Checking meeting room equipment | Learn Dutch in English

About This Lesson

Use Checking meeting room equipment to practice Dutch conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

We moeten de apparatuur in de vergaderruimte controleren.

wuh MOO-tun duh ah-pah-rah-TOOR in duh vuh-GHAH-der-RUYM-tuh kohn-troh-LAY-run. We should check the meeting room equipment.

De vergadering begint zo.

duh vuh-GHAH-duh-ring buh-GHINT zoh. The meeting starts soon.

Laten we het nu doen.

LAH-tun wuh hut nü DOON. Let's do it now.

Is de projector op de laptop aangesloten?

is duh proh-YEK-tor op duh LAP-top ahn-ghuh-SLOH-tun? Is the projector connected to the laptop?

Ja, maar deze kabel zit een beetje los.

yah, mahr DAY-zuh KAH-bul zit un BAY-tyuh loss. It is, but this cable feels a little loose.

Laten we de microfoon testen voordat de mensen komen.

LAH-tun wuh duh mee-kroh-FOHN TES-tun vuh-DAHT duh MEN-sun KOH-mun. Let's test the microphone before people arrive.

Hij werkt, maar het volume is laag.

hay wairkt, mahr hut voh-LÜ-muh is lahkh. It works, but the volume is low.

Ik zet het volume iets hoger.

ik zet hut voh-LÜ-muh its HOH-ghur. I'll turn it up a little.

Dat klinkt beter. De ruimte is klaar.

daht klinkt BAY-tur. duh RUYM-tuh is klahr. That sounds better. The room is ready.

Word by Word

We “We” means “we” in “We moeten de apparatuur...”. It is the subject of the sentence and is used before “moeten” in the reusable pattern “We moeten ...”. You use it when speaking about yourself together with one or more other people.

moeten “moeten” expresses that something should or must be done here. In “We moeten ... controleren”, it is followed by an infinitive at the end of the sentence. Use “moeten” to state an obligation or necessary action.

de “de” is the definite article “the” in “de apparatuur”, “de vergadering”, and “de projector”. It appears before these nouns because they take the article “de”. A useful pattern is “de” + noun when referring to a specific thing.

apparatuur “apparatuur” means “equipment” in “de apparatuur in de vergaderruimte”. It refers here to the projector, cable, microphone, and other meeting-room equipment as a group. Use it with “de” when referring to specific equipment.

in “in” means “in” in “in de vergaderruimte”, describing the location of the equipment. It is used before a place to show where something is. A reusable pattern is “in” + place.

vergaderruimte “vergaderruimte” means “meeting room” in “de vergaderruimte”. It names the room where the equipment is being checked. Use it after “in” when saying that something is in the meeting room.

controleren “controleren” means “to check” in “moeten ... controleren”. It is the action that needs to be done and appears as an infinitive after “moeten”. Use the pattern “moeten ... controleren” for saying that something should be checked.

vergadering “vergadering” means “meeting” in “De vergadering begint zo”. It is the event that is about to start. Use it with “de” in “de vergadering” when referring to a specific meeting.

begint “begint” means “starts” in “De vergadering begint zo”. It describes the meeting starting soon. Use it after the subject in a sentence such as “De vergadering begint ...”.

zo “zo” means “soon” in “begint zo”. It indicates that the meeting will start shortly. Use it after a verb to give this kind of immediate time information.

Laten “Laten” begins the suggestion “Laten we het nu doen”, meaning “Let’s do it now”. Together with “we” and an infinitive, it suggests doing something together. Use the pattern “Laten we ...” to make a joint suggestion.

het “het” means “it” in “Laten we het nu doen”. It refers to the checking task already mentioned, rather than naming the task again. Use “het” when referring back to an activity or thing that is already clear from the context.

nu “nu” means “now” in “Laten we het nu doen”. It says that the suggested action should happen at this moment. Use it with an action to specify that it should happen now.

doen “doen” means “do” in “Laten we het nu doen”. It is the infinitive used after “Laten we” to name the suggested action. Use the pattern “Laten we ... doen” when suggesting that you do something together.

Is “Is” means “is” at the beginning of “Is de projector op de laptop aangesloten?”. It forms a yes-or-no question about the projector’s connection. Use “Is” at the beginning when asking whether something is in a particular state.

projector “projector” means “projector” in “de projector”. It is the meeting-room device whose connection is being checked. Use it with “de” when referring to the specific projector.

op “op” means “to” in “op de laptop aangesloten”, describing what the projector is connected to. The expression “op ... aangesloten” is used for this connection. Keep the object after “op”, as in “op de laptop aangesloten”.

laptop “laptop” means “laptop” in “op de laptop”. It is the device to which the projector is connected. A useful pattern is “op de laptop aangesloten” for saying that something is connected to the laptop.

aangesloten “aangesloten” means “connected” in “de projector ... aangesloten”. It describes the projector’s connection to the laptop. Use it in the pattern “is ... aangesloten” when asking or saying whether something is connected.

Ja “Ja” means “yes” in “Ja, maar deze kabel zit een beetje los”. It confirms that the projector is connected before adding a problem with the cable. Use “Ja” to give a positive answer, often followed by more information.

maar “maar” means “but” in “Ja, maar deze kabel...”. It introduces information that limits or contrasts with the preceding confirmation. Use “maar” to connect a positive statement with a problem or qualification.

deze “deze” means “this” in “deze kabel”. It points to the particular cable being discussed. Use the pattern “deze” + noun when identifying a nearby or relevant item.

kabel “kabel” means “cable” in “deze kabel”. It is the cable whose connection feels loose. Use it with “deze” when referring to this particular cable.

zit “zit” means “is” here in “deze kabel zit ... los”, describing the cable’s physical state. It is not referring to sitting in this context. A useful pattern is “iets zit los” for saying that something is loose.

een “een” contributes to the expression “een beetje”, meaning “a little”. In this dialogue it introduces a small degree rather than a specific object. Use “een beetje” before an adjective such as “los” to soften the description.

beetje “beetje” means “little” in the expression “een beetje los”. It shows that the cable is loose only to a small degree. Use “een beetje” before an adjective to describe a small amount or degree.

los “los” means “loose” in “deze kabel zit een beetje los”. It describes a cable that is not firmly attached. Use it after “zit” in the pattern “zit los” to describe this state.

microfoon “microfoon” means “microphone” in “de microfoon testen”. It is the device they test before people arrive. Use it with “de” when referring to the specific microphone.

testen “testen” means “to test” in “Laten we de microfoon testen”. It names the action suggested for the microphone. It is an infinitive after “Laten we”; use the pattern “Laten we ... testen” to suggest testing something together.

voordat “voordat” means “before” in “voordat de mensen komen”. It introduces the time that should pass before the microphone is tested. Use “voordat” followed by a clause to say that one action happens before another.

mensen “mensen” means “people” in “de mensen komen”. It refers to the people expected to arrive for the meeting. Use it with “de” when referring to a particular group of people.

komen “komen” means “come” or “arrive” in “de mensen komen”. It describes the people arriving after the microphone is tested. Use it after a subject such as “de mensen” when talking about coming or arriving.

Hij “Hij” means “he” or “it” here and refers to the microphone in “Hij werkt”. It is used for the microphone rather than for a person. Use “Hij werkt” to say that this device works.

werkt “werkt” means “works” in “Hij werkt”. It says that the microphone functions correctly. Use it after “Hij” or another suitable subject to describe whether a device works.

volume “volume” means “volume” in “het volume is laag”. It refers to the loudness level of the microphone. Use the pattern “het volume is ...” to describe the current volume level.

laag “laag” means “low” in “het volume is laag”. It describes the volume as quieter than desired. Use it after “is” in “het volume is laag” to report a low volume level.

Ik “Ik” means “I” in “Ik zet het volume iets hoger”. It identifies the speaker as the person changing the volume. Use “Ik” as the subject when describing your own action.

zet “zet” means “sets” or “turns” here in “Ik zet het volume iets hoger”. It describes changing the volume to a higher level. Use the pattern “Ik zet het volume ...” when saying that you adjust the volume.

iets “iets” means “a little” or “slightly” in “iets hoger”. It limits the amount of the increase. Use “iets” before a comparative description such as “hoger” to indicate a small adjustment.

hoger “hoger” means “higher” in “zet het volume iets hoger”. It describes the new volume level compared with the previous one. Use the pattern “iets hoger” for saying that something should be made slightly higher.

Dat “Dat” means “that” in “Dat klinkt beter”. It refers to the adjusted sound or volume just mentioned. Use “Dat” at the start of a sentence to comment on something that has just happened or been heard.

klinkt “klinkt” means “sounds” in “Dat klinkt beter”. It describes how the adjusted volume is perceived. Use the pattern “Dat klinkt ...” to give an opinion about how something sounds.

beter “beter” means “better” in “Dat klinkt beter”. It compares the new sound with the earlier sound and says that it has improved. Use it after “klinkt” in “klinkt beter” to say that something sounds improved.

ruimte “ruimte” means “room” in “De ruimte is klaar”. It refers to the meeting room as a physical place. Use it with “de” when referring to the specific room.

klaar “klaar” means “ready” in “De ruimte is klaar”. It says that the room and its equipment are ready for the meeting. Use the pattern “is klaar” to say that a person, place, or task is ready.

Grammar Points

Laten we + infinitief

Laten we de apparatuur controleren.

LAH-tun wuh duh ah-pah-rah-TOOR kohn-troh-LAY-run.

Let's check the equipment.

Na “Laten we” staat het werkwoord in de infinitief. Dit is een vaste manier om een voorstel te doen.

Dutch Vocabulary

aansluiten verb

AHN-SLOY-tun to connect aangesloten

apparatuur noun

ah-pah-rah-TOOR equipment

beginnen verb

buh-GHIN-un to begin; to start begint

controleren verb

kohn-troh-LAY-run to check

kabel noun

KAH-bul cable

laptop noun

LAP-top laptop

laten we phrase

LAH-tun wuh let's Laten we

Laten we het nu doen.

projector noun

proh-YEK-tor projector

vergadering noun

vuh-GHAH-duh-ring meeting

vergaderruimte noun

vuh-GHAH-der-RUYM-tuh meeting room

zitten verb

ZIT-un to be; to sit zit

zo adv

zoh soon

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

The meeting starts soon.

Show Answer

De vergadering begint zo.

Let's do it now.

Show Answer

Laten we het nu doen.

I'll turn it up a little.

Show Answer

Ik zet het volume iets hoger.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

equipment

Show Answer

apparatuur

to check

Show Answer

controleren

meeting

Show Answer

vergadering

to begin; to start

Show Answer

begint