vuh EE-duh-RAYN un DOY-duh-luh-kuh DED-layn HEB-un khuh-KHAY-vun. Only after we give everyone a clear deadline.
A

Misschien kunnen we in de groepschat een wekelijkse opruimbeurt voorstellen.

mis-KHAYN KUN-un vuh in duh GROOPSKHAT un VAY-kuh-LIK-suh OHP-rowym-burt VOHR-stel-un. Maybe we can suggest a weekly cleanout in the group chat.
B

Daardoor wordt de wekelijkse opruimbeurt voorspelbaar in plaats van onverwacht.

DAHR-dor VORT duh VAY-kuh-LIK-suh OHP-rowym-burt vur-SPLAY-bahr in PLAHST vahn un-vur-VAKHT. That would make the weekly cleanout predictable instead of sudden.
A

Mensen kunnen hun planken opruimen vóór de schoonmaakdag.

MEN-sun KUN-un hun PLAHNK-un OHP-rowym-un vohr duh SKHOHN-mahkh-dahkh. People can clear their shelves before cleaning day.
B

Dat zou het gebruik van de koelkast voor iedereen eerlijk en veilig moeten maken.

daht ut khuh-BROYK vahn duh KOOL-kahst vohr EE-duh-RAYN AYR-luk un VAY-likh MOO-tun MAH-kun. That should make fridge use fair and safe for everyone.

Word by Word

Er “Er” introduces the existence or presence of something; here it presents food as being in the fridge. It commonly appears before a verb in sentences describing what is present somewhere.
ligt “Ligt” says that something is lying or located somewhere; in “Er ligt weer verlopen eten” it describes food located in the fridge. Use it with a place when describing where an object is situated.
weer “Weer” means “again” and shows that the same situation has happened another time. It can be placed before the thing or action that is recurring, as in “Er ligt weer verlopen eten.”
verlopen “Verlopen” describes the food in “verlopen eten” as expired and no longer within its intended date. It can be placed before a noun to identify food or another item whose valid period has ended.
eten “Eten” means food in “verlopen eten,” referring to the food left in the shared fridge. This form can be used after a description such as “verlopen” to specify what kind of food is meant.
in “In” marks the inside location of the food in “in de gedeelde koelkast.” It is used before a place or container when something is located inside it.
de “De” is the definite article introducing the specific noun phrase “de gedeelde koelkast.” It is used before a known or identified thing, such as the shared fridge being discussed.
gedeelde “Gedeelde” means shared in “de gedeelde koelkast,” showing that the fridge is used by more than one person. It is placed before a noun to describe something that people use together.
koelkast “Koelkast” means fridge, the place where the food is located in the dialogue. It can follow “in de” when describing something inside the fridge, as in “in de gedeelde koelkast.”
Het “Het” means “it” at the start of “Het kan een hygiëneprobleem worden” and refers to the situation or food just mentioned. It is useful for referring back to an already understood thing or situation.
kan “Kan” expresses that something is possible or may happen; here the situation may become a hygiene problem. It is used with another verb, as in “kan ... worden,” to express a possible result.
een “Een” introduces “een hygiëneprobleem” as one possible problem rather than a specifically identified one. It is used before a singular noun when the noun is not presented as a particular known item.
hygiëneprobleem “Hygiëneprobleem” means a hygiene problem, the possible result of leaving the food there too long. It can follow “een” to name a problem that may arise.
worden “Worden” means become in “kan een hygiëneprobleem worden,” describing a change into a hygiene problem. It follows “kan” in this sentence and completes the expression of a possible development.
als “Als” introduces the condition “als het daar nog veel langer blijft liggen,” meaning “if it remains there much longer.” It is used to connect a condition with the possible result that follows or precedes it.
daar “Daar” means there and points to the location where the food is already understood to be, namely the fridge. It can refer back to a previously mentioned place without repeating the place name.
nog “Nog” means still in “nog veel langer,” emphasizing that the situation continues for additional time. It is useful with time expressions when something has not ended yet.
veel “Veel” means much in “veel langer” and strengthens the idea that the extra time would be considerable. It can be placed before a comparative time expression to make the difference larger.
langer “Langer” means longer and compares the possible additional time with the time already elapsed. It is used with time expressions when something continues beyond an earlier period.
blijft “Blijft” contributes the meaning “stays” or “remains” in the expression “blijft liggen.” Together, “blijft liggen” describes something continuing to lie in the same place.
liggen “Liggen” means lie or remain lying in “blijft liggen,” describing the food remaining where it is. With “blijft,” it forms a reusable expression for something continuing to be in a lying position.
Op “Op” marks the surface location in “Op sommige bakjes staat geen naam,” meaning that no name appears on the containers. It is used before a surface or object where writing or another item is located.
sommige “Sommige” means some and limits the statement to part of the containers, not all of them. It is placed before a noun when referring to an unspecified selection from a larger group.
bakjes “Bakjes” means containers or tubs, referring to the food containers in the fridge. It is used here after “sommige” to identify the objects on which no name appears.
staat “Staat” literally relates to standing, but in “staat geen naam” it says that no name is written or appears on the containers. This usage is useful when information is displayed on an object.
geen “Geen” means no or not any and negates the noun “naam” in “geen naam.” It is placed directly before a noun when saying that none of that thing is present.
naam “Naam” means name, specifically the identifying name that is missing from the containers. It can be used after “geen” to say that no identifying name is shown.
dus “Dus” means so or therefore and introduces the consequence that nobody knows who owns the containers. It connects a reason with the conclusion drawn from it.
niemand “Niemand” means nobody and refers to no person knowing the ownership. It can be used as the person or group that does not know, as in “niemand weet.”
weet “Weet” means knows in “niemand weet van wie ze zijn.” It is used before information or a clause that identifies what someone knows, including “van wie ze zijn.”
van In “van wie ze zijn,” “van” helps express ownership or belonging, asking whose the containers are. It commonly appears before a person or question word when identifying who something belongs to.
wie “Wie” means who in “van wie ze zijn,” asking which person the containers belong to. It is used after “van” here to form an ownership question inside the sentence.
ze “Ze” means they in “ze zijn,” referring back to the containers. It is used as the subject when the sentence continues with information about those containers.
zijn “Zijn” means are or be in “van wie ze zijn,” completing the statement about who the containers belong to. It is used with “van wie” to identify ownership.
We “We” means we and refers to the two speakers as the people considering the notice. It is used as the subject before an action or recommendation.
zouden “Zouden” helps express a proposed or advisable action in “We zouden een bericht moeten ophangen.” Together with “moeten,” it presents posting the notice as a recommendation rather than a direct command.
bericht “Bericht” means notice or message, referring to the information that should be posted for the shared kitchen. It can be used after “een” when proposing one specific notice or message.
moeten “Moeten” expresses that the speakers should or need to post the notice in “zouden ... moeten ophangen.” It is used with another verb to express an obligation or recommendation.
ophangen “Ophangen” means put up or post, describing placing the notice where people can see it. It is used after “moeten” in “moeten ophangen” to name the required action.
waarin “Waarin” means in which and refers back to “een bericht”; the message contains a request. It introduces information about the content of a thing, as in “een bericht waarin ...”.
mensen “Mensen” means people, referring to the users of the shared fridge who should add identifying information. It is the group being asked in “mensen vragen.”
vragen “Vragen” means ask in “mensen vragen hun naam en de datum erbij te zetten.” It introduces a request for someone to carry out an action.
hun “Hun” means their and refers to the names belonging to the people being asked. It is placed before “naam” to identify whose name should be added.
en “En” means and and joins “hun naam” with “de datum” as the two pieces of information to add. It connects equivalent words or phrases in a list.
datum “Datum” means date, referring to the date that should be written with the person’s name. It appears in the list “hun naam en de datum” of information for a container.
erbij “Erbij” means additionally or onto it in “de datum erbij te zetten,” showing that the date is added to the existing label or information. It is useful when an extra item is added to something already present.
te “Te” marks the infinitive in “erbij te zetten,” introducing the action that people are being asked to perform. It appears before “zetten” in this request construction.
zetten “Zetten” means put or write in “hun naam en de datum erbij te zetten”; here it refers to putting the information onto the container or label. It is used after “te” to complete the requested action.
Zullen “Zullen” introduces a suggestion in “Zullen we alles weggooien,” meaning “shall we throw everything away?” It is useful at the start of a question when proposing a shared action.
alles “Alles” means everything and refers to all items meeting the condition that follows. It is used as the object of “weggooien” before the clause beginning with “dat.”
weggooien “Weggooien” means throw away, referring to disposing of food that is more than a week old. It follows “Zullen we” to form a proposal about an action.
dat In “dat ouder is dan een week,” “dat” links the noun “alles” to the condition describing which items should be thrown away. This form can introduce a clause that gives more information about a thing.
ouder “Ouder” means older in “ouder is dan een week,” comparing the age of the food with one week. It is used with “dan” to express an age or time comparison.
is “Is” means is in “ouder is dan een week,” stating the relationship between the item’s age and one week. It connects the subject of the relative clause with its description.
dan “Dan” means than and completes the comparison “ouder ... dan een week.” It is used after a comparative form such as “ouder” to introduce the reference point.
week “Week” means week and is the time period used as the limit in “ouder is dan een week.” It follows “een” to name the comparison period.
pas “Pas” means only then or not until in “pas doen nadat ...,” delaying the action until the condition has been met. It is useful for emphasizing that an action should happen later, not immediately.
doen “Doen” means do and refers back to the proposed action of throwing things away. In “Dat moeten we pas doen,” it avoids repeating the earlier action while keeping the same action as the topic.
nadat “Nadat” means after and introduces the condition that must come first: giving everyone a clear deadline. It connects a later action with an action that has already been completed.
iedereen “Iedereen” means everyone and includes all the people who use the shared fridge. It is the recipient of the clear deadline in “iedereen een duidelijke deadline hebben gegeven.”
duidelijke “Duidelijke” means clear and describes the deadline as understandable and specific. It is placed before “deadline” to describe the quality of the information given to everyone.
deadline “Deadline” means deadline, the final time by which people should act before the food is removed. It can follow an adjective such as “duidelijke” when specifying the kind of deadline.
hebben “Hebben” means have and works with “gegeven” in “hebben gegeven” to express that the deadline has been given. It is used before the completed action form in this clause.
gegeven “Gegeven” means given in “een duidelijke deadline hebben gegeven,” referring to providing the deadline to everyone. It appears with “hebben” to describe the completed act of giving it.
Misschien “Misschien” means maybe and introduces a possible suggestion rather than a firm plan. It can appear at the beginning of a sentence before a proposal such as “kunnen we ... voorstellen.”
kunnen “Kunnen” means can and presents the proposed cleanout as something the speakers are able to suggest. It is used with another verb, “voorstellen,” to describe a possible action.
groepschat “Groepschat” means group chat, the shared channel where the cleanout suggestion could be posted. It can follow “in de” when naming the communication space used.
wekelijkse “Wekelijkse” means weekly and describes something occurring once each week in “een wekelijkse opruimbeurt.” It is placed before a noun to describe its regular weekly schedule.
opruimbeurt “Opruimbeurt” means a cleanout or cleanup session, referring to the planned time for clearing the fridge. It can be modified by “wekelijkse” to describe a recurring cleanup session.
voorstellen “Voorstellen” means suggest or propose in “een wekelijkse opruimbeurt voorstellen.” It follows “kunnen” here and takes the proposed activity as its object.
Daardoor “Daardoor” means as a result or thereby and links the suggested schedule to the more predictable cleanout. It is useful at the beginning of a sentence when explaining the consequence of something just mentioned.
wordt “Wordt” means becomes in “wordt de wekelijkse opruimbeurt voorspelbaar,” describing the cleanout changing into a predictable event. It is used with an adjective such as “voorspelbaar” to describe the resulting state.
voorspelbaar “Voorspelbaar” means predictable, describing a cleanout whose timing people can expect. It is used after “wordt” to name the result of planning the weekly cleanout.
in plaats van The expression “in plaats van” means instead of and contrasts a predictable cleanout with an unexpected one. “In” contributes the idea of being in a place, “plaats” means place, and “van” introduces what is replaced; together they form the fixed contrast in “in plaats van onverwacht.”
onverwacht “Onverwacht” means unexpected and describes the sudden quality that the planned cleanout should avoid. It follows “in plaats van” to name the alternative being replaced by a predictable schedule.
planken “Planken” means shelves, referring to the fridge shelves that people should clear. It is used after “hun” to identify which parts of the fridge belong to or are used by the people.
opruimen “Opruimen” means clear or clean up, referring to removing or organizing items from the shelves. It follows “kunnen” in “kunnen hun planken opruimen” to describe what people are able to do before cleaning day.
vóór “Vóór” means before and sets the time limit in “vóór de schoonmaakdag.” The accent distinguishes this time expression and it is used before the event that must still be in the future.
schoonmaakdag “Schoonmaakdag” means cleaning day, the planned day before which people should clear their shelves. It follows “de” in the time expression “vóór de schoonmaakdag.”
zou “Zou” expresses an expected or intended result in “Dat zou ... moeten maken,” namely that the arrangement should make fridge use fair and safe. It is used with “moeten” and another verb to present the result as a proposed outcome.
gebruik “Gebruik” means use in “het gebruik van de koelkast,” referring to how people use the fridge. It can be followed by “van” and the thing being used, as in “gebruik van de koelkast.”
voor “Voor” means for in “voor iedereen,” showing who should benefit from fair and safe fridge use. It is placed before the people or group for whom something is intended.
eerlijk “Eerlijk” means fair and describes fridge use that treats everyone fairly. It appears alongside “veilig” after “maken” to name two desired qualities.
veilig “Veilig” means safe and describes fridge use that does not create a safety concern for the users. It is paired with “eerlijk” to state the two intended results of the plan.
maken “Maken” means make or cause to become in “het gebruik ... eerlijk en veilig maken,” describing the plan causing fridge use to have those qualities. It follows “moeten” in “zou ... moeten maken” to express the intended effect.

Grammar Points

van wie

Van wie is het gedeelde bakje?

vahn VEE iss ut khuh-DAYL-duh BAHK-yuh?

Whose is the shared container?

Dutch uses van wie (“of whom”) to ask who something belongs to.

nadat + werkwoord achteraan

Nadat iedereen de deadline weet, wordt de wekelijkse opruimbeurt voorspelbaar.

nah-DAHT EE-duh-RAYN duh DED-layn VAYT, VORT duh VAY-kuh-LIK-suh OHP-rowym-burt vur-SPLAY-bahr.

After everyone knows the deadline, the weekly cleanout becomes predictable.

In a clause with nadat, the conjugated verb comes at the end.

Dutch Vocabulary

bakje noun
BAHK-yuh container; small dish bakjes
blijven liggen phrase
BLAY-vun LIKH-un to remain; to stay there
eten noun
AY-tun food
gedeeld adj
khuh-DAYLT shared gedeelde
hygiëneprobleem noun
hee-khee-AY-nuh-proh-BLAYM hygiene problem
koelkast noun
KOOL-kahst fridge
liggen verb
LIKH-un to lie; to be located ligt
naam noun
nahm name
niemand pron
NIH-mahnt nobody
verlopen adj
vur-LOH-pun expired
weer adv
VAIR again
worden verb
VOR-dun to become

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

expired

Show Answerverlopen

again

Show Answerweer

to lie; to be located

Show Answerligt

shared

Show Answergedeelde