Using a Computer and Printer in a Quiet Library | Learn Dutch in English

Sentence explanations

1. Kan ik deze computer gebruiken?

   Can I use this computer?

   Kan ik

   Can I

   deze

   this

   computer

   computer

   gebruiken

   use

   More detail

   Kan ik combines the present form kan of kunnen (“can, be able to”) with the subject ik (“I”). In a yes/no question, the finite verb comes before the subject: Kan ik ...? This is a reusable pattern for asking whether you may or are able to do something. The infinitive follows it, as in Kan ik komen? (“Can I come?”). deze means “this” here. It is the demonstrative used with a singular common-gender de noun, such as deze computer. Its contrast for distance is die, as in the contextual phrase die computer (“that computer”). Deze can also be used with plural nouns, while dit is used with singular het nouns. computer is the noun “computer.” Its article is de: de computer; its plural is computers. In this utterance it is the object of the intended action. gebruiken is the infinitive “to use.” After a modal verb such as kunnen, Dutch uses the infinitive: Ik kan de computer gebruiken (“I can use the computer”). The form gebruiken itself does not show who performs the action; the subject is supplied by ik here. Together, Kan ik deze computer gebruiken? asks whether the speaker can use the particular computer indicated by deze: “Can I use this computer?”

2. Die computer is vrij.

   That computer is free.

   Die

   that

   computer

   computer

   vrij

   free

   More detail

   Die means “that” here as a demonstrative determiner. It points to a singular noun in the de-noun class; computer is such a noun, so Dutch uses die computer. For “this computer,” use deze computer. The form die also has other demonstrative uses, so its exact role comes from the noun it accompanies. computer is the Dutch noun for “computer.” Its plural is computers. In this sentence it is the subject: the thing being described. The article is omitted from the selected phrase, but the full noun phrase is die computer (“that computer”). vrij is an adjective meaning “free” here in the sense of available or not currently occupied. For example, De stoel is vrij. means “The chair is free.” Its meaning can differ by context; the fixed translation supports the availability reading here. The sentence follows the reusable pattern demonstrative + noun + zijn + adjective: Die computer is vrij. The linking verb is is the present-tense form of zijn (“to be”) for a singular subject. Together, die computer identifies the subject, is links it to a description, and vrij supplies that description: “That computer is free.”

3. Het scherm is erg helder.

   The screen is very bright.

   scherm

   screen

   is

   is

   erg

   very

   helder

   bright

   More detail

   scherm means “screen” here. Its base form is scherm; the plural is schermen. It is a het-word: het scherm, “the screen.” is is the present-tense form of zijn (“to be”) for a singular subject such as het scherm. For example, De lamp is aan means “The lamp is on.” erg intensifies the adjective that follows it, meaning “very” here. It can be placed before an adjective: erg groot means “very big.” helder describes the screen as bright. In this sentence it is a predicative adjective after is, and it keeps this form rather than taking an ending. The same word can also describe something clear or bright in other contexts; here the fixed translation and the nearby brightness context support “bright.” Together, Het scherm identifies the screen, is links it to a description, and erg helder means “very bright.” The complete utterance is therefore “The screen is very bright.”

4. Je kunt de helderheid hier lager zetten.

   You can lower the brightness here.

   Je kunt

   you can

   helderheid

   brightness

   hier

   here

   lager

   lower

   zetten

   set; put

   More detail

   Je kunt means “you can” here. kunt is the present-tense form of kunnen used with je in this word order. After a modal verb such as kunnen, the other verb normally stays in the infinitive: Je kunt ... zetten = “You can set ...”. helderheid is the noun “brightness” in this sentence. It is related to the adjective helder, “bright” or “clear”; the earlier sentence uses that adjective for the screen. In de helderheid, de identifies the noun phrase, while helderheid names the adjustable property. hier means “here”. It locates the setting or adjustment at the relevant place, such as the control or interface being indicated. Its meaning does not change the grammatical form of the surrounding words. lager is the comparative form of laag, “low”: laag → lager → laagst (“low” → “lower” → “lowest”). It describes a lower brightness level than the current or understood level. For example, Zet het volume lager. means “Set the volume lower.” zetten means “to set” or “put” here, specifically to adjust something to a chosen level. It is the infinitive after kunt; its present-tense form is zet, as in Ik zet de helderheid lager. — “I set the brightness lower.” Together, de helderheid ... lager zetten forms the reusable pattern “set the brightness lower.” With the modal construction and location word, Je kunt de helderheid hier lager zetten. means “You can lower the brightness here.”

5. Kan ik de printer ook gebruiken?

   Can I use the printer too?

   Kan ik

   Can I

   de printer

   the printer

   ook

   too; also

   gebruiken

   use

   More detail

   Kan ik begins a Dutch yes/no question. kan is the present form of kunnen used with ik; ik is the first-person singular subject pronoun. In this question pattern, the finite verb comes before the subject: Kan ik hier zitten? means “Can I sit here?” de printer means “the printer” here. printer is the noun; its plural is printers. The article de is used with singular common-gender nouns and with all plural nouns, so the article alone does not establish a numeric count; the fixed translation identifies the intended singular printer here. ook is an adverb meaning “too” or “also”. It adds this action to something already relevant: Ik gebruik de printer ook. means “I use the printer too.” gebruiken is the infinitive, or base form, meaning “to use”. After the modal verb kan, Dutch places the infinitive at the end: Kan ik de printer gebruiken? means “Can I use the printer?” In a simple present statement without that modal, the verb is inflected: Ik gebruik de printer. means “I use the printer.” Together, Kan ik asks whether the speaker can, de printer identifies the printer, ook adds the meaning “too”, and gebruiken supplies the action. The complete utterance therefore means “Can I use the printer too?”

6. Je kunt de printer bij het bureau gebruiken.

   You can use the printer near the desk.

   Je kunt

   you can

   printer

   printer

   bij

   near

   bureau

   desk

   gebruiken

   use

   More detail

   Je kunt means “you can” here. kunt is the present-tense form of kunnen used with je when je is the subject. Kunnen is a modal verb: it expresses ability or permission, and the other verb remains an infinitive later in the clause. For example: Je kunt wachten. — “You can wait.” printer means “printer.” It is a loanword used as a Dutch noun. In this sentence, de marks the noun phrase as a definite one: “the printer.” bij means “near” in this sentence. It introduces a location next to or close to something: bij het raam — “near the window.” Its meaning here is spatial; it is not part of the verb gebruiken. bureau means “desk” here. The phrase het bureau means “the desk,” with the neuter definite article het. The article is part of the noun phrase and does not by itself assert a quantity. gebruiken is the infinitive meaning “to use.” Its base form is gebruiken; after a modal verb such as kunnen, Dutch normally places this infinitive at the end of the clause. For example: Je kunt de computer gebruiken. — “You can use the computer.” Together, Je kunt expresses the ability or permission, de printer is what can be used, bij het bureau locates the printer, and gebruiken supplies the action. The complete meaning is: “You can use the printer near the desk.”

7. Ik gebruik een koptelefoon als ik geluid afspeel.

   I'll use headphones if I play any audio.

   gebruik

   use

   koptelefoon

   headphones

   als ik

   if I

   geluid

   sound; audio

   afspeel

   play

   More detail

   gebruik is the first-person singular present form of gebruiken, “to use.” Dutch present tense can refer to a future action when the context makes that timing clear, so Ik gebruik can mean “I’ll use” here. Compare ik gebruik (“I use / I’ll use”) with je gebruikt (“you use”) and gebruiken (“to use,” infinitive). koptelefoon means “headphone set” or “headphones.” It is a singular Dutch compound noun for the device as a whole; the article een presents one such device, without by itself asserting a numerical count in the English sense. The plural is koptelefoons. als ik introduces a condition or time clause: “if/when I.” In this sentence, als connects the condition to the main clause, and ik is the first-person singular subject. In an als clause, the finite verb normally comes at the end, as in als ik geluid afspeel. geluid is a neuter noun meaning “sound” or “audio.” In this sentence it is the material being played. A useful related contrast is stil (“quiet/silent”), which appears in the following context but is not part of this utterance. afspeel is the first-person singular present form of the separable verb afspelen, “to play” (audio or other media). The prefix af- is attached in the subordinate clause, giving ik afspeel; in a main clause it is separated: Ik speel geluid af. Together, Ik gebruik een koptelefoon gives “I’ll use headphones,” and als ik geluid afspeel gives “if I play any audio.” The complete utterance therefore means: “I’ll use headphones if I play any audio.”

8. Zo blijft het stil in de ruimte.

   That will keep the room quiet.

   Zo

   that way; thus

   blijft

   stays; remains

   stil

   quiet; still

   ruimte

   room; space

   More detail

   Zo means “that way” or “thus” here: it points to a manner or arrangement established in context. A reusable pattern is Zo + clause (“That way, ...”). blijft is the present-tense form of blijven (“to stay; to remain”) for a singular third-person subject. Compare blijf for “I” and blijven as the infinitive and plural present form. Here, blijven presents a state as continuing. stil means “quiet” here. After blijven, it describes the continuing state. stil can also mean “still” in a context about lack of movement. Example: De kamer blijft stil. — “The room stays quiet.” ruimte means “room” here; in other contexts it can mean “space.” Its plural is ruimtes. In de ruimte, de is the definite article used with this noun. The phrase in de ruimte gives the location where the quiet state holds. het is the impersonal subject pronoun in this sentence, rather than a reference to a specifically identified person or thing. It is therefore not the definite article in this use. The construction presents the situation as remaining quiet; the fixed translation conveys this as “That will keep the room quiet.” Together, Zo blijft het stil in de ruimte means “That way, it stays quiet in the room,” matching the fixed translation “That will keep the room quiet.” A reusable pattern is Zo blijft het [state] in de [place]: “That way, it remains [state] in the [place].”