Borrowing a screwdriver and returning it clean | Learn Dutch in English

About This Lesson

Use Borrowing a screwdriver and returning it clean to practice Dutch conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Mag ik je schroevendraaier lenen voor een kleine reparatie?

mahk ik yuh SKHROO-vuhn-DRY-er LAY-nun fohr un KLY-nuh ray-pah-RAH-tsee? Could I borrow your screwdriver for a small repair?

Hij ligt in de blauwe gereedschapskist.

hay likht in duh BLOW-wuh khuh-RAYTS-khaps-kist. It is in the blue toolbox.

Ik moet de plankbeugels vastdraaien.

ik moot duh PLAHNK-buh-guls vahst-DRY-un. I need to tighten the shelf brackets.

Gebruik de middelgrote schroevendraaier.

khuh-BROYK duh MID-uhl-GROH-tuh SKHROO-vuhn-DRY-er. Use the medium screwdriver.

Die past beter bij die beugels.

dee pahst BAY-tur bay dee BUH-guls. It fits those brackets better.

Wanneer moet ik hem terugbrengen?

vah-NAYR moot ik um tuh-RUKH-breng-un? When should I return it?

Breng hem alsjeblieft voor het avondeten terug.

breng um ahl-shuh-BLEEFT fohr ut AH-vunt-AY-tun tuh-RUKH. Please bring it back before dinner.

Als hij stoffig wordt, veeg ik hem eerst af.

ahls hay STOF-ikh vohrt, vaykh ik um ayRST ahf. If it gets dusty, I'll wipe it off first.

Dat helpt om het gereedschap in goede staat te houden.

daht helpt um ut khuh-RAYT-skhap in KHOO-duh staht tuh HOW-dun. That helps keep the tools in good shape.

Word by Word

Mag “Mag” asks for permission in “Mag ik je schroevendraaier lenen?” It is useful when politely asking whether you may do something, followed by “ik” and an infinitive.

ik “Ik” means “I” and identifies the speaker in “Mag ik...” and “Ik moet...”. It is used as the subject before the verb in a statement or question.

je “Je” means “your” here and identifies the screwdriver as belonging to the other person. A common reuse is “je” directly before a noun when referring to something belonging to someone.

schroevendraaier “Schroevendraaier” means “screwdriver”, the tool being borrowed in “je schroevendraaier”. It can be used with an article or possessive when naming a tool.

lenen “Lenen” means “borrow” in “Mag ik je schroevendraaier lenen?” It is the action requested after “mag ik” when someone wants to use another person’s item and return it later.

voor In “voor een kleine reparatie”, “voor” introduces the purpose of borrowing; in “voor het avondeten”, it means “before” a time. The meaning depends on the phrase that follows it.

een “Een” means “a” in “een kleine reparatie”, introducing one unspecified repair. It is commonly placed before a singular noun.

kleine “Kleine” means “small” and describes the repair in “een kleine reparatie”. It appears before the noun it describes.

reparatie “Reparatie” means “repair”, the purpose of borrowing the screwdriver in “voor een kleine reparatie”. It can be used after “voor” to describe a repair as the reason for an action.

Hij “Hij” refers to “it”, meaning the screwdriver, in “Hij ligt in de blauwe gereedschapskist.” It is used as the subject when referring back to this already mentioned item.

ligt “Ligt” says that the screwdriver is located or lying somewhere in “Hij ligt in de blauwe gereedschapskist.” A useful pattern is “iets ligt in...” when describing where an object is.

in “In” means “in” and shows that the screwdriver is inside the toolbox in “ligt in de blauwe gereedschapskist”. It is commonly followed by the place containing an object.

de “De” means “the” in “de blauwe gereedschapskist” and “de plankbeugels”, referring to specific items. A common reuse is “de” before a specific noun.

blauwe “Blauwe” means “blue” and describes the toolbox in “de blauwe gereedschapskist”. It is placed before the noun it describes.

gereedschapskist “Gereedschapskist” means “toolbox”, the place where the screwdriver is located. It appears in the location phrase “in de blauwe gereedschapskist”.

moet “Moet” expresses “must” or “need to” in “Ik moet de plankbeugels vastdraaien.” It is used with an infinitive to describe something the speaker needs to do.

plankbeugels “Plankbeugels” means “shelf brackets”, the parts that need tightening in “de plankbeugels vastdraaien”. It is the object of the action in this sentence.

vastdraaien “Vastdraaien” means “tighten” in “de plankbeugels vastdraaien”. It is the infinitive after “moet” and names the action performed on the shelf brackets.

Gebruik “Gebruik” means “use” in the instruction “Gebruik de middelgrote schroevendraaier.” It is used at the beginning of a direct instruction, often followed by the item to use.

middelgrote “Middelgrote” means “medium-sized” and describes the screwdriver in “de middelgrote schroevendraaier”. It appears before the noun it describes.

Die At the start of “Die past beter bij die beugels”, “Die” points to the screwdriver just mentioned; the later “die” points to the brackets. This form can point to a specific item or introduce a noun phrase such as “die beugels”.

past “Past” means “fits” in “Die past beter bij die beugels.” A useful pattern is “iets past bij...” when saying that an item is suitable for another item.

beter “Beter” means “better” and says that this screwdriver fits the brackets more suitably than another option. It is used in the pattern “past beter bij...” to compare suitability.

bij “Bij” connects the screwdriver with the brackets in “past beter bij die beugels”, meaning that it fits or is suitable for them. The reusable pattern is “passen bij” for suitability.

beugels “Beugels” means “brackets” in “die beugels”, referring to the shelf brackets being tightened. It is used here after “bij” as the item the screwdriver fits.

Wanneer “Wanneer” means “when” in “Wanneer moet ik hem terugbrengen?” It begins a question about the time at which an action should happen.

hem “Hem” means “it” here and refers to the screwdriver as the object being returned in “hem terugbrengen”. It is placed after the verb or verb phrase when referring to this object.

terugbrengen “Terugbrengen” means “return” or “bring back” in “hem terugbrengen”. It is the infinitive used after “moet” for returning a borrowed item.

Breng “Breng” means “bring” in the instruction “Breng hem alsjeblieft voor het avondeten terug.” Together with “terug”, it tells someone to bring the item back; the object stays between the two parts.

alsjeblieft “Alsjeblieft” means “please” and softens the request “Breng hem alsjeblieft...”. It is commonly used with a request or instruction.

avondeten “Avondeten” means “dinner” in “voor het avondeten”, which sets the deadline for returning the screwdriver. This phrase is useful when scheduling something before the evening meal.

Als “Als” means “if” and introduces the condition “Als hij stoffig wordt”. A common reusable pattern is “Als ... , ...” for saying what happens under a condition.

stoffig “Stoffig” means “dusty” and describes the screwdriver’s condition in “stoffig wordt”. It is useful when describing an item that has collected dust.

wordt “Wordt” means “becomes” or “gets” in “hij stoffig wordt”, describing a change into a dusty condition. It can be used with an adjective to describe a change of state.

veeg “Veeg” means “wipe” in “veeg ik hem eerst af”. Here it is the verb form used with “ik” in the main clause after the opening condition, not a direct instruction.

eerst “Eerst” means “first” and shows that wiping the screwdriver happens before returning it in “veeg ik hem eerst af”. It is used to mark the first action in a sequence.

af “Af” completes the wiping expression in “veeg ik hem eerst af”, giving the idea of wiping something off. Keep the object slot in the reusable pattern “veeg ... af”.

Dat “Dat” means “that” in “Dat helpt”, referring to the preceding action of wiping the screwdriver. It can be used as the subject when commenting on something just mentioned.

helpt “Helpt” means “helps” in “Dat helpt om het gereedschap in goede staat te houden.” A useful pattern is “iets helpt om...” when describing how an action supports a purpose.

om “Om” introduces the purpose phrase “om het gereedschap in goede staat te houden”. It is commonly used before a phrase explaining what an action helps achieve.

het “Het” means “the” in “het avondeten” and “het gereedschap”, referring to specific nouns. It is used directly before these nouns in the dialogue.

gereedschap “Gereedschap” means “tools” or “equipment” in “het gereedschap in goede staat te houden”. It refers collectively to the tools being kept in good condition.

goede “Goede” means “good” in the phrase “in goede staat”, describing the condition of the tools. It appears before the noun “staat” in this expression.

staat “Staat” means “condition” or “state” in “in goede staat”. The phrase “in goede staat houden” means to keep something in good condition.

te “Te” marks the infinitive “houden” in the purpose phrase “om het gereedschap in goede staat te houden”. The pattern “om ... te houden” explains the purpose of what helps.

houden “Houden” means “keep” in “het gereedschap in goede staat te houden”, meaning to maintain the tools in good condition. It is the infinitive after “te” in this purpose phrase.

Grammar Points

worden + bijvoeglijk naamwoord

wordt stoffig

vohrt STOF-ikh

becomes dusty

Worden wordt gebruikt om een verandering of resultaat aan te geven: iets krijgt een nieuwe toestand.

een + bijvoeglijk naamwoord + zelfstandig naamwoord

middelgrote plankbeugels

MID-uhl-GROH-tuh PLAHNK-buh-guls

medium-sized shelf brackets

Voor een meervoudig zelfstandig naamwoord krijgt het bijvoeglijk naamwoord vaak -e: middelgroot wordt middelgrote.

Dutch Vocabulary

avondeten noun

AH-vunt-AY-tun dinner

beter adv

BAY-tur better

gereedschapskist noun

khuh-RAYTS-khaps-kist toolbox

lenen verb

LAY-nun to borrow

middelgroot adj

MID-uhl-KHROHT medium-sized middelgrote

passen verb

PAH-sun to fit past

plankbeugel noun

PLAHNK-buh-gul shelf bracket plankbeugels

reparatie noun

ray-pah-RAH-tsee repair

schroevendraaier noun

SKHROO-vuhn-DRY-er screwdriver

stoffig adj

STOF-ikh dusty

terugbrengen verb

tuh-RUKH-breng-un to bring back; to return

vastdraaien verb

vahst-DRY-un to tighten

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

It is in the blue toolbox.

Show Answer

Hij ligt in de blauwe gereedschapskist.

I need to tighten the shelf brackets.

Show Answer

Ik moet de plankbeugels vastdraaien.

Use the medium screwdriver.

Show Answer

Gebruik de middelgrote schroevendraaier.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

medium-sized

Show Answer

middelgrote

to fit

Show Answer

past

shelf bracket

Show Answer

plankbeugels

to borrow

Show Answer

lenen