Troubleshooting an unstable internet connection | Learn Dutch in English

Dutch lesson set in a contemporary Amsterdam everyday setting: At home, two adults troubleshoot unstable internet before a video call and prepare backup options if it freezes..

EN → NL / Level: B1

About This Lesson

Use Troubleshooting an unstable internet connection to practice Dutch conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

De internetverbinding is sinds vanochtend instabiel.

duh IN-ter-net-ver-BIN-ding iss sints VAH-noh-khont in-stah-BEEL. The internet connection has been unstable since this morning.
A

Mijn videogesprek begint zo.

mayn VEE-dee-oh-khuh-SPRAYK buh-GINT zoh. My video call starts soon.
B

Kijk of een ander apparaat nu te veel bandbreedte gebruikt.

KAYK off ayn AHN-der ah-pah-RAHT noo tuh vayl BAHNT-bray-duh guh-BRAYKT. See if another device is using too much bandwidth right now.
A

De tablet downloadt updates, dus dat kan verklaren waarom alles traag aanvoelt.

duh TAB-let DOWN-loht up-DAYTS, dooss daht kahn vuh-KLAR-un vah-ROM AHL-lus trahkh AHN-voolt. The tablet is downloading updates, so that might explain why everything feels slow.
B

Pauzeer de update en start daarna de router opnieuw op als het signaal nog steeds wegvalt.

pow-ZAYR duh up-DAYT en start DAHR-nah duh ROW-tur ohp-NYOO oop ahls ut sig-NAHL nokh STAYTS VAYKH-fahlt. Pause the update, then restart the router if the signal still drops.
A

Ik heb ook de hotspot van mijn telefoon als back-up, hoewel die trager is.

ik hep OHK duh HOT-spot vahn mayn tay-lay-FOHN ahls BAHK-up, hoo-VAYL dee TRAH-khur iss. I also have my phone's hotspot as a backup, although it is slower.
B

Als de hotspot tijdens de vergadering instabiel wordt, schakel dan over op alleen audio.

ahls duh HOT-spot TYE-duns duh ver-GAH-duh-ring in-stah-BEEL vurt, SKHAH-kul dahn OH-vur op ah-LAYN OW-dee-oh. If the hotspot gets shaky during the meeting, switch to audio only.
A

Moet ik het team waarschuwen voordat het gesprek begint?

MOOT ik ut TAYM VAHR-skhaw-wun VOOR-daht ut khuh-SPRAYK buh-GINT? Should I warn the team before the call begins?
B

Een kort bericht zou hen helpen begrijpen wat er aan de hand is.

ayn kort buh-RIKHT zow hen HELP-un buh-GRAY-pun vaht er ahn duh HAHNT iss. A short message would help them understand what is happening.
A

Ik kan zeggen dat ik misschien van netwerk wissel als het gesprek vastloopt.

ik kahn ZEG-un daht ik miss-KHEEN vahn NET-wurk VISS-ul ahls ut khuh-SPRAYK VAHST-lohpt. I can say I may switch networks if the call freezes.
B

Dan zullen mensen waarschijnlijk niet denken dat je opeens bent weggegaan.

dahn ZUHL-un MEN-sun vah-ar-SKHAYN-luk neet DEN-kun daht yuh oh-PAYNS baynt VAYKH-uh-khahn. That should keep people from thinking you suddenly left.

Word by Word

De De is the definite article meaning “the” in De internetverbinding. It appears before the noun internetverbinding and is also written as de when it is not at the start of a sentence, as in de router.
internetverbinding Internetverbinding means internet connection in De internetverbinding is sinds vanochtend instabiel. It is used for the connection that provides internet access, especially when discussing whether the signaal is stable.
is Is means is in De internetverbinding is sinds vanochtend instabiel. It links the subject to a description such as instabiel, as in the dialogue sentence.
sinds Sinds means since in sinds vanochtend and marks the time from which the connection has been unstable. It is used before a starting time or period.
vanochtend Vanochtend means this morning in sinds vanochtend. It identifies the starting point of the problem and can be used after sinds for a situation that began this morning.
instabiel Instabiel means unstable in De internetverbinding is sinds vanochtend instabiel. It describes a connection or hotspot that does not remain reliable, as in the discussion about the signal.
Mijn Mijn means my in Mijn videogesprek and shows that the video call belongs to or concerns the speaker. It is placed before the noun it describes, as in Mijn videogesprek begint zo.
videogesprek Videogesprek means video call in Mijn videogesprek begint zo. It names the call that is about to start, so it is useful when arranging or warning someone about an online meeting.
begint Begint means begins or starts in Mijn videogesprek begint zo. It describes the start of an event such as a videogesprek, and the dialogue also uses gesprek begint for the call starting.
zo Zo means soon in Mijn videogesprek begint zo. Here it indicates that the start is near and is placed after the verb phrase.
Kijk Kijk means check or see in the instruction Kijk of een ander apparaat nu te veel bandbreedte gebruikt. It introduces an investigation, commonly followed by of and the thing to check.
of Of means whether or if in Kijk of een ander apparaat nu te veel bandbreedte gebruikt. After Kijk, it introduces the question being investigated rather than a condition for a later action.
een Een is the indefinite article meaning a or an in een ander apparaat and Een kort bericht. It introduces one non-specific item and is placed before the noun phrase.
ander Ander means another or other in een ander apparaat. It distinguishes that device from the one currently being discussed and appears before apparaat.
apparaat Apparaat means device in een ander apparaat. It refers here to a piece of equipment using the internet, such as the tablet mentioned in the dialogue.
nu Nu means now in een ander apparaat nu te veel bandbreedte gebruikt. It identifies the current moment and is useful when checking what is happening right now.
te Te is the degree marker in te veel bandbreedte and contributes the meaning too much together with veel. The reusable pattern in the dialogue is te veel plus a quantity such as bandbreedte.
veel Veel means much or a large amount in te veel bandbreedte. Together with te it expresses an excessive amount, so te veel bandbreedte means too much bandwidth.
bandbreedte Bandbreedte means bandwidth in te veel bandbreedte gebruikt. It refers to the amount of network capacity being used by a device, which matters when the internet feels slow.
gebruikt Gebruikt means uses in een ander apparaat nu te veel bandbreedte gebruikt. It states what the device is doing with the bandwidth and appears with the object te veel bandbreedte.
tablet Tablet means tablet in De tablet downloadt updates. It identifies the device causing the possible slowdown and can be used as the subject of an action involving updates.
downloadt Downloadt means downloads in De tablet downloadt updates. It describes the tablet receiving updates, with updates following as the thing being downloaded.
updates Updates means updates in De tablet downloadt updates. It refers to software updates being downloaded and is used after downloadt as its object.
dus Dus means so or therefore in dus dat kan verklaren waarom alles traag aanvoelt. It connects the tablet downloading updates with the possible explanation for the slow feeling.
dat Dat refers back to the situation just mentioned in dus dat kan verklaren waarom alles traag aanvoelt. It introduces the subject of kan verklaren and links the earlier information to its possible consequence.
kan Kan means can or may in dat kan verklaren waarom alles traag aanvoelt. It expresses that the tablet activity is a possible explanation, followed here by the verb verklaren.
verklaren Verklaren means explain in dat kan verklaren waarom alles traag aanvoelt. It follows kan and takes the reason introduced by waarom as its content.
waarom Waarom means why in verklaren waarom alles traag aanvoelt. It introduces the reason being explained, here the reason everything feels slow.
alles Alles means everything in waarom alles traag aanvoelt. It refers broadly to the whole online experience and is the subject of aanvoelt in this clause.
traag Traag means slow in alles traag aanvoelt. It describes how the whole situation feels and can be used as a description of an internet connection or response.
aanvoelt Aanvoelt means feels or seems in alles traag aanvoelt. It is the form used with the subject alles and describes the impression that everything is slow.
Pauzeer Pauzeer means pause in the instruction Pauzeer de update. It tells someone to stop the update temporarily and is followed by the thing being paused.
update Update means update in Pauzeer de update. It names the software process to pause, and the same word appears in plural form in updates.
en En means and in Pauzeer de update en start daarna de router opnieuw op. It joins two instructions that should be carried out in sequence.
start Start means start in start daarna de router opnieuw op. Together with opnieuw op, it gives the instruction to restart the router, so the full expression should be kept when reusing it.
daarna Daarna means after that or then in start daarna de router opnieuw op. It shows that restarting the router follows the earlier instruction to pause the update.
router Router means router in start daarna de router opnieuw op. It identifies the network device being restarted and appears after the definite article de.
opnieuw Opnieuw means again in start daarna de router opnieuw op. Together with start and the particle op, it expresses restarting rather than starting for the first time.
op Op completes the restart expression start ... opnieuw op in start daarna de router opnieuw op. It should be kept with the verb when describing restarting a device.
als Als means if in als het signaal nog steeds wegvalt and Als de hotspot tijdens de vergadering instabiel wordt. It introduces a condition that determines what should happen next.
het Het is the definite article meaning the in het signaal. It appears before the noun signaal and is also used in het gesprek.
signaal Signaal means signal in het signaal nog steeds wegvalt. It refers to the network signal whose disappearance may require restarting the router.
nog Nog contributes the meaning still in nog steeds wegvalt. Together with steeds, it shows that the signal continues to drop after the earlier troubleshooting step.
steeds Steeds contributes the continuing sense in nog steeds wegvalt. The fixed expression nog steeds is used when a problem remains true or continues.
wegvalt Wegvalt means drops out or disappears in het signaal nog steeds wegvalt. It describes the signal being lost and is useful in the pattern signaal wegvalt.
Ik Ik means I in Ik heb ook de hotspot van mijn telefoon als back-up. It identifies the speaker as the subject and appears before the verb in this sentence.
heb Heb means have in Ik heb ook de hotspot van mijn telefoon als back-up. It expresses possession or availability here, with the hotspot as what the speaker has available.
ook Ook means also in Ik heb ook de hotspot van mijn telefoon als back-up. It adds this backup option to the internet connection already being discussed.
hotspot Hotspot means hotspot in de hotspot van mijn telefoon. It refers to a phone-based internet connection used here as an alternative when the main connection fails.
van Van means of or from in de hotspot van mijn telefoon. It links the hotspot to its source, mijn telefoon, in the reusable pattern hotspot van plus a device.
telefoon Telefoon means phone in de hotspot van mijn telefoon. It identifies the device providing the hotspot and follows mijn in the possessive phrase.
back-up Back-up means backup in als back-up. It names an alternative option kept available in case the main connection becomes unusable.
hoewel Hoewel means although in hoewel die trager is. It introduces information that contrasts with the usefulness of the hotspot: the backup works, but it is slower.
die Die refers to the hotspot in hoewel die trager is. It allows the speaker to refer back to that noun without repeating hotspot in the same sentence.
trager Trager means slower in hoewel die trager is. It compares the hotspot with the main connection and describes its lower speed.
tijdens Tijdens means during in tijdens de vergadering. It places an event within the time of a meeting and is followed here by de vergadering.
vergadering Vergadering means meeting in tijdens de vergadering. It identifies the event during which the hotspot might become unstable.
wordt Wordt means becomes or gets in Als de hotspot tijdens de vergadering instabiel wordt. It describes the hotspot changing into an unstable state and is followed by instabiel.
schakel Schakel means switch in the instruction schakel dan over op alleen audio. Together with over op, it tells someone to change to another mode or option.
dan Dan means then or in that case in schakel dan over op alleen audio. It connects the condition of the hotspot becoming unstable with the recommended next action.
over Over is part of the expression schakel ... over op alleen audio and contributes the meaning switch over. It should be kept with schakel and op when describing changing to another option.
alleen Alleen means only in alleen audio. It limits the selected mode to audio and contrasts with continuing a video call.
audio Audio means audio in alleen audio. It identifies the sound-only option to use if the hotspot becomes unstable during the meeting.
Moet Moet means must or should in Moet ik het team waarschuwen voordat het gesprek begint? It asks whether warning the team is necessary or advisable and is followed by the action waarschuwen.
team Team means team in het team waarschuwen. It identifies the group that should receive the warning and functions as the object of waarschuwen.
waarschuwen Waarschuwen means warn in Moet ik het team waarschuwen voordat het gesprek begint? It describes informing someone about a possible problem and is used here with het team as the recipient.
voordat Voordat means before in voordat het gesprek begint. It introduces the event that has not yet happened and sets the time for the warning.
gesprek Gesprek means conversation or call in het gesprek begint. In this lesson it refers to the video call, and it is used with begint to describe when the call starts.
kort Kort means short in Een kort bericht. It describes the message as brief and appears before the noun bericht.
bericht Bericht means message in Een kort bericht zou hen helpen begrijpen wat er aan de hand is. It refers to the short communication sent to the team about the connection problem.
zou Zou means would in Een kort bericht zou hen helpen begrijpen wat er aan de hand is. It presents the message as a helpful possible action and is used with helpen.
hen Hen means them in zou hen helpen begrijpen. It refers to the team as the people who would receive the help and appears after helpen in this sentence.
helpen Helpen means help in zou hen helpen begrijpen wat er aan de hand is. It is followed by hen as the people helped and begrijpen as the action they can carry out.
begrijpen Begrijpen means understand in hen helpen begrijpen wat er aan de hand is. It describes what the team would be able to do after receiving the message.
wat Wat means what in begrijpen wat er aan de hand is. It introduces the content the team needs to understand, namely the situation being described.
er Er helps form the expression wat er aan de hand is, referring to the situation that is happening. It is used here inside that expression rather than as a separate reference to a specific place.
aan de hand Aan de hand is the fixed expression in wat er aan de hand is meaning what is happening or what the situation is. In this construction, aan links to de hand, de marks hand as the noun phrase, and the complete expression gives the meaning; it is not a literal reference to a hand.
zeggen Zeggen means say in Ik kan zeggen dat ik misschien van netwerk wissel als het gesprek vastloopt. It introduces the words or information the speaker can communicate, followed here by dat.
misschien Misschien means maybe in dat ik misschien van netwerk wissel. It marks switching networks as possible but not certain.
netwerk Netwerk means network in van netwerk wissel. It identifies the connection the speaker may change during the call.
wissel Wissel means switch or change in van netwerk wissel. Together with van netwerk, it describes changing from one network to another if the call freezes.
vastloopt Vastloopt means freezes or gets stuck in als het gesprek vastloopt. It describes the call stopping its normal progress and is used with gesprek as the subject.
zullen Zullen means will or should in Dan zullen mensen waarschijnlijk niet denken dat je opeens bent weggegaan. It presents the expected result of warning the team and is followed by the infinitive denken.
mensen Mensen means people in Dan zullen mensen waarschijnlijk niet denken dat je opeens bent weggegaan. It refers to the participants who might otherwise misunderstand the speaker's sudden disappearance.
waarschijnlijk Waarschijnlijk means probably in zullen mensen waarschijnlijk niet denken. It expresses that the expected result is likely rather than certain.
niet Niet means not in mensen waarschijnlijk niet denken. It negates the idea that people will think the speaker has suddenly left.
denken Denken means think in mensen waarschijnlijk niet denken dat je opeens bent weggegaan. It describes the interpretation the people are expected not to make and is followed by the content introduced with dat.
je Je means you in dat je opeens bent weggegaan. It refers to the person who might appear to have left the call and is the subject of bent weggegaan.
opeens Opeens means suddenly in je opeens bent weggegaan. It emphasizes that the departure would seem unexpected or without warning.
bent Bent is the auxiliary form of zijn in je opeens bent weggegaan. Together with weggegaan, it expresses the completed action of having left.
weggegaan Weggegaan means left or gone away in je opeens bent weggegaan. Together with bent, it describes the speaker as having left suddenly, which is the misunderstanding the message is meant to prevent.

Grammar Points

hoewel + bijzin: het werkwoord staat achteraan

Hoewel de internetverbinding instabiel aanvoelt, gebruikt het apparaat de hotspot.

hoo-VAYL duh IN-ter-net-ver-BIN-ding in-stah-BEEL AHN-voolt, guh-BRAYKT ut ah-pah-RAHT duh HOT-spot.

Although the internet connection feels unstable, the device uses the hotspot.

Na hoewel staat het vervoegde werkwoord aan het einde van de bijzin.

voordat + bijzin: het werkwoord staat achteraan

Voordat de vergadering begint, schakel over op de hotspot.

VOOR-daht duh ver-GAH-duh-ring buh-GINT, SKHAH-kul OH-vur op duh HOT-spot.

Before the meeting begins, switch to the hotspot.

Na voordat staat het vervoegde werkwoord aan het einde van de bijzin.

Dutch Vocabulary

apparaat noun
ah-pah-RAHT device
bandbreedte noun
BAHNT-bray-duh bandwidth
beginnen verb
buh-GIN-un to begin begint
downloaden verb
DOWN-loh-dun to download downloadt
gebruiken verb
guh-BRAY-kun to use gebruikt
instabiel adj
in-stah-BEEL unstable
internetverbinding noun
IN-ter-net-ver-BIN-ding internet connection
sinds prep
sints since
update noun
UP-dayt update updates
vanochtend adv
VAH-noh-khont this morning
verklaren verb
vuh-KLAR-un to explain
videogesprek noun
VEE-dee-oh-khuh-SPRAYK video call

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

The internet connection has been unstable since this morning.

Show AnswerDe internetverbinding is sinds vanochtend instabiel.

My video call starts soon.

Show AnswerMijn videogesprek begint zo.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

unstable

Show Answerinstabiel

video call

Show Answervideogesprek

bandwidth

Show Answerbandbreedte

device

Show Answerapparaat