Solving a Phone Battery Problem | Learn Dutch in English

About This Lesson

Use Solving a Phone Battery Problem to practice Dutch conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Mijn telefoonbatterij is bijna leeg.

mine tay-luh-FOHN-bah-tuh-RYE iss BYNE-ah laykh My phone battery is almost dead.

Heb je een oplader of powerbank bij je?

hep yuh uhn OH-plah-der or POW-er-benk bye yuh Do you have a charger or power bank with you?

Ik heb ze allebei thuis gelaten.

ik hep zuh ahl-luh-BYE touse guh-LAH-tuhn I left both at home.

Ik moet dringend bellen.

ik moot DRING-uhnt BEL-luhn I need to make an urgent call.

Er is een stopcontact naast het raam.

air iss uhn STOP-kon-takt nahst uht rahm There is an outlet beside the window.

Mag ik je kabel een paar minuten gebruiken?

mahkh ik yuh KAH-buhl uhn pahr mee-NYOOT-uhn guh-BROY-kuhn Could I use your cable for a few minutes?

Je kunt hem lang genoeg gebruiken om te bellen.

yuh kunt uhm lahng guh-NOOKH guh-BROY-kuhn om tuh BEL-luhn You can use it long enough to make the call.

Ik geef hem terug zodra mijn telefoon aangaat.

ik ghayf uhm truhkh ZOH-drah mine tay-luh-FOHN ahn-GAHT I will return it as soon as my phone turns on.

Laat hem aangesloten totdat je genoeg batterij hebt.

laht uhm ahn-guh-SLOH-tuhn tuh-TAT yuh guh-NOOKH bah-tuh-RYE hept Keep it plugged in until you have enough battery.

Word by Word

Mijn Mijn means “my” in “Mijn telefoonbatterij” and shows who the phone battery belongs to. At the start of a sentence it appears as “Mijn”; later in the dialogue, the same word appears as “mijn”. Use it before a noun when identifying something as belonging to you, such as “Mijn telefoonbatterij” in this situation.

telefoonbatterij Telefoonbatterij means “phone battery” and names the battery of the phone in “Mijn telefoonbatterij”. It is a compound referring specifically to the part that stores the phone’s power. You can use it when describing a phone’s charge or a battery problem.

is Is means “is” in “Mijn telefoonbatterij is bijna leeg” and links the phone battery with its condition. Here it introduces the description that the battery is nearly empty. Use “is” before a description of a person, object, or situation.

bijna Bijna means “almost” in “bijna leeg”, so the battery is not completely empty yet but is close to it. It comes before the word or phrase describing the nearly reached condition. Use it when something is close to a state, time, or amount.

leeg Leeg means “empty” in “bijna leeg”; for a phone battery, this corresponds to being nearly dead or having almost no charge. The word describes the battery’s state, while “bijna” shows that the state is not complete yet. Use “leeg” for a container or battery that has nothing, or almost nothing, left.

Heb Heb means “have” in the question “Heb je een oplader of powerbank bij je?”. At the beginning of this question, it asks whether the other person has something with them. Use “Heb je ...?” to ask someone whether they possess or have access to something.

je Je means “you” in “Heb je een oplader ...?” and refers to the person being asked. In “bij je”, it is part of the expression meaning “with you” or in your possession. Use it in questions about what someone has and in expressions describing something being with that person.

een Een means “a” or “an” in “een oplader” and introduces one unspecified charger. It appears before the singular noun “oplader”. Use “een” before an unspecified singular person or thing.

oplader Oplader means “charger” in “een oplader of powerbank” and refers to the device used to charge the phone. It is one of the two possible power sources mentioned in the question. Use it when asking for or talking about a charger for a device.

of Of means “or” in “een oplader of powerbank” and presents two alternatives. It connects the two possible things the person may have. Use “of” when offering or asking about alternatives.

powerbank Powerbank means “power bank” in “een oplader of powerbank” and refers to a portable source of power for the phone. It is presented as an alternative to “oplader”. Use it when discussing portable phone charging outside the home.

bij Bij contributes to the meaning “with” in the expression “bij je”, referring to something that the person has with them. In this dialogue, the question asks whether a charger or power bank is physically available to the other person. Use “bij je” when asking or saying that someone has something with them.

Ik Ik means “I” in “Ik heb ze allebei thuis gelaten” and identifies the speaker as the person who left the items at home. It also appears in “Ik moet dringend bellen” and “Ik geef hem terug”. Use “Ik” to state your own action, need, or intention.

ze Ze means “them” in “ze allebei” and refers back to the charger and power bank. The speaker says that both items were left at home. Use “ze” to refer to previously mentioned people or things without repeating the noun.

allebei Allebei means “both” in “ze allebei”, referring to the two items mentioned earlier. It makes clear that the statement applies to the charger and the power bank together. Use “allebei” when referring to two known people or things as a pair.

thuis Thuis means “at home” in “thuis gelaten” and identifies the place where the charger and power bank were left. It is used directly to describe being at or returning to home. Use “thuis” when talking about something located at home or an action taking place there.

gelaten Gelaten means “left” in “thuis gelaten”, describing what happened to the charger and power bank. It is the form related to the citation form laten and appears with heb in this completed action. Use “gelaten” when saying that someone left something in a particular place or condition.

moet Moet means “must” or “need to” in “Ik moet dringend bellen”, expressing that the speaker has a necessary task. It is followed here by “dringend bellen”, the action that needs to happen. Use “moet” before an action when explaining a requirement or immediate need.

dringend Dringend means “urgently” in “dringend bellen” and shows that the call cannot reasonably wait. It adds a sense of immediate necessity to the action. Use it when an action needs attention quickly, especially in a problem or emergency situation.

bellen Bellen means “to call” in “dringend bellen” and “om te bellen”. It names the phone action the speaker needs to complete. Use “bellen” with a person or number when talking about making a phone call.

Er Er introduces the existence of something in “Er is een stopcontact naast het raam”, meaning “there is”. It directs attention to the outlet as something available in the location being described. Use the pattern “Er is ...” to say that one thing exists or is located somewhere.

stopcontact Stopcontact means “outlet” or “socket” in “een stopcontact naast het raam”. It identifies the place where the cable can be connected to electrical power. Use it when talking about finding, using, or locating an electrical outlet.

naast Naast means “beside” or “next to” in “naast het raam” and gives the outlet’s location relative to the window. It is followed here by “het raam”, the reference point for the location. Use “naast” to describe one person or object positioned beside another.

het Het means “the” in “het raam” and introduces the specific window being used as a location reference. Together with “raam”, it identifies a known object rather than an unspecified one. Use “het” before a noun when that noun takes this definite article.

raam Raam means “window” in “naast het raam” and identifies the object beside which the outlet is located. The phrase gives a practical landmark for finding the outlet. Use “raam” when describing a window or a location near one.

Mag Mag means “may” or “could” in “Mag ik je kabel ... gebruiken?” and asks for permission to use the cable. The question is a polite request in this situation. Use “Mag ik ...?” when asking whether you are allowed to do something.

kabel Kabel means “cable” in “je kabel” and refers to the cable the speaker wants to borrow for charging. It is the object being requested and later returned. Use it when talking about a cable used to connect a phone or another device.

paar Paar means “few” in “een paar minuten”, referring to a small, unspecified number of minutes. It is used with the plural noun “minuten” to describe the short requested duration. Use the pattern “een paar” before a plural noun when referring to a small number of things or units.

minuten Minuten means “minutes” in “een paar minuten” and measures how long the speaker wants to use the cable. The plural form is used because the phrase refers to more than one minute. Use it after a number or quantity when describing a duration.

gebruiken Gebruiken means “to use” in “je kabel een paar minuten gebruiken”. It describes making use of the other person’s cable for a limited time. Use “gebruiken” with the object being used, as in “je kabel gebruiken”.

kunt Kunt means “can” in “Je kunt hem lang genoeg gebruiken” and gives permission or says that the use is possible. It is followed by “gebruiken”, the action that is allowed. Use “Je kunt ...” when telling someone that an action is possible or permitted.

hem Hem means “it” in “Je kunt hem lang genoeg gebruiken” and “Ik geef hem terug”, referring to the cable. It avoids repeating “kabel” while keeping the cable as the object of the action. Use “hem” to refer back to this previously mentioned object in these sentences.

lang Lang contributes the idea of duration in “lang genoeg gebruiken”, meaning to use something for a sufficiently long time. Here it describes how long the cable may be used, while “genoeg” sets the required amount. Use “lang” with time or duration when describing how long an action continues.

genoeg Genoeg means “enough” in “lang genoeg” and “genoeg batterij”, showing that a sufficient amount or duration has been reached. In “lang genoeg”, it says the use lasts sufficiently long; in “genoeg batterij”, it refers to sufficient battery charge. Use it after or before the relevant amount or noun when expressing sufficiency.

om Om helps express purpose in “om te bellen”, meaning that the cable can be used for the purpose of making the call. Its purpose meaning comes from the whole construction “om te bellen”, not from “om” alone. Use “om te” before an action when explaining what something is done for.

te Te marks the infinitive in “te bellen” inside the purpose expression “om te bellen”. Together, “om te bellen” explains the purpose of using the cable. Use “te” with the infinitive in this kind of purpose construction.

geef Geef means “give” in “Ik geef hem terug”, where “terug” makes the whole expression mean “return it”. The speaker promises to give the cable back after the phone turns on. Geef is the form related to the citation form geven; use “geven ... terug” when returning something to someone.

terug Terug means “back” in “geef hem terug” and shows that the cable will be returned to its owner. Its meaning combines with geef to form the action of giving something back. Use “terug” with an action when something moves or is given back to its previous owner or place.

zodra Zodra means “as soon as” in “zodra mijn telefoon aangaat” and introduces the moment when the cable will be returned. It connects the return with the phone switching on. Use “zodra” when one action should happen immediately after another event.

telefoon Telefoon means “phone” in “mijn telefoon aangaat” and identifies the device that needs to switch on. It is also the device whose battery is nearly empty earlier in the dialogue. Use it when talking about the phone itself, its battery, or a phone call.

aangaat Aangaat means “turns on” in “mijn telefoon aangaat”, describing the phone becoming powered on. It is the form related to the citation form aangaan and appears here in the clause introduced by zodra. Use “zodra ... aangaat” to say that something will happen as soon as a device turns on.

Laat Laat means “keep” or “leave” in “Laat hem aangesloten” and instructs the listener to keep the cable in its connected state. The instruction concerns maintaining that state until the battery has enough charge. Use “Laat ...” when telling someone to let or keep something in a particular state.

aangesloten Aangesloten means “plugged in” or “connected” in “Laat hem aangesloten”, referring to the cable remaining connected to power. It is the form related to the citation form aansluiten and describes the state the cable should remain in. Use it when talking about a device or cable that is connected to a power source or another device.

totdat Totdat means “until” in “totdat je genoeg batterij hebt” and marks the point at which the instruction can stop. The cable should remain connected up to the time when there is enough battery. Use “totdat” before an event or condition that sets an ending point.

batterij Batterij means “battery” in “genoeg batterij” and refers to the phone’s available charge in this context. The phrase means that the phone has enough battery power for the needed call. Use it when talking about how much power remains in a device.

hebt Hebt means “have” in “je genoeg batterij hebt”, referring to the phone having enough battery power. It appears at the end of the clause after “totdat”. Use “genoeg batterij hebt” when saying that someone or their device has sufficient battery charge.

Grammar Points

zodra + bijzin: persoonsvorm achteraan

Zodra de kabel lang genoeg is, gebruik ik de oplader.

ZOH-drah duh KAH-buhl lahng guh-NOOKH iss, guh-BROYK ik duh OH-plah-der

As soon as the cable is long enough, I use the charger.

After zodra, the finite verb moves to the end of the subordinate clause: lang genoeg is.

teruggeven: scheidbaar werkwoord

Ik geef de oplader terug.

ik ghayf duh OH-plah-der truhkh

I return the charger.

In a main clause, the prefix terug separates from geven: geef ... terug.

Dutch Vocabulary

allebei pron

ahl-luh-BYE both

Ik heb ze allebei thuis gelaten.

bellen verb

BEL-luhn to call; to make a phone call

Ik moet dringend bellen.

bij je phrase

bye yuh with you; on you

Heb je een oplader of powerbank bij je?

bijna adv

BYNE-ah almost

Mijn telefoonbatterij is bijna leeg.

dringend adv

DRING-uhnt urgently

Ik moet dringend bellen.

hebben verb

HEB-uhn to have heb

Heb je een oplader of powerbank bij je?

laten verb

LAH-tuhn to leave; to let gelaten

Ik heb ze allebei thuis gelaten.

leeg adj

laykh empty; dead

Mijn telefoonbatterij is bijna leeg.

oplader noun

OH-plah-der charger

Heb je een oplader of powerbank bij je?

powerbank noun

POW-er-benk power bank

Heb je een oplader of powerbank bij je?

telefoonbatterij noun

tay-luh-FOHN-bah-tuh-RYE phone battery

Mijn telefoonbatterij is bijna leeg.

thuis adv

touse at home; home

Ik heb ze allebei thuis gelaten.

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

My phone battery is almost dead.

Show Answer

Mijn telefoonbatterij is bijna leeg.

I left both at home.

Show Answer

Ik heb ze allebei thuis gelaten.

I need to make an urgent call.

Show Answer

Ik moet dringend bellen.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

empty; dead

Show Answer

leeg

almost

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bijna

charger

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oplader

power bank

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powerbank