Fixing a Light Problem | Learn Dutch in English

About This Lesson

Use Fixing a Light Problem to practice Dutch conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Het licht doet het niet.

hut LIKHT doot ut NEET. The light does not work.

Heb je de schakelaar gecontroleerd?

hep yuh duh SKHAH-kuh-lahr khuh-kon-troh-LEERD? Did you check the switch?

Ik heb het gecontroleerd, maar het doet het nog steeds niet.

ik hep ut khuh-kon-troh-LEERD, mahr ut doot ut nohkh STAYT neet. I checked it, and it still does not work.

Misschien is de gloeilamp oud.

miss-KHEEN iss duh KHLOO-ee-lahmp OWT. Maybe the bulb is old.

De kamer is nu te donker.

duh KAH-mur iss nyoo tuh DON-kur. The room is too dark now.

Ik kan een kleine lamp brengen.

ik kahn un KLAY-nuh lahmp BRENG-un. I can bring a small lamp.

We zouden de gloeilamp later moeten vervangen.

vuh ZOW-dun duh KHLOO-ee-lahmp LAH-tur MOO-tun vur-VANG-un. We should change the bulb later.

Gebruik de kleine lamp totdat we de gloeilamp vervangen.

khuh-BROYK duh KLAY-nuh lahmp tut-DAHT wuh duh KHLOO-ee-lahmp vur-VANG-un. Use the lamp until we replace it.

Word by Word

Het In “Het licht” means “the,” while the lowercase form “het” in “het gecontroleerd” and “het doet het niet” refers to “it.” The exact form therefore works either as a short reference to the light or as the word before “licht.” Use “het” when referring back to something already understood, as in “het gecontroleerd.”

licht “licht” means “light” in “Het licht doet het niet.” It is the thing being checked because it is not working. You can reuse “licht” when talking about a light in a room or another place.

doet In “doet het niet,” “doet” contributes to the expression meaning “works,” so “Het licht doet het niet” says that the light does not work. The same form appears in “het doet het nog steeds niet” for a continuing problem. Use “doet het” to describe whether something is functioning.

niet “niet” makes “doet het” negative in “doet het niet” and “nog steeds niet.” It shows that the light is not working. Put it at the end of this expression when saying that something does not function.

Heb “Heb” is the form used at the start of “Heb je de schakelaar gecontroleerd?” to ask whether the checking happened, and in “Ik heb het gecontroleerd” to state that it happened. It works together with “gecontroleerd” in these lines. Use “Heb je ... gecontroleerd?” when asking someone whether they checked something.

je “je” means “you” in “Heb je de schakelaar gecontroleerd?” It identifies the person who may have checked the switch. Use it after “Heb” in a question about whether someone has checked something.

de “de” means “the” before “schakelaar” in “de schakelaar gecontroleerd.” It identifies a specific switch in the room. Use “de” before a known object, such as the switch being discussed.

schakelaar “schakelaar” means “switch” in “de schakelaar.” It is the object that the speaker asks about checking. Use it when talking about the switch that controls a light.

gecontroleerd “gecontroleerd” means “checked” in “de schakelaar gecontroleerd” and “het gecontroleerd.” It describes the checking that “Heb” or “heb” supports in these lines. Use “Heb je ... gecontroleerd?” to ask whether a person checked an object.

Ik “Ik” means “I” in “Ik heb het gecontroleerd.” It marks the speaker as the person who checked the light or switch. Use “Ik heb ...” to report that you checked something.

maar “maar” means “but” in “Ik heb het gecontroleerd, maar het doet het nog steeds niet.” It introduces the result that remains different from what might have been expected. Use it to connect an action with a problem that continues.

nog In “nog steeds niet,” “nog” contributes the meaning “still,” showing that the problem continues. It emphasizes that checking did not change the result. Use “nog steeds” when a situation remains unchanged.

steeds In “nog steeds niet,” “steeds” contributes the idea that the same condition continues. Together with “nog,” it says that the light still does not work. Use it in “nog steeds” to describe an unchanged situation.

Misschien “Misschien” means “maybe” in “Misschien is de gloeilamp oud.” It presents the old bulb as a possibility rather than a certain explanation. Use it before a suggestion about a possible cause.

is “is” links a thing with a description in “Misschien is de gloeilamp oud” and “De kamer is nu te donker.” Here it says what condition the bulb or room is in. Use “is” to describe a person, thing, or place.

gloeilamp “gloeilamp” means “bulb” in “de gloeilamp.” It is identified as the possible old part and later as the part to replace. Use it when discussing the bulb in a light fixture.

oud “oud” means “old” in “de gloeilamp oud.” It describes the bulb as a possible reason why the light does not work. Use it after “is” to describe the age or condition of something.

kamer “kamer” means “room” in “De kamer is nu te donker.” It names the place whose lighting is a problem. Use it when describing the room where the light is being checked.

nu “nu” means “now” in “De kamer is nu te donker.” It focuses on the room’s current condition after the light problem. Use it to refer to the present situation.

te “te” means “too” in “te donker.” It shows that the room is darker than is acceptable or useful. Use “te” before a description when something exceeds the suitable amount or degree.

donker “donker” means “dark” in “De kamer is nu te donker.” With “te,” it describes the room as excessively dark. Use it after “is” to describe the amount of light in a place.

kan “kan” means “can” in “Ik kan een kleine lamp brengen.” It presents bringing the lamp as possible for the speaker. Use “kan” before an action, as in “kan ... brengen,” when offering or describing an ability.

een “een” means “a” in “een kleine lamp.” It introduces one unspecified small lamp that can be brought into the room. Use it before a singular object when it is not yet identified as a particular one.

kleine “kleine” means “small” in “een kleine lamp” and “de kleine lamp.” It describes the lamp that will provide temporary light. Use it before “lamp” when specifying that the lamp is small.

lamp “lamp” means “lamp” in “een kleine lamp” and “de kleine lamp.” It is the alternative light source that can be brought into the dark room. Use it when talking about a lamp used to provide light.

brengen “brengen” means “bring” in “Ik kan een kleine lamp brengen.” It names the action that the speaker says they can do with the lamp. After “kan,” use “brengen” to say that bringing something is possible.

We “We” means “we” in “We zouden de gloeilamp later moeten vervangen,” while lowercase “we” in “we de gloeilamp vervangen” refers to the same two speakers. It marks the speakers together as the people who will replace the bulb. Use “we” when including yourself and another person in an action.

zouden “zouden” helps present “We zouden de gloeilamp later moeten vervangen” as what the speakers think they should do. It gives the suggestion a less direct, considered tone. Use it with a proposed action when discussing what would be sensible to do.

later “later” means “later” in “de gloeilamp later moeten vervangen.” It places the replacement after the current temporary solution. Use it to refer to a time after the present moment.

moeten “moeten” contributes the idea of necessity in “zouden ... moeten vervangen.” The speakers say that replacing the bulb is something they should do later. Use “moeten” before an action to say that it is necessary or expected.

vervangen “vervangen” means “replace” in “de gloeilamp ... vervangen.” It names the planned action of putting a replacement in place of the old bulb. Use it with the object being replaced, as in “de gloeilamp vervangen.”

Gebruik “Gebruik” means “use” in “Gebruik de kleine lamp.” It is a direct instruction to use the small lamp for the current situation. Use “Gebruik” at the beginning of an instruction about an object.

totdat “totdat” means “until” in “totdat we de gloeilamp vervangen.” It sets the endpoint for using the small lamp: the use continues up to the replacement of the bulb. Use it to connect an action with the event that ends it.

Grammar Points

doen → doet

doet

DOOT

does; works

In the present tense, doen changes to doet for the third-person singular: hij/zij/het doet.

klein → kleine

kleine lamp

KLAY-nuh LAHMP

small lamp

Before a noun, the adjective usually takes -e: klein becomes kleine.

Dutch Vocabulary

controleren verb

khuh-kon-troh-LEER-un to check gecontroleerd

Ik heb het gecontroleerd.

doen verb

DOON to work; to do doet

Het licht doet het niet.

donker adj

DON-kur dark

De kamer is nu te donker.

gloeilamp noun

KHLOO-ee-lahmp light bulb

De gloeilamp is oud.

kamer noun

KAH-mur room

De kamer is nu te donker.

lamp noun

LAHMP lamp

Ik kan een kleine lamp brengen.

licht noun

LIKHT light

Het licht doet het niet.

misschien adv

miss-KHEEN maybe Misschien

Misschien is de gloeilamp oud.

nog steeds adv

nohkh STAYT still

Het doet het nog steeds niet.

nu adv

NYOO now

De kamer is nu te donker.

oud adj

OWT old

De gloeilamp is oud.

schakelaar noun

SKHAH-kuh-lahr switch

Heb je de schakelaar gecontroleerd?

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

The light does not work.

Show Answer

Het licht doet het niet.

Did you check the switch?

Show Answer

Heb je de schakelaar gecontroleerd?

Maybe the bulb is old.

Show Answer

Misschien is de gloeilamp oud.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

maybe

Show Answer

Misschien

light bulb

Show Answer

gloeilamp

light

Show Answer

licht

to work; to do

Show Answer

doet