Cleaning coffee from documents | Learn Dutch in English

Dutch lesson set in a contemporary Amsterdam everyday setting: In a daily life situation, two adults handle coffee spilled on documents and decide how to dry or replace the damaged page..

EN → NL / Level: A2

About This Lesson

Use Cleaning coffee from documents to practice Dutch conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Ik heb koffie op deze documenten gemorst.

Ik hep KOF-fee op DAY-zuh dok-yoo-MEN-tun guh-MORST. I spilled coffee on these documents.
B

Haal ze weg bij het kopje voordat de vlek zich verspreidt.

HAHL zuh vekh bay ut KOP-yuh for-DAHT duh vlehk zikh fur-SPRAYT. Move them away from the cup before the stain spreads.
A

De bovenste pagina is al doorweekt.

Duh BOH-vun-stuh pah-ZHEE-nah is al DOHR-WAYKT. The top page is already soaked.
B

Laat de pagina plat drogen voordat je hem vastpakt.

LAHT duh pah-ZHEE-nah plaht DROH-khun for-DAHT yuh hum VAST-pakt. Let it dry flat before you handle it.
A

Zal ik een schone kopie van die pagina afdrukken?

Zahl ik ayn SKHOH-nuh KOH-pee vahn dee pah-ZHEE-nah AHF-druk-un? Should I print a clean copy of that page?
B

Dat is veiliger, omdat de tekst misschien wazig wordt.

Daht is VAY-li-khur, om-DAHT duh tekst mis-SKHEEN VAA-zukh vohrt. That would be safer because the text may blur.
A

Ik leg de droge pagina's apart terwijl deze droogt.

Ik lekh duh DROH-khuh pah-ZHEE-nahs uh-PART ter-VAYL DAY-zuh DROHKT. I will separate the dry pages while this one dries.
B

Zet de drankjes de volgende keer op een andere tafel.

ZET duh DRANK-yuhs duh VOL-khun-duh kayr op uhn AHN-duh-ruh TAH-fuhl. Keep the drinks on another table next time.

Word by Word

Ik Ik means “I” in the exact sentence “Ik heb koffie op deze documenten gemorst.” It identifies the speaker as the person who spilled the coffee. Use Ik at the start of a sentence when talking about yourself.
heb In “Ik heb koffie op deze documenten gemorst,” heb is the auxiliary meaning “have” in a completed-action construction. It works together with gemorst to describe what the speaker has done. A reusable pattern is Ik heb ... gedaan for a completed action.
koffie Koffie means “coffee” in “Ik heb koffie op deze documenten gemorst.” Here it is the liquid that was spilled. Use koffie for the drink itself, for example when discussing a drink on a table.
op Op means “on” in “koffie op deze documenten,” showing where the coffee landed. It connects the spilled substance with the documents. A reusable pattern is iets op een tafel leggen for putting something on a table.
deze Deze means “these” in “deze documenten” and points to the documents near or relevant to the speakers. It comes directly before documenten. Use deze before a noun when identifying particular nearby items.
documenten Documenten means “documents” in “deze documenten.” It refers to the papers affected by the spilled coffee. The singular form is document, while documenten is the plural form used here.
gemorst Gemorst means “spilled” in “Ik heb koffie op deze documenten gemorst.” It is the form used with heb to describe the completed spilling. The citation form is morsen, meaning to spill; a reusable pattern is Ik heb ... gemorst.
Haal Haal means “move or take away” in the instruction “Haal ze weg bij het kopje.” It tells someone to remove the documents from the cup. The citation form is halen, and a useful pattern is Haal ... weg bij ... for moving something away from a place or object.
ze Ze means “them” in “Haal ze weg bij het kopje,” referring to the documents. It is the object being moved away. Use ze after an imperative when referring to multiple previously mentioned objects.
weg Weg contributes the meaning “away” in “Haal ze weg bij het kopje.” Together with Haal, it forms the instruction to remove something. A reusable pattern is iets weg halen when telling someone to take something away.
bij Bij identifies the cup as the place from which the documents should be moved in “weg bij het kopje.” In this context it is close to “from” or “away from,” while the full meaning comes from the construction weg bij. Use bij with a person or place to indicate being near or at that reference point.
het Het means “the” in “het kopje,” referring to one specific cup. It appears directly before kopje. Use het before nouns that take this definite article.
kopje Kopje means “cup” in “bij het kopje.” It identifies the cup near the documents and the source of the risk to the papers. Use kopje when referring to a small cup or a cup in an everyday setting.
voordat Voordat means “before” in “voordat de vlek zich verspreidt.” It introduces the action that should happen first: moving the documents. Use voordat to connect an earlier action with a later event, followed by a clause.
de De means “the” in “de vlek,” referring to the specific stain caused by the coffee. It comes before vlek. Use de before nouns that take this definite article.
vlek Vlek means “stain” in “de vlek zich verspreidt.” It names the mark on the documents that may spread. Use vlek when talking about a visible mark caused by liquid or dirt.
zich Zich is the reflexive element in “de vlek zich verspreidt,” where the stain is presented as spreading itself. It belongs with the verb form verspreidt in this clause. Keep zich with the verb in reusable reflexive constructions when the subject undergoes or performs the action itself.
verspreidt Verspreidt means “spreads” in “de vlek zich verspreidt.” It describes the stain becoming wider across the documents. The citation form is verspreiden, and a reusable pattern is iets verspreidt zich wanneer het groter wordt.
bovenste Bovenste means “top” in “de bovenste pagina,” identifying the page at the top of the stack. It comes before pagina to specify which page is meant. Use bovenste before a noun when selecting the highest or top item in an arrangement.
pagina Pagina means “page” in “De bovenste pagina is al doorweekt.” It refers to one sheet in the document. Use pagina when talking about a page in a document, book, or printed set.
is Is means “is” in “De bovenste pagina is al doorweekt.” It links the page with its current condition, being soaked. The citation form is zijn, and a reusable pattern is iets is ... when describing its state.
al Al means “already” in “is al doorweekt,” showing that the page is soaked at this point in the situation. It emphasizes that the condition has occurred before the next action. Use al before the description of a condition or completed change.
doorweekt Doorweekt describes the page as “soaked” in “De bovenste pagina is al doorweekt.” It shows that the paper has absorbed a lot of liquid. Use doorweekt for paper, clothing, or another material that is thoroughly wet.
Laat Laat means “let” or “leave” in the instruction “Laat de pagina plat drogen.” It tells someone to allow the page to dry rather than handling it immediately. The citation form is laten, and a reusable pattern is Laat iets ... for allowing something to undergo an action.
plat Plat means “flat” in “Laat de pagina plat drogen.” It specifies the position in which the page should dry. Use plat with a verb such as drogen when an object should remain level rather than bent or upright.
drogen Drogen means “dry” in “Laat de pagina plat drogen.” After Laat, it names the action that the page is allowed to undergo. The citation form is also drogen, and a reusable pattern is Laat iets drogen.
je Je means “you” in “voordat je hem vastpakt,” addressing the other person informally. It is the person who might handle the page. Use je when speaking directly to one person in an informal situation.
hem Hem means “it” in “voordat je hem vastpakt,” referring back to the page. It is the object that the listener should not handle too soon. Use hem after a verb when referring to a previously mentioned object represented with this object pronoun.
vastpakt Vastpakt means “handles” or “grabs” in “voordat je hem vastpakt.” It describes taking hold of the page. The citation form is vastpakken, and a reusable pattern is voordat je iets vastpakt when giving advice about handling an object.
Zal In “Zal ik een schone kopie van die pagina afdrukken?”, Zal introduces a question about whether the speaker should print a copy. The phrase asks for a suggestion or permission in this situation. A reusable pattern is Zal ik ...? when offering to do something.
een Een means “a” in “een schone kopie,” introducing one copy without identifying it as a specific previously mentioned copy. It comes before the adjective and noun. Use een before a singular countable noun when referring to one item generally.
schone Schone means “clean” in “een schone kopie,” describing a copy without the coffee damage. It comes before kopie. Use schone before a noun when describing something as clean or free from marks.
kopie Kopie means “copy” in “een schone kopie van die pagina.” It refers to a newly printed version of the page. A reusable pattern is een kopie van ... when referring to a copy of a document or page.
van Van means “of” in “een schone kopie van die pagina.” It links the copy to the page from which it is made. Use van to express a relationship such as a copy of a document.
die Die means “that” in “die pagina,” pointing to the particular page already being discussed. It comes directly before pagina. Use die before a noun when referring to a specific item at some distance in the conversation or situation.
afdrukken Afdrukken means “print” in “Zal ik een schone kopie van die pagina afdrukken?” It names the proposed action of making a paper copy. A reusable pattern is Zal ik ... afdrukken? with the item to be printed before afdrukken.
Dat Dat means “that” in “Dat is veiliger,” referring to the proposed clean copy or printing option. It presents that option as the subject of the evaluation. Use Dat is ... when commenting on an idea, action, or option just mentioned.
veiliger Veiliger means “safer” in “Dat is veiliger,” comparing the proposed option with handling the damaged page directly. The ending gives the comparative form of veilig, “safe.” Use veiliger when recommending one option as having less risk than another.
omdat Omdat means “because” in “omdat de tekst misschien wazig wordt.” It introduces the reason why printing a clean copy is safer. In a clause after omdat, the verb comes at the end, as in “omdat de tekst misschien wazig wordt.”
tekst Tekst means “text” in “de tekst misschien wazig wordt.” It refers to the written content on the page that may lose clarity. Use tekst when discussing written words or content in a document.
misschien Misschien means “maybe” in “de tekst misschien wazig wordt.” It signals that the text becoming blurry is possible, not certain. Use misschien before the possible event or condition you want to qualify.
wazig Wazig means “blurry” in “de tekst misschien wazig wordt.” It describes the text losing sharpness because of the moisture. Use wazig for text, images, or other visual details that are difficult to see clearly.
wordt Wordt means “becomes” in “de tekst misschien wazig wordt.” It describes a change from clear text to blurry text. The citation form is worden, and a reusable pattern is iets wordt ... when something changes into a new condition.
leg Leg means “put” or “place” in “Ik leg de droge pagina's apart.” It describes the speaker placing the dry pages separately. The citation form is leggen, and a reusable pattern is Ik leg iets op or apart when describing where you place something.
droge Droge means “dry” in “de droge pagina's,” identifying the pages that are not the one still drying. It comes before pagina's. Use droge before a noun when describing something that has no remaining moisture.
pagina's Pagina's means “pages” in “de droge pagina's.” It refers to multiple pages that are already dry. The singular form is pagina, and the apostrophe marks the plural ending in this word.
apart Apart means “separately” or “aside” in “Ik leg de droge pagina's apart.” It shows that the dry pages are kept away from the wet page. Use apart with verbs such as leggen when separating items from the rest.
terwijl Terwijl means “while” in “terwijl deze droogt.” It connects the action of putting the dry pages aside with the simultaneous drying of the other page. Use terwijl to describe two actions or situations happening at the same time.
droogt Droogt means “dries” in “terwijl deze droogt,” referring to the page becoming dry. The citation form is drogen, and the form droogt is used with this subject in the dialogue. Use a pattern such as terwijl iets droogt when describing an object drying during another action.
Zet Zet means “put” or “place” in the instruction “Zet de drankjes de volgende keer op een andere tafel.” It tells someone where to place the drinks in the future. The citation form is zetten, and a reusable pattern is Zet iets op een tafel.
drankjes Drankjes means “drinks” in “Zet de drankjes ... op een andere tafel.” It refers to the beverages that should be kept away from the documents. The word is used here for multiple drinks in an everyday setting.
volgende Volgende means “next” in “de volgende keer.” It points to the next occasion after the current incident. Use volgende before keer or another time expression to refer to a later occasion.
keer Keer means “time” or “occasion” in “de volgende keer,” meaning “next time.” Together with volgende, it refers to a future repetition of the situation. Use de volgende keer when giving advice for a future occasion.
andere Andere means “another” in “een andere tafel,” identifying a table different from the current one. It comes before tafel. Use andere before a noun when choosing a different item or place.
tafel Tafel means “table” in “op een andere tafel.” It identifies the surface where the drinks should be placed. Use tafel with op when describing something positioned on a table.

Grammar Points

Imperatief: werkwoordstam

Leg de documenten apart.

LEKH duh dok-yoo-MEN-tun uh-PART.

Put the documents separately.

The imperative usually uses the verb stem without a subject: leggen becomes leg.

laten + infinitief

Laat de documenten plat drogen.

LAHT duh dok-yoo-MEN-tun plaht DROH-khun.

Let the documents dry flat.

Use laten followed by an infinitive to say that someone or something is allowed or caused to do something.

Dutch Vocabulary

bovenste adj
BOH-vun-stuh top
document noun
dok-yoo-MENT document documenten
doorweekt adj
DOHR-WAYKT soaked
halen verb
HAHL-un to move or get Haal
koffie noun
KOF-fee coffee
kopje noun
KOP-yuh cup
morsen verb
MOR-sun to spill gemorst
pagina noun
pah-ZHEE-nah page
vlek noun
vlehk stain
weg bij phrase
vekh bay away from
ze pron
zuh them
zich verspreiden verb
zikh fur-SPRAY-dun to spread zich verspreidt

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

The top page is already soaked.

Show AnswerDe bovenste pagina is al doorweekt.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to spill

Show Answergemorst

stain

Show Answervlek

cup

Show Answerkopje

document

Show Answerdocumenten