About This Lesson
Use Borrowing a charger and adapter to practice Dutch conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
Is er een oplader die ik kan lenen?
iss air uhn OH-plah-der dee ik kahn LAY-nuh? Is there a charger I can borrow?
B
Gebruik die naast mijn laptop.
guh-BROYK dee nahst mine LEP-top. Use the one beside my laptop.
A
Heb ik deze adapter ook nodig?
hep ik DAY-zuh ah-DAHP-ter ohk NOH-dikh? Do I need this adapter too?
B
Gebruik hem als je stekker niet past.
guh-BROYK hem ahls yuh STEK-er neet pahst. Use it if your plug does not fit.
A
Komt de kabel tot aan de tafel?
kompt duh KAH-bul tot ahn duh TAH-ful? Will the cable reach the table?
B
Hij komt tot aan de tafel als je bij de muur zit.
hay kompt tot ahn duh TAH-ful ahls yuh bye duh myur zit. It reaches if you sit near the wall.
A
Ik leg alles terug als ik klaar ben.
ik LEKH AL-us trukh ahls ik KLAHR ben. I will put everything back when I finish.
B
Laat het op mijn bureau liggen, zodat ik het kan vinden.
LAHT ut op mine buh-ROH LIKH-un, zoh-DAHT ik ut kan VIN-dun. Leave it on my desk so I can find it.Word by Word
Is
In "Is er een oplader die ik kan lenen?", "Is" asks whether something exists. It is the question form of the verb zijn, and it begins the reusable existence question "Is er ...?". Use this to ask whether something is available or present.
er
In "Is er een oplader die ik kan lenen?", "er" introduces the idea that something exists or is available. It works with "Is" in an existence question rather than referring to a specific place here. This is useful when asking whether something is present.
een
"een" means “a” in "een oplader" and introduces one non-specific charger. It comes directly before the noun "oplader". Use it before a singular, non-specific item when asking for or mentioning something.
oplader
"oplader" means charger in this dialogue. In "een oplader die ik kan lenen", it is the item the speaker wants to borrow. It can be used for a charger that supplies power to a device.
die
In "een oplader die ik kan lenen", "die" links "oplader" to the clause "ik kan lenen" and means “that” or “which” here. It identifies the charger the speaker can borrow. This form is useful for adding information about a specific noun.
ik
"ik" means “I” and is the subject in "die ik kan lenen". It shows that the speaker is the person who can borrow the charger. Use it before the verb when talking about yourself.
kan
In "ik kan lenen", "kan" expresses ability or possibility: the speaker can borrow the charger. It is a form of the verb kunnen and is followed by the infinitive "lenen". Use it with another verb to say that someone is able or allowed to do something.
lenen
"lenen" means “borrow” in "die ik kan lenen". It is the action the speaker wants to do with the charger and follows "kan". Use it for taking someone else’s item temporarily with permission.
Gebruik
"Gebruik" means “use” in the instruction "Gebruik die naast mijn laptop." It is the command form of gebruiken and comes at the beginning of the instruction. Use it to tell someone to operate or take an item for its intended purpose.
naast
"naast" means “beside” or “next to” in "naast mijn laptop". It shows where the charger is located in relation to the laptop. Use it before a noun when describing a position directly next to something.
mijn
"mijn" means “my” in "mijn laptop" and shows that the laptop belongs to or is associated with the speaker. It comes before "laptop". Use it before a noun when identifying something as the speaker’s.
laptop
"laptop" means laptop in "mijn laptop". Here it identifies the object beside which the charger is located. It can be used for a portable computer in everyday conversation.
Heb
In "Heb ik deze adapter ook nodig?", "Heb" begins a question about whether the speaker needs something. It is the form of hebben used with ik, placed before the subject in this question. Together with "nodig", it asks whether the adapter is necessary.
deze
"deze" means “this” in "deze adapter" and points to a particular adapter near the conversation. It comes directly before "adapter". Use it when identifying a specific item close to the speaker or listener.
adapter
"adapter" means adapter in "deze adapter". It is the additional item whose necessity the speaker is checking. The word can be used for a device that makes a plug or connection suitable for another system.
ook
"ook" means “also” or “too” in "deze adapter ook nodig". It adds the idea that the adapter may be needed in addition to the charger. Its position before "nodig" helps add this extra item to the question.
nodig
"nodig" means “needed” or “necessary” in "Heb ik deze adapter ook nodig?". With "Heb", it asks whether the speaker requires the adapter. Use it when checking whether an item or action is necessary.
hem
"hem" means “it” as the object in "Gebruik hem". Here it refers to the item being discussed, likely the adapter, and receives the action of using. Use this object pronoun after a verb when referring back to a masculine or person-like item.
als
"als" introduces a condition in "als je stekker niet past" and "als je bij de muur zit". It means “if” in these instructions: one action depends on another situation. Use it to connect a condition with what happens or should happen.
je
"je" means informal singular “you” in "je stekker" and "je bij de muur zit". It identifies the person whose plug is being discussed and the person sitting near the wall. Use it for one person in an informal situation.
stekker
"stekker" means plug in "je stekker". It is the item whose fit is being checked. Use it when talking about the plug that connects an electrical device to a socket or adapter.
niet
"niet" makes the statement negative in "niet past", meaning that the plug does not fit. It comes before the verb form "past" here. Use it to say that an action or condition is not true.
past
In "je stekker niet past", "past" means “fits” and describes whether the plug fits. It is a form of passen used with the subject "je stekker". Use it with "niet" when saying that an object does not fit.
Komt
In "Komt de kabel tot aan de tafel?", "Komt" asks whether the cable reaches as far as the table. It is the question-initial form of komen, placed before the subject "de kabel". Together with "tot aan", it checks the cable’s endpoint.
de
"de" is the definite article in "de kabel" and "de tafel". It introduces specific objects known in this situation: the cable and the table. Use it before nouns that refer to a particular item.
kabel
"kabel" means cable in "de kabel". It is the item whose reach to the table is being checked. Use it for a cable used to carry power or connect devices.
tot
In "tot aan de tafel", "tot" means “up to” and helps mark the endpoint of the cable’s reach. It works together with "aan" in this location phrase. Use this combination when describing how far something extends.
aan
In "tot aan de tafel", "aan" completes the phrase marking the endpoint at the table. Together, "tot aan" means that the reach continues up to that point. Use it with a place or object that marks the limit.
tafel
"tafel" means table in "de tafel". It is the endpoint mentioned for the cable’s reach. Use it for a table or desk-like surface used for working or placing objects.
Hij
"Hij" means “he” or “it” and refers back to "de kabel" in "Hij komt tot aan de tafel". Here it is the subject of the statement about the cable’s reach. Use it to refer back to a previously mentioned de-word noun when the context makes the reference clear.
bij
"bij" means “near” or “by” in "bij de muur". It places the person close to the wall. Use it before a place or object when describing someone or something located nearby.
muur
"muur" means wall in "bij de muur". It identifies the place near which the listener is sitting. Use it for a wall inside or around a building.
zit
In "je bij de muur zit", "zit" describes being seated near the wall. It is a form of zitten used with "je". Use it when describing someone’s seated position or location.
leg
In "Ik leg alles terug", "leg" means “put” or “place”. It is the form of leggen used with "ik", and with "terug" it expresses putting everything back. Use it when describing placing an object somewhere.
alles
"alles" means “everything” in "Ik leg alles terug". It refers collectively to all the borrowed items that should be returned. Use it when referring to the whole set of relevant things rather than naming each one.
terug
"terug" means “back” in "Ik leg alles terug". It adds the idea that the items are returned to their previous place. Use it with an action of returning or putting something back.
klaar
"klaar" means “finished” or “done” in "als ik klaar ben". With "ben", it says that the speaker has finished. Use it to describe being done with an activity or task.
ben
In "als ik klaar ben", "ben" means “am” and completes the statement that the speaker is finished. It is the form of zijn used with "ik" and appears at the end of this subordinate clause. Use it with a description of the speaker’s state, such as being finished.
Laat
In "Laat het op mijn bureau liggen", "Laat" tells the listener to leave something in place. It is the command form of laten, and the following phrase explains the desired location and state. Use it to tell someone not to move an item from where it should remain.
het
"het" means “it” in "Laat het op mijn bureau liggen" and refers to the item that should be left there. Here it is an object pronoun, not an article. Use it when referring back to a previously mentioned item without repeating its name.
op
"op" means “on” in "op mijn bureau". It shows that the item should be located on the surface of the desk. Use it before a surface when describing where something is placed.
bureau
"bureau" means desk in "mijn bureau". It is the surface where the item should remain. Use it for a desk used for working or keeping office items.
liggen
In "Laat het op mijn bureau liggen", "liggen" describes the item remaining placed on the desk. It follows "Laat het ..." to specify the state the item should stay in. Use it when an object is lying or remains in a particular place.
zodat
"zodat" means “so that” in "zodat ik het kan vinden". It introduces the purpose of leaving the item on the desk: the speaker wants to be able to find it. Use it to connect an action with its intended result or purpose.
vinden
"vinden" means “find” in "ik het kan vinden". It follows "kan" and describes the action the speaker wants to be able to complete. Use it when locating an item, person, or piece of information.
Grammar Points
tot aan + zelfstandig naamwoord
tot aan de tafel
tot ahn duh TAH-fulup to the table
Tot aan geeft het eindpunt van een plaats of beweging aan: niet verder dan dat punt.
Dutch Vocabulary
adapter
noun
ah-DAHP-ter
adapter
die
pron
dee
that; the one that
gebruiken
verb
guh-BROYK-un
to use
Gebruik
kabel
noun
KAH-bul
cable
laptop
noun
LEP-top
laptop
lenen
verb
LAY-nun
to borrow
naast
prep
nahst
beside; next to
nodig
adj
NOH-dikh
needed; necessary
oplader
noun
OH-plah-der
charger
passen
verb
PAHS-un
to fit
past
stekker
noun
STEK-er
plug
tot aan
prep
tot ahn
up to; as far as
Quiz
Word Order
Arrange the words in the correct order.
Use the one beside my laptop.
Show Answer
Gebruik die naast mijn laptop.Do I need this adapter too?
Show Answer
Heb ik deze adapter ook nodig?Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
needed; necessary
Show Answer
nodigadapter
Show Answer
adapterbeside; next to
Show Answer
naastplug