Learn Hardcore Dutch: Morgen bespreken wij de sollicitatie in de vergaderzaal. - Tomorrow we will discuss the job application in the meeting room.

Dutch main clauses follow the verb-second rule: the first element (here, the time word Morgen) is followed by the finite verb (bespreken), then the subject (wij). So:

Morgen bespreken wij …
If you start with the subject, you get: Wij bespreken morgen …

Can I also say Wij bespreken morgen de sollicitatie in de vergaderzaal?

Yes. Both word orders are correct:

Morgen bespreken wij … (emphasis on the time)
Wij bespreken morgen … (neutral order with the subject first)

What’s the difference between wij and we?

Both mean “we.” Wij is the stressed/contrastive form (more formal or emphasizing the subject), while we is the common, unstressed form in speech and writing. Example:

Wij doen het, niet zij. (We, not they)
We bespreken het morgen. (Neutral)

Why is the present tense used for a future plan? Do I need zullen?

Dutch often uses the present for near-future, planned events. Alternatives are possible:

Present: Morgen bespreken we … (natural and common)
With zullen: Morgen zullen we … bespreken (more formal/intentional)
With gaan: Morgen gaan we … bespreken (emphasizes intention/arrangement)

What’s the difference between bespreken and praten over?

bespreken takes a direct object and sounds a bit more formal/thorough: We bespreken de sollicitatie.
praten over uses a preposition and is more conversational: We praten over de sollicitatie. Both are correct; choose based on tone and context.

Is bespreken a separable verb? How do I conjugate it?

It is not separable. Key forms:

Present: ik bespreek, je/hij/zij bespreekt, wij/jullie/zij bespreken
Past: ik besprak, wij bespraken
Past participle: besproken (with hebben): We hebben het besproken.

Why de sollicitatie and not het sollicitatie?

Because nouns ending in -tie are almost always common gender and take de (e.g., de situatie, de informatie, de sollicitatie).

Does sollicitatie mean the application or the interview?

Typically it means the act/application (the dossier or process). For the interview specifically, use sollicitatiegesprek. For the letter, sollicitatiebrief.

Could I say een sollicitatie instead of de sollicitatie?

Yes, but it changes the meaning. De sollicitatie refers to a specific, known application; een sollicitatie is non-specific (some application).

Can I move in de vergaderzaal to other places in the sentence?

Yes. Common options:

Wij bespreken morgen de sollicitatie in de vergaderzaal. (neutral)
Wij bespreken morgen in de vergaderzaal de sollicitatie. (less common, narrower focus on location)
In de vergaderzaal bespreken wij morgen de sollicitatie. (fronted location; formal/emphatic) Default is to keep the direct object before the location phrase.

Why in the meeting room and not op?

Use in for enclosed spaces/rooms: in de vergaderzaal. Dutch uses op with certain institutions/places: op kantoor, op school, but still in de kamer, in de zaal.

What exactly is a vergaderzaal? Is that the right spelling?

Yes. It’s a compound: vergader (from vergaderen, to meet) + zaal (hall/room), written as one word. Synonyms: vergaderruimte, vergaderkamer. Plural: vergaderzalen.

How do I turn this into a yes–no or a wh-question?

Yes–no: invert subject and verb: Bespreken we morgen de sollicitatie in de vergaderzaal?
Wh-: put the question word first, then V2: Wanneer bespreken we de sollicitatie? / Waar bespreken we de sollicitatie?

How do I make it passive?

Use worden + past participle:

Present passive: Morgen wordt de sollicitatie in de vergaderzaal besproken.
Past passive: Gisteren werd de sollicitatie besproken.
Perfect passive: De sollicitatie is besproken.

Where does niet go if I want to negate?

Place niet before what you negate:

Negating the whole event: Morgen bespreken we de sollicitatie niet.
Negating the location: Morgen bespreken we de sollicitatie niet in de vergaderzaal (maar online).
Negating the time: We bespreken de sollicitatie niet morgen (maar donderdag).

Any quick pronunciation tips for this sentence?

g in morgen/vergaderzaal is a back-of-the-throat fricative (voiced or voiceless depending on region).
aa in vergaderzaal is a long open vowel (like the a in father, but longer).
ij in wij is a diphthong, similar to English eye.
z in zaal is voiced (like English z).