About This Lesson
Use Checking an Email Before Sending to practice Dutch conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
Kun je deze e-mail controleren voordat ik hem verstuur?
Koon yuh DAY-zuh AY-mail kohn-troh-LAY-run vohr-DAHT ik um fer-STUHR? Could you check this email before I send it?
B
Ik kan hem controleren. Wat moet ik eerst controleren?
Ik kahn um kohn-troh-LAY-run. Vaht moot ik AYRST kohn-troh-LAY-run? I can check it. What should I check first?
A
Begin alsjeblieft met de onderwerpregel.
Beh-GHIN ahl-shuh-BLEEFT met duh OHN-der-verp-RAY-ghul. Please start with the subject line.
B
De onderwerpregel is duidelijk, maar het onderwerp van de vergadering zou helpen.
Duh OHN-der-verp-RAY-ghul is DOW-duh-luk, mahr ut OHN-der-verp uhv duh ver-GHAH-der-ing zow HELP-un. The subject line is clear, but the meeting topic would help.
A
Is het juiste bestand bijgevoegd?
Is ut YOW-stuh buh-STAHNT BYE-ghuh-VOOKT? Is the correct file attached?
B
Ja, de definitieve versie is bijgevoegd.
YAH, duh deh-fih-NEE-tee-vuh VUR-see is BYE-ghuh-VOOKT. Yes, the final version is attached.
A
Heb ik iedereen die deze e-mail nodig heeft toegevoegd?
Hep ik AY-der-AYN dee DAY-zuh AY-mail NOH-dikh HAYFT TOO-ghuh-VOOKT? Did I include everyone who needs this email?
B
De lijst lijkt compleet.
Duh LAYST laykt kohm-PLAYT. The list looks complete.
A
Dan denk ik dat hij klaar is om te versturen.
DAHN denk ik daht hay KLAHR is um tuh fer-STUHR. Then I think it is ready to send.Word by Word
Kun
In “Kun je deze e-mail controleren...”, “Kun” means “can” or “could” and makes a polite request. It is used before “je” and an action when asking a colleague to do something.
je
In “Kun je deze e-mail controleren...”, “je” means “you”, the person being asked to check the email. The reusable pattern is “Kun je ...?” for asking someone to do an action.
deze
In “deze e-mail”, “deze” means “this” and points to the specific email being discussed. It is placed before a noun when identifying a particular item, such as an email at work.
e-mail
In “deze e-mail controleren”, “e-mail” means “email” and is the item being checked and sent. The phrase is useful when discussing an email before sending it.
controleren
In “deze e-mail controleren”, “controleren” means “to check” the email for problems or missing information. The reusable pattern is “iets controleren”, for example when reviewing a work document.
voordat
In “voordat ik hem verstuur”, “voordat” means “before” and connects checking with the later act of sending. It introduces a clause that describes what must happen first, such as checking an email before sending it.
ik
In “voordat ik hem verstuur”, “ik” means “I” and identifies the person who will send the email. It is used as the subject before the speaker’s own action, for example when saying what I will do next.
hem
In “hem verstuur”, “hem” means “it” and refers back to the email, so the email is not repeated. The same object form appears in “hem controleren” when referring to the email while checking it.
verstuur
In “voordat ik hem verstuur”, “verstuur” means “send” and describes sending the email after it has been checked. It is used after “ik” to state the speaker’s planned action in this work situation.
kan
In “Ik kan hem controleren”, “kan” means “can” and shows that the speaker is able or willing to check the email. The reusable pattern is “Ik kan + action” when offering to do something.
Wat
In “Wat moet ik eerst controleren?”, “Wat” means “what” and asks which item should be checked. It is useful at work when asking for instructions about the next task.
moet
In “Wat moet ik eerst controleren?”, “moet” means “must” or “should” and asks what is required next. The pattern “Wat moet ik ...?” is useful when clarifying a task or priority.
eerst
In “Wat moet ik eerst controleren?”, “eerst” means “first” and marks the first step in the checking process. It is used when deciding which task or item comes before the others.
Begin
In “Begin alsjeblieft met de onderwerpregel”, “Begin” means “start” and gives a direct instruction about the first item to check. The reusable pattern is “Begin met + item” when telling someone where to start.
alsjeblieft
In “Begin alsjeblieft met de onderwerpregel”, “alsjeblieft” means “please” and softens the request. It is useful when giving a polite instruction to a colleague.
met
In “met de onderwerpregel”, “met” means “with” and identifies the item where the checking should start. The reusable pattern is “beginnen met iets” when starting an activity with a particular item.
de
In “de onderwerpregel” and “De lijst”, “de” means “the” and marks a specific noun phrase. It is used before a known item, such as the subject line or the recipient list in an email.
onderwerpregel
In “de onderwerpregel”, “onderwerpregel” means “subject line”, the part of the email checked first. The phrase is useful when discussing or reviewing the subject line of a work email.
is
In “De onderwerpregel is duidelijk”, “is” links the subject line with its description and means “is”. The pattern “iets is duidelijk” is useful when saying that information can be understood.
duidelijk
In “De onderwerpregel is duidelijk”, “duidelijk” means “clear” and says that the subject line is understandable. It is useful when giving feedback on wording in an email or document.
maar
In “duidelijk, maar het onderwerp van de vergadering zou helpen”, “maar” means “but” and introduces a contrasting suggestion. The pattern “..., maar ...” is useful when acknowledging something positive before adding a concern or improvement.
het
In “het juiste bestand”, “het” means “the” and refers to the specific file being checked. The pattern “het + description + noun” is useful when identifying one particular item, such as an attachment.
onderwerp
In “het onderwerp van de vergadering”, “onderwerp” means “topic” and refers to what the meeting is about. The phrase is useful when discussing the topic or focus of a meeting.
van
In “het onderwerp van de vergadering”, “van” means “of” and connects the topic with the meeting it belongs to. The pattern “het onderwerp van + noun” is useful for naming the topic of an event or discussion.
vergadering
In “de vergadering”, “vergadering” means “meeting”. The phrase “het onderwerp van de vergadering” is useful at work when discussing what a meeting will cover.
zou
In “zou helpen”, “zou” means “would” and presents the meeting topic as a suggestion that could improve the email. The pattern “zou + action” is useful when making a tentative recommendation.
helpen
In “het onderwerp van de vergadering zou helpen”, “helpen” means “help” and describes the improvement the added topic would provide. The phrase “zou helpen” is useful when suggesting that an addition would make something clearer or more useful.
juiste
In “het juiste bestand”, “juiste” means “correct” or “right” and identifies the intended file. The phrase is useful when checking whether the selected attachment is the one that should be sent.
bestand
In “het juiste bestand”, “bestand” means “file” and refers to the document attached to the email. The phrase is useful when verifying an email attachment before sending it.
bijgevoegd
In “Is het juiste bestand bijgevoegd?”, “bijgevoegd” means “attached” and says that the file is included with the email. The phrase “bestand bijgevoegd” is useful when checking whether an attachment is present.
Ja
In “Ja, de definitieve versie is bijgevoegd”, “Ja” means “yes” and confirms that the file is attached. It is useful as a direct answer when confirming a checklist item.
definitieve
In “de definitieve versie”, “definitieve” means “final” and identifies the version intended for sending. The phrase is useful when distinguishing the finished version from an earlier draft.
versie
In “de definitieve versie”, “versie” means “version” and refers to one state of the file or document. The phrase is useful when confirming which version should be attached to an email.
Heb
In “Heb ik iedereen die deze e-mail nodig heeft toegevoegd?”, “Heb” begins a question about whether the speaker has included everyone. The reusable pattern is “Heb ik ... toegevoegd?” when checking whether the speaker completed an action.
iedereen
In “iedereen die deze e-mail nodig heeft”, “iedereen” means “everyone” and refers to all people who need the email. The pattern “iedereen die + clause” is useful when identifying all relevant people.
die
In “die deze e-mail nodig heeft”, “die” means “who” and introduces information identifying which people are meant. The pattern “iedereen die ...” is useful when adding a condition to a group of people.
nodig
In “deze e-mail nodig heeft”, “nodig” contributes the meaning “need” in the expression for needing the email. The reusable pattern is “iets nodig hebben” when saying that someone requires something.
heeft
In “die deze e-mail nodig heeft”, “heeft” combines with “nodig” to express that someone needs the email. The reusable pattern is “iemand heeft iets nodig” when describing a person’s need.
toegevoegd
In “Heb ik iedereen die deze e-mail nodig heeft toegevoegd?”, “toegevoegd” means “added” or “included” and refers to putting all needed recipients on the email. The full question is useful when checking the recipient list before sending.
lijst
In “De lijst lijkt compleet”, “lijst” means “list” and refers to the list of people included in the email. The phrase is useful when reviewing recipients or other items one by one.
lijkt
In “De lijst lijkt compleet”, “lijkt” means “looks” or “seems” and presents an assessment of the list. The pattern “lijkt + description” is useful when giving an impression without making a stronger claim.
compleet
In “De lijst lijkt compleet”, “compleet” means “complete” and says that no needed recipients appear to be missing. The phrase is useful when confirming that a checklist or list contains everything required.
Dan
In “Dan denk ik dat hij klaar is om te versturen”, “Dan” means “then” and marks the conclusion after the checks are finished. It is useful when moving from a completed condition to the next decision.
denk
In “Dan denk ik dat hij klaar is om te versturen”, “denk” means “think” and introduces the speaker’s conclusion. The reusable pattern is “ik denk dat + clause” when expressing an opinion or assessment.
dat
In “denk ik dat hij klaar is om te versturen”, “dat” introduces the statement the speaker thinks is true. The pattern “ik denk dat ...” is useful when giving a conclusion or personal assessment.
hij
In “dat hij klaar is om te versturen”, “hij” refers back to the email and means “it” in this context. It is useful for referring to the email again without repeating “e-mail”.
klaar
In “hij klaar is om te versturen”, “klaar” means “ready” and says that the email is prepared for sending. The reusable pattern is “klaar om te + action” when something is ready for a next step.
om
In “om te versturen”, “om” helps connect “klaar” with the action that is ready to happen. The pattern “klaar om te + action” is useful when describing readiness for an activity.
te
In “om te versturen”, “te” marks the following verb as the action linked to “om”. The pattern “om te + verb” is useful for expressing an action to be carried out or a purpose.
versturen
In “om te versturen”, “versturen” means “to send” and names the final action for the email. The phrase is useful when saying that an email is ready to be sent after checking it.
Grammar Points
de + bijvoeglijk naamwoord-e + zelfstandig naamwoord
de juiste onderwerpregel; de definitieve versie
duh YOW-stuh OHN-der-verp-RAY-ghul; duh deh-fih-NEE-tee-vuh VUR-seethe correct subject line; the final version
With a de-word, an adjective before the noun usually takes -e: juiste and definitieve.
Dutch Vocabulary
alsjeblieft
intj
ahl-shuh-BLEEFT
please
beginnen
verb
beh-GHIN-un
to start
Begin
controleren
verb
kohn-troh-LAY-run
to check
deze
det
DAY-zuh
this
deze e-mail
duidelijk
adj
DOW-duh-luk
clear
e-mail
noun
AY-mail
email
eerst
adv
AYRST
first
hem
pron
um
it
hem verstuur
maar
conj
mahr
but
onderwerpregel
noun
OHN-der-verp-RAY-ghul
subject line
versturen
verb
fer-STUHR-un
to send
verstuur
voordat
conj
vohr-DAHT
before
Quiz
Word Order
Arrange the words in the correct order.
Please start with the subject line.
Show Answer
Begin alsjeblieft met de onderwerpregel.Is the correct file attached?
Show Answer
Is het juiste bestand bijgevoegd?Yes, the final version is attached.
Show Answer
Ja, de definitieve versie is bijgevoegd.Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
to start
Show Answer
Beginplease
Show Answer
alsjeblieftto check
Show Answer
controlerenfirst