Learn Hardcore Dutch: Ik ga appels schillen en groenten snijden voor het diner. - I’m going to peel apples and cut vegetables for dinner.

Ik ga appels schillen… = I’m going to peel apples… (plan/arrangement, often soon).
Present for scheduled/future: Vanavond schil ik appels… (tonight I peel apples…).
Zal (ik zal…) often feels like a promise, offer, or prediction rather than a set plan.

Do I need to insert te or om te before schillen and snijden?

No. With gaan + infinitive, you do not use te.

Correct: Ik ga appels schillen en groenten snijden.
Use om … te only to express “in order to”: Ik schil appels om appeltaart te maken.

Is gaan here about physically going somewhere?

No. Gaan here functions like English “going to” for future intention. There’s no movement implied unless you add a destination (e.g., Ik ga naar de keuken …).

Why is there no article before appels or groenten?

Plural nouns in an indefinite, non-specific sense don’t take an article in Dutch (same as English “apples,” “vegetables”). If you mean specific ones, add the definite article: de appels, de groenten.

What’s the difference between groente and groenten?

Groente can be a mass noun (“vegetables” in general).
Groenten is the plural (“vegetable items”). In the Netherlands both occur; in Belgium groenten is more common. After weights/amounts, both appear: 500 gram groente(n).

Why is it het diner and not de diner?

Diner is a neuter noun, so it takes het. You can also say:

het avondeten (everyday word for the evening meal)
het eten (colloquial) Note: diner can sound a bit formal in Dutch.

Does voor het diner mean “for dinner” or “before dinner”?

Context decides. Voor can mean “for (intended for)” or “before (time).” Here, with food prep, it naturally reads as “for (the) dinner.” If you want to stress “before,” some writers add an accent: vóór het diner = “before dinner.”

Can I move the time/purpose phrase to the front?

Yes. Word order is flexible:

Voor het diner ga ik appels schillen en groenten snijden. This is natural and emphasizes the time/purpose.

Do I need to repeat ga before each infinitive?

No. One ga can govern both infinitives:

Ik ga appels schillen en groenten snijden. Repeating ga isn’t wrong but sounds heavy: Ik ga appels schillen en ga groenten snijden.

Can I say Ik ga de appels schillen en de groenten snijden?

Yes, if you’re referring to particular apples and vegetables already known in the context. Without articles, it’s non-specific.

How do I pronounce the tricky parts?

g/ga: guttural sound (back of the throat), not like English g.
sch in schillen: s + a harsh h (like German “Bach”).
ij in snijden: like English “eye.”
oe in groenten: like “oo” in “food.”
diner: roughly “dee-NAY” (the final r may be light depending on accent).

What’s the difference between schillen and pellen?

Schillen: peel with a knife/peeler (apples, potatoes). Also used for oranges in general speech.
Pellen: peel by hand/removing a shell/skin (eggs, peanuts, shrimp; also mandarins). For citrus, both occur; schillen is very common.

What’s the difference between snijden, hakken, and knippen?

Snijden: cut/slice with a knife (most kitchen cutting).
Hakken: chop with force (e.g., onions finely, herbs, wood).
Knippen: cut with scissors.

Is appels or appelen the correct plural?

Both exist. Appels is standard in the Netherlands; appelen is more traditional/formal and more common in Belgium. You’ll be fine with appels everywhere.

Can I omit the objects and say Ik ga schillen en snijden?

Grammatically yes, but it sounds vague without context. It’s clearer to keep the objects unless they’re obvious from the situation.

How would this look inside a subordinate clause?

Verbs go to the end in a cluster, with ga before the infinitive:

… omdat ik voor het diner appels ga schillen en groenten ga snijden. This is natural and idiomatic.