Politely discussing a disappointing fish dish | Learn Dutch in English

About This Lesson

Use Politely discussing a disappointing fish dish to practice Dutch conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Pardon, mag ik iets over de vis vragen? Hij is een beetje droog.

par-DON, mahkh ik EETS OH-vur duh vis VRAH-khun? hay iss un BAY-chuh drohkh. Excuse me, could I ask about the fish? It is a bit dry.

Het spijt me. Ik zal het in de keuken navragen.

hut SPITE muh. ik zal ut in duh KUR-kun NAH-vrah-khun. I'm sorry about that. I'll check with the kitchen.

De smaak is lekker, maar de structuur is niet wat ik had verwacht.

duh SMAHK iss LEK-ur, mahr duh stuhk-TUR iss neet vut ik hut vur-WAKHT. The flavor is nice, but the texture is not what I expected.

Een beetje saus apart zou misschien helpen.

un BAY-chuh SOWSS uh-PART zow miss-KHEEN HELP-un. A little sauce on the side might help.

Wilt u dat ik wat saus breng?

vilt uh dut ik vut SOWSS breng? Would you like me to bring some?

Dat zou helpen, zolang de saus niet te zwaar is.

dut zow HELP-un, zoh-LAHNG duh SOWSS neet tuh ZWAHR iss. That would help, as long as it is not too heavy.

Ik kan een klein schaaltje saus brengen en het aan de keuken laten weten.

ik kan un KLINE SKHAHL-chuh SOWSS BREN-gun un ut ahn duh KUR-kun LAH-tun WAY-tun. I can bring a small dish of sauce and let the kitchen know.

Ik wilde het zeggen voordat ik er meer van at.

ik VIL-duh ut ZEK-khun vohr-DUT ik ur mair vun aht. I wanted to mention it before I ate more of it.

Laat het me alstublieft weten als de vis na het proeven van de saus nog steeds droog is.

LAHT ut muh ahl-stuh-BLEEFT WAY-tun als duh vis nah ut PROO-vun vun duh SOWSS nokh STAYT drohkh iss. Please tell me if it is still dry after you try the sauce.

We kunnen een andere oplossing vinden.

vuh KUN-nun un AHN-duh-ruh OP-LOSS-ing VIN-dun. We can find another solution.

Word by Word

Pardon “Pardon” is a polite way to get someone’s attention before speaking. In “Pardon, mag ik iets over de vis vragen?”, it is useful when addressing a server or another stranger politely.

mag “mag” expresses permission in “mag ik iets over de vis vragen?”: may I ask something about the fish? A reusable polite question pattern is “mag ik ...?” followed by what you want to do.

ik “ik” means “I” and identifies the speaker in “mag ik iets over de vis vragen?” It is used before a verb when describing your own action, as in “ik kan ...” in “Ik kan een klein schaaltje saus brengen”.

iets “iets” means “something” in “iets over de vis vragen”, referring to an unspecified question or matter. It can be reused before a description, such as “iets over ...” for asking about a topic.

over “over” means “about” in “iets over de vis vragen”. It introduces the topic of the question and can be reused before a person, object, or subject being discussed.

de “de” is the definite article before “vis” in “de vis”, referring to the particular fish dish being discussed. It is reused directly before a definite noun, as in “de saus” later in the dialogue.

vis “vis” means “fish” in “de vis”, the dish the customer is discussing. It can be reused after “de” when referring to a specific fish or fish dish.

vragen “vragen” means “ask” in “iets over de vis vragen”. It appears after “mag ik” as the action the speaker is asking permission to perform; a reusable pattern is “iets over ... vragen”.

Hij “Hij” means “he” in form, but here it refers back to the fish in “Hij is een beetje droog.” It is used as the subject of the statement about the fish’s condition.

is “is” expresses the fish’s current state in “Hij is een beetje droog.” It is used to connect the subject with a description, such as “is ... droog”.

een “een” means “a” or “an” in “een beetje droog”, introducing the amount “a little”. It also appears before “klein schaaltje” when introducing a small dish.

beetje “beetje” means “little” or “bit” in “een beetje droog”, making the criticism less strong. The reusable quantity pattern is “een beetje” followed by a description or substance.

droog “droog” means “dry” in “Hij is een beetje droog”, describing the fish’s texture. It can be reused after “is” to describe food that lacks moisture.

Het “Het” means “it” in “Het spijt me”, where the expression is an apology for the situation. The same form appears as “het” in “het aan de keuken laten weten”, referring to the matter being communicated.

spijt “spijt” contributes the idea of regret in the apology “Het spijt me.” The expression is used when apologizing for something that has happened, such as a disappointing dish.

me “me” means “me” in “Het spijt me”, identifying the person who feels regret. It appears after “spijt” in this apology expression.

zal “zal” expresses a future or intended action in “Ik zal het in de keuken navragen.” It is followed by an infinitive, and the reusable pattern is “zal ...” plus the action that will be carried out.

in “in” means “in” in “in de keuken”, locating the checking within the kitchen. It can be reused before a place when saying where an action happens.

keuken “keuken” means “kitchen” in “in de keuken”. It is used after “de” and can be reused with “in” to identify the place where food is prepared or checked.

navragen “navragen” means to check or ask about something by consulting someone, as in “in de keuken navragen.” It follows “zal” here and is useful when checking information with another person or department.

smaak “smaak” means “flavor” or “taste” in “De smaak is lekker.” It can be reused with “de” when referring to the flavor of a particular food or dish.

lekker “lekker” means “tasty” in “De smaak is lekker”, giving a positive assessment of the flavor. It can be used after “is” to describe food or its taste favorably.

maar “maar” means “but” and introduces a contrast between “De smaak is lekker” and the less satisfactory texture. It is useful for combining a positive point with a criticism.

structuur “structuur” means “texture” in “de structuur”, referring to how the food feels rather than how it tastes. It can be reused with “de” when discussing the texture of a dish.

niet “niet” means “not” in “niet wat ik had verwacht”, negating the comparison with the speaker’s expectation. It is placed before the part of the sentence that is being rejected or denied.

wat “wat” means “what” in “niet wat ik had verwacht”, referring to the thing the speaker expected. This pattern can be reused to compare an actual result with “wat ik ...” expected or wanted.

had “had” supports the past expectation in “wat ik had verwacht”. Together with “verwacht”, it describes what the speaker expected before experiencing the dish.

verwacht “verwacht” means “expected” in “wat ik had verwacht”. It is used with “had” to refer to an expectation formed before the current experience.

saus “saus” means “sauce” in “Een beetje saus apart” and “wat saus”. It can be reused after an amount word such as “een beetje” or “wat” when ordering or discussing sauce.

apart “apart” means separately or on the side in “Een beetje saus apart”. It tells the server that the sauce should be served separately from the main dish.

zou “zou” expresses a possible or conditional result in “zou misschien helpen”: might help. A reusable pattern is “zou ... helpen” when suggesting that something could improve a situation.

misschien “misschien” means “maybe” or “perhaps” in “zou misschien helpen”, making the suggestion cautious rather than certain. It is useful when offering a possible solution politely.

helpen “helpen” means “help” in “zou misschien helpen”. It follows “zou” as the suggested action and can be reused when describing something that may improve a problem.

Wilt “Wilt” expresses a formal “would you like” in “Wilt u dat ik wat saus breng?” It is used at the beginning of a polite question addressed to a customer or another person formally.

u “u” means “you” in the formal question “Wilt u dat ik wat saus breng?” It identifies the person being offered the sauce and is used with formal service language.

dat “dat” means “that” in “Wilt u dat ik wat saus breng?”, introducing the action the speaker is offering to perform. It is followed by a clause with “ik” and the verb “breng”.

breng “breng” means “bring” in “dat ik wat saus breng”. It describes the speaker’s offered action, with “wat saus” as the thing being brought.

zolang “zolang” means “as long as” in “zolang de saus niet te zwaar is”, introducing a condition for accepting the sauce. It can be reused before a condition that must remain true.

te “te” marks an excessive degree in “te zwaar”, meaning “too heavy”. It is placed before an adjective when a quality goes beyond what is acceptable in the situation.

zwaar “zwaar” means “heavy” in “de saus niet te zwaar”, referring here to the sauce being too rich or heavy for the speaker. It is used after “te” to describe an excessive quality.

kan “kan” means “can” or “am able to” in “Ik kan een klein schaaltje saus brengen.” It introduces an action the speaker is able to perform and is followed by an infinitive.

klein “klein” means “small” in “een klein schaaltje saus”, describing the size of the dish. It appears before the noun it describes and can be reused with a noun for a small object.

schaaltje “schaaltje” means “small dish” or “small bowl” in “een klein schaaltje saus”. It identifies the container for the sauce and is used after “een klein” in this phrase.

brengen “brengen” means “bring” in “een klein schaaltje saus brengen”. It follows “kan” and names the action the server can perform; the reusable pattern is “kan ... brengen” with the item being brought.

en “en” means “and” in “saus brengen en het aan de keuken laten weten”, joining two actions by the server. It can connect actions that belong to the same plan.

aan “aan” marks the recipient in “het aan de keuken laten weten”, directing the information to the kitchen. It is used here before the person or group that is informed.

laten “laten” contributes the meaning of causing or allowing information to reach someone in “het aan de keuken laten weten”. Together, “het aan de keuken laten weten” means to let the kitchen know about it.

weten “weten” means “know” in “het aan de keuken laten weten”, where the full expression means to inform the kitchen. It follows “laten” in this reusable pattern for telling someone something.

wilde “wilde” means “wanted” or “intended” in “Ik wilde het zeggen”. It presents the speaker’s intention to mention the problem before eating more.

zeggen “zeggen” means “say” or “mention” in “Ik wilde het zeggen”. It follows “wilde” and is used when naming what the speaker intended to communicate.

voordat “voordat” means “before” in “voordat ik er meer van at”, introducing an earlier point in time. It can be reused before a clause that describes what happened before another action.

er “er” refers back to the food or dish in “er meer van at”, so the phrase means eating more of it. It works together with “van” here rather than naming the dish again.

meer “meer” means “more” in “er meer van at”, referring to an additional amount of the food. The reusable pattern is “meer van ...” when talking about more of something already mentioned.

van “van” contributes “of” in “er meer van at”, completing the meaning “more of it”. It is used after “meer” in this expression for an additional amount of something previously mentioned.

at “at” means “ate” in “voordat ik er meer van at”, describing the earlier eating action. It appears after “ik” in the clause introduced by “voordat”.

Laat “Laat” begins the polite request “Laat het me alstublieft weten”, meaning “please tell me” or “let me know”. This pattern is useful when asking someone to provide information later.

alstublieft “alstublieft” means “please” in “Laat het me alstublieft weten”, making the request more polite. It can be added to a request addressed to a customer, stranger, or other formal interlocutor.

als “als” means “if” in “als de vis ... nog steeds droog is”, introducing the condition under which the customer should report the problem. It can be reused before a condition or possible situation.

na “na” means “after” in “na het proeven van de saus”. It places the tasting before the later assessment of whether the fish is still dry.

proeven “proeven” means “taste” or “try the flavor” in “na het proeven van de saus”. It is used with “van” to identify what is being tasted: “het proeven van de saus”.

nog “nog” contributes the meaning of “still” in “nog steeds droog”, showing that the condition may continue after the sauce is tried. It is commonly used together with “steeds” to emphasize continuation.

steeds “steeds” contributes the continuing sense in “nog steeds droog”, meaning that the fish remains dry. Together, “nog steeds” is a reusable expression for a condition that has not changed.

We “We” means “we” in “We kunnen een andere oplossing vinden”, referring to the server and the restaurant team together with the customer. It is used as the subject of a shared possible action.

kunnen “kunnen” means “can” or “be able to” in “We kunnen een andere oplossing vinden”. It is followed by the infinitive “vinden” and introduces an available option or ability.

andere “andere” means “another” or “different” in “een andere oplossing”. It indicates a solution different from the sauce suggestion and comes before the noun it describes.

oplossing “oplossing” means “solution” in “een andere oplossing”. It refers to a way of dealing with the disappointing dish and can be used after “een andere” when proposing a different way forward.

vinden “vinden” means “find” in “een andere oplossing vinden”. It follows “kunnen” and names the action of arriving at another solution; the reusable pattern is “een oplossing vinden”.

Grammar Points

navragen → vraag ... na

Ik vraag het na.

ik VRAHKH ut nah.

I’ll check.

Navragen is a separable verb: in a main clause, vraag and na split apart.

voordat + werkwoord achteraan

Voordat je de saus proeft, vraag je het na.

vohr-DUT yuh duh SOWSS PROOFT, VRAHKH yuh ut nah.

Before you taste the sauce, you check it.

After voordat, the conjugated verb comes at the end of the subordinate clause.

Dutch Vocabulary

droog adj

drohkh dry

een beetje phrase

un BAY-chuh a little; a bit

Het spijt me phrase

hut SPITE muh I'm sorry

iets pron

EETS something

keuken noun

KUR-kun kitchen

lekker adj

LEK-ur tasty; nice

navragen verb

NAH-vrah-khun to check; to inquire

Pardon intj

par-DON Excuse me

smaak noun

SMAHK flavor; taste

structuur noun

stuhk-TUR texture; structure

vis noun

viss fish

vragen verb

VRAH-khun to ask

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

We can find another solution.

Show Answer

We kunnen een andere oplossing vinden.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to check; to inquire

Show Answer

navragen

Excuse me

Show Answer

Pardon

kitchen

Show Answer

keuken

to ask

Show Answer

vragen