Learn Hardcore Dutch: Wij bespreken de opmerking tijdens de vergadering. - We discuss the remark during the meeting.

Both mean we. Wij is the stressed form used for emphasis, contrast, or a slightly more formal tone. We is the normal, unstressed form in everyday speech and writing.

Neutral: We bespreken de opmerking tijdens de vergadering.
Emphatic: Wij bespreken de opmerking tijdens de vergadering (implies: we, not someone else).

Do I need over after bespreken?

No. Bespreken is transitive and takes a direct object without a preposition. Saying bespreken over is incorrect.

Correct: We bespreken de opmerking.
Alternatives that do take over: praten over / spreken over (e.g., We praten over de opmerking.)

Does the Dutch present tense here mean “we discuss” or “we are discussing”?

It can mean either. Dutch simple present often covers both simple and progressive meanings:

Habitual/future arrangement: We bespreken de opmerking tijdens de vergadering (on the agenda).
Right now: if context makes it clear, this can also mean “We are discussing...”

Why is the time phrase at the end, and can I move it?

Dutch main clauses are verb-second: the finite verb (bespreken) comes in position 2. Elements like objects and time phrases go after it. You can front the time phrase for emphasis or flow:

Base: Wij bespreken de opmerking tijdens de vergadering.
Fronted time: Tijdens de vergadering bespreken wij de opmerking.
Fronted object: De opmerking bespreken wij tijdens de vergadering. All are correct; the choice affects emphasis, not correctness.

Can I say Wij bespreken tijdens de vergadering de opmerking?

Yes. Placing the time phrase mid-sentence is fine: Wij bespreken tijdens de vergadering de opmerking. Dutch allows some flexibility; end placement or fronting is slightly more common, but this is acceptable.

Why de in de opmerking and de vergadering? What about gender and articles?

Both opmerking and vergadering are common-gender nouns, so they take de in the singular.

Indefinite: een opmerking, een vergadering.
Plurals: opmerkingen, vergaderingen (always de in plural). Use de here because you refer to a specific, known comment and meeting.

Is opmerking the best word for “comment”? How does it differ from commentaar, reactie, feedback?

opmerking: a single remark/comment (countable). Plural: opmerkingen.
commentaar: comment/criticism as a mass noun (usually no plural): het commentaar; e.g., het commentaar bespreken.
reactie: a response/reply (e.g., to an email or post).
feedback: borrowed mass noun for evaluative comments; e.g., feedback geven, de feedback bespreken. Choose based on nuance; opmerking fits a specific remark.

What are natural alternatives to bespreken?

Neutral: praten over, spreken over (slightly more formal).
More formal/meeting jargon: behandelen (to deal with), doornemen (to go through), aan de orde stellen (to put on the agenda), overleggen (over) (to deliberate). Examples:
We spreken over de opmerking tijdens de vergadering.
We behandelen de opmerking tijdens de vergadering.

Why tijdens de vergadering and not in/op/bij de vergadering?

tijdens de vergadering = during the meeting (time span) — best match for “during.”
in de vergadering can be used, often meaning “in the context of the meeting,” but tijdens is the clearest for time.
op de vergadering is common in Belgian Dutch for “at the meeting”; in the Netherlands it sounds more regional/less standard.
bij de vergadering doesn’t mean “during”; it can mean “at/with” in other contexts, but avoid it here.

How is bespreken conjugated?

Present: ik bespreek, jij/hij bespreekt, wij/jullie/zij bespreken
Simple past: ik besprak, wij bespraken
Past participle: besproken (auxiliary hebben) Examples:
We hebben de opmerking besproken.
We bespraken de opmerking gisteren.

How would I make this passive?

Use worden (present) or zijn (perfect) with the past participle:

Present passive: De opmerking wordt tijdens de vergadering besproken.
Perfect passive: De opmerking is tijdens de vergadering besproken.

Any quick pronunciation tips?

Wij: ij = [ɛi], like English “ay” + “i”: [ʋɛi].
bespreken: stress on -spre-; long ee [eː].
opmerking: stress on op-; rk cluster pronounced crisply.
tijdens: ij = [ɛi]; -dens as in “dense” with s.
vergadering: Dutch g is a throaty [ɣ] in NL; stress on -ga-: [vərˈɣaːdərɪŋ]. Focus on word stress: be-SPRE-ken, VER-GA-de-ring.

How do I talk about the future?

With gaan (informal/near future): We gaan de opmerking tijdens de vergadering bespreken.
With zullen (more formal/neutral future): We zullen de opmerking tijdens de vergadering bespreken. Simple present also works for scheduled events: We bespreken de opmerking morgen.