Fixing a Stuck Print Job | Learn Dutch in English

Dutch lesson set in a contemporary Amsterdam everyday setting: In a library, a patron asks for help with a stuck print job and waits while staff check the printer safely..

EN → NL / Level: B1

About This Lesson

Use Fixing a Stuck Print Job to practice Dutch conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Mijn document blijft in de printerwachtrij hangen en er komt niets uit.

mayn doh-koo-MENT blyfe in duh PRIN-ter-wahkh-TRAY HAHNG-uhn en air kohmt NEETS owt. My document is stuck in the printer queue, and nothing is coming out.
B

Laten we het scherm controleren voordat we de opdracht opnieuw versturen.

LAH-tuhn vuh uht SKHAIRM kohn-troh-LAY-ruh(n) vohr-DAHT vuh duh OP-drahkht op-NYEW ver-STEW-ruh(n). Let's check the screen before sending the job again.
A

Ik heb dubbelzijdig afdrukken gekozen, maar op het scherm staat een foutmelding.

ik hep DUB-uhl-ZAY-dikh AHF-druk-kuhn khuh-KOH-zuhn, mahr op uht SKHAIRM staht uhn FOWT-mel-ding. I chose double-sided printing, but the display shows an error.
B

Er kan een papierstoring zijn, dus raak de knoppen voorlopig niet aan.

air kahn uhn pah-PEER-stoh-ring zine, dooss rahk duh KNOP-uhn vohr-LOH-pikh neet ahn. There may be a paper jam, so leave the controls alone for now.
A

Ik wil het niet opnieuw versturen en geen nieuwe opdracht aan de wachtrij toevoegen.

ik vil uht neet op-NYEW ver-STEW-ruh(n) en khayn NYEW-uh OP-drahkht ahn duh wahkh-TRAY too-VOO-khuhn. I do not want to resend it and add another job to the queue.
B

Ik kan de mislukte afdrukopdracht annuleren voordat u het opnieuw probeert.

ik kahn duh miss-LUK-tuh AHF-druk-OP-drahkht ahn-yew-LAY-ruh(n) vohr-DAHT oo uht op-NYEW proh-BAYRT. I can cancel the failed job before you try again.
A

Kunt u de printer controleren voordat ik nog iets verstuur?

kuhnt oo duh PRIN-ter kohn-troh-LAY-ruh(n) vohr-DAHT ik nokh eets ver-STEW? Could you check the printer before I send anything else?
B

Ik zal even kijken, maar wilt u de machine alstublieft niet zelf openen.

ik zahl AY-vuhn KYE-kuhn, mahr vilt oo duh mah-SHEE-nuh ahl-stoo-BLEEFT neet zelf OH-puh-nuhn. I'll take a look, but please do not open the machine yourself.
A

Ik wacht hier terwijl u het controleert.

ik WAHKHT heer ter-WYLE oo uht kohn-troh-LAYRT. I'll wait here while you check it.
B

Dat helpt ons het probleem op te lossen zonder meer afdrukopdrachten toe te voegen.

daht helps ons uht proh-BLAYM op tuh LOSS-uhn ZON-duhr mair AHF-druk-OP-drahkht-uhn too-VOO-khuhn. That will help us clear the problem without adding more print jobs.

Word by Word

Mijn Mijn means my in Mijn document and identifies the document as belonging to the speaker. A reusable pattern is Mijn + noun when referring to something that belongs to you. You can use it when identifying your own item or problem.
document Document means document here, referring to the file sent to the printer. It is used as the noun after Mijn. A reusable pattern is document + a verb such as sending, printing, or checking it.
blijft Blijft means remains or keeps being; in blijft ... hangen, it says that the document continues to be stuck. Blijft is a form of blijven used with an ongoing situation. A reusable pattern is iets blijft + description when a condition continues.
in In means in and places the document inside the printer queue. It is used before a place, container, or system where something is located. You can use in + location to describe where something is.
de De means the in de printerwachtrij. It introduces the specific noun printerwachtrij. A reusable pattern is de + noun when referring to a particular thing.
printerwachtrij Printerwachtrij means printer queue, the waiting line of print jobs. It is a compound noun used here as the place where the document remains stuck. You can use it when discussing the order or status of documents waiting to print.
hangen Hangen means hang or be stuck in blijft ... hangen, describing a document that does not move forward in the queue. Here it completes the expression blijven hangen for a continuing stuck situation. A reusable pattern is iets blijft hangen when a process or object remains stuck.
en En means and and connects the stuck document with the result that nothing comes out. It joins two related statements. You can use en to add another fact or consequence.
er Er is the there element in er komt niets uit; it introduces what is or is not coming out without referring to a specific object as the subject. It commonly appears before the verb in this kind of statement. A reusable pattern is er komt + something when saying that something comes out or arrives.
komt Komt means comes in er komt niets uit, describing what comes out of the printer. Komt is a form of komen used with a singular subject or with the introductory er construction. A reusable pattern is er komt + noun + uit for something coming out.
niets Niets means nothing and identifies the absence of any printed output. It is the thing that does not come out in er komt niets uit. You can use niets when saying that no thing is present, available, or happening.
uit Uit means out in er komt niets uit, showing movement from inside the printer to the outside. Together with komt, it completes the idea of something coming out. A reusable pattern is iets komt uit when something emerges from a place or device.
Laten Laten means let in Laten we het scherm controleren and introduces a suggestion to do something together. With we and an infinitive, it forms a proposal for joint action. A reusable pattern is Laten we + infinitive when suggesting an action.
we We means we and identifies the speaker and listener as the people who should check the screen together. It is the subject of the suggestion Laten we het scherm controleren. You can use we when describing a shared action.
het Het means the in het scherm, referring to the specific screen that both people can see. Here it is an article before scherm, not a separate object pronoun. A reusable pattern is het + noun for a particular noun that uses this article.
scherm Scherm means screen, the printer display that should be checked. It is the object of controleren in the suggestion. You can use scherm when referring to a device display or information shown on it.
controleren Controleren means check or inspect and is the action suggested for the screen. It follows Laten we as the action both people should perform. A reusable pattern is iets controleren when checking a device, message, or detail.
voordat Voordat means before and introduces the action that must happen first: checking the screen before sending the job again. It connects two actions in time. A reusable pattern is voordat + clause when one action should precede another.
opdracht Opdracht means job here, specifically the print job sent to the printer. It is the object of opnieuw versturen. You can use opdracht for a task or a job that someone gives or sends.
opnieuw Opnieuw means again and shows that the print job would be sent another time. It comes before versturen in opnieuw versturen. A reusable pattern is opnieuw + infinitive when repeating an action.
versturen Versturen means send, here referring to sending the print job to the printer. It appears after opnieuw and also describes sending something else later in the dialogue. A reusable pattern is something versturen when sending a file, message, or job.
Ik Ik means I and identifies the speaker as the person who chose the printing option. It is the subject of Ik heb ... gekozen. You can use Ik at the start of a statement about your own action or experience.
heb Heb means have in Ik heb ... gekozen and helps express the completed choice together with gekozen. Heb is a form of hebben used with Ik. A reusable pattern is Ik heb + completed-action form when reporting something you have done.
dubbelzijdig Dubbelzijdig means double-sided and describes the selected printing option. It modifies afdrukken in dubbelzijdig afdrukken. You can use dubbelzijdig with printing or another process that happens on two sides.
afdrukken Afdrukken means printing here, the activity or setting of producing printed pages. Together with dubbelzijdig, it refers to double-sided printing. A reusable pattern is a printing option + afdrukken when describing how something should be printed.
gekozen Gekozen means chosen and reports the option the speaker selected. It combines with heb in Ik heb ... gekozen to describe a completed choice. Gekozen is the completed-action form related to kiezen; you can use it when reporting a selection that has already been made.
maar Maar means but and contrasts the chosen printing option with the error shown on the display. It introduces information that does not match or limits the previous statement. You can use maar to connect a fact with an opposing or unexpected fact.
op Op means on in op het scherm, locating the error message on the display. It is used before the surface or place where information appears. A reusable pattern is information staat op + surface or display.
staat Staat means stands or shows; in op het scherm staat een foutmelding, it says that an error message is displayed there. This is a common way to describe information appearing on a screen. A reusable pattern is iets staat op het scherm when something is displayed.
een Een means a or an and introduces one error message without identifying it as a particular previously known message. It comes directly before foutmelding. A reusable pattern is een + noun when introducing a non-specific thing.
foutmelding Foutmelding means error message, the warning shown on the printer display. It is the subject of staat in op het scherm staat een foutmelding. You can use it when a device reports a problem through a message.
kan Kan means may or can in Er kan een papierstoring zijn, expressing a possibility rather than a confirmed fact. It is followed here by zijn to say that a paper jam may exist. A reusable pattern is er kan + noun + zijn when suggesting a possible cause or condition.
papierstoring Papierstoring means paper jam, a problem in which paper is stuck in the printer. It is the possible cause introduced by Er kan ... zijn. You can use it when describing a printer problem involving blocked paper.
zijn Zijn means be in Er kan een papierstoring zijn and completes the possibility that a paper jam exists. It follows kan in this sentence. A reusable pattern is kan ... zijn when saying that something may be the case.
dus Dus means so or therefore and introduces the recommended consequence of the possible paper jam: do not touch the buttons for now. It connects a reason with a practical instruction. You can use dus to state what follows from the previous information.
raak Raak means touch in raak de knoppen voorlopig niet aan, which tells the listener not to touch the controls for now. The full expression raak ... niet aan carries the instruction. A reusable pattern is raak + object + niet aan when telling someone not to touch something.
knoppen Knoppen means buttons or controls, referring to the printer controls. It is the object in raak de knoppen ... niet aan. Knoppen is the plural of knop; you can use it when referring to several physical buttons.
voorlopig Voorlopig means for now and limits the instruction not to touch the buttons to the current situation. It does not say that the buttons must never be touched. You can use voorlopig when a decision or restriction is temporary.
niet Niet means not and makes the instruction negative in raak de knoppen voorlopig niet aan. It blocks the action of touching the controls. You can use niet to negate an action or statement.
aan Aan is the particle in raak ... niet aan and contributes to the expression meaning touch. It belongs with raak here rather than meaning on by itself. A reusable pattern is raak iets niet aan when telling someone to leave an object untouched.
geen Geen means no or not any and negates the noun phrase nieuwe opdracht. In geen nieuwe opdracht toevoegen, it says that no new job should be added. You can use geen before a noun when saying that there is or should be none of it.
nieuwe Nieuwe means new and describes another print job that would be added to the queue. It modifies opdracht in geen nieuwe opdracht. A reusable pattern is nieuwe + noun when identifying something as newly created or newly added.
wachtrij Wachtrij means queue, the line in which jobs wait. In aan de wachtrij toevoegen, it is the destination to which another job might be added. You can use wachtrij for an ordered line of waiting items or tasks.
toevoegen Toevoegen means add and describes putting another job into the queue. It is used with aan de wachtrij to show what receives the added item. A reusable pattern is something toevoegen aan something when adding one item to a list, queue, or group.
mislukte Mislukte means failed and describes the print job that did not succeed. It modifies afdrukopdracht in de mislukte afdrukopdracht. You can use mislukte before a noun to identify an attempt or process that did not work.
afdrukopdracht Afdrukopdracht means print job, the specific printing task that can be cancelled. It is modified by mislukte in this sentence. You can use afdrukopdracht when discussing a document or task submitted for printing.
annuleren Annuleren means cancel and describes stopping the failed print job before another attempt. It takes the failed print job as its object. A reusable pattern is an opdracht annuleren when cancelling a submitted task or job.
u U means you in the formal form of address used by the staff member with the patron. In voordat u het opnieuw probeert, u is the person who will try again. You can use u in polite or formal communication with one person.
probeert Probeert means tries in voordat u het opnieuw probeert, referring to the patron making another attempt. It is used with opnieuw to mean tries again. Probeert is a form of proberen; a reusable pattern is iets opnieuw proberen when making another attempt at something.
Kunt Kunt means can in the polite question Kunt u de printer controleren? It asks whether the other person is able and willing to check the printer. A reusable pattern is Kunt u + infinitive? for a polite request.
printer Printer means printer, the machine that is being checked. It is the object of controleren in the polite request. You can use printer when referring to the device that produces printed pages.
nog Nog means else or more in nog iets verstuur, referring to anything additional that the speaker might send. It indicates an additional item beyond what has already been sent. A reusable pattern is nog iets + verb when asking or talking about doing something else.
iets Iets means something or anything and refers to an unspecified item to be sent. In nog iets, it means anything else. You can use iets when the particular object is unknown, unimportant, or not specified.
verstuur Verstuur means send in voordat ik nog iets verstuur, referring to the speaker sending another item. It is the form used with ik in this clause. A reusable pattern is ik + object + verstuur when stating what you send.
zal Zal means will in Ik zal even kijken and expresses the staff member's immediate intention to take a look. It is followed by the infinitive kijken. A reusable pattern is Ik zal + infinitive when promising or announcing a near-future action.
even Even means briefly or just in Ik zal even kijken and makes the proposed look sound short and practical. It softens the statement without changing the main action. You can use even with an action that will take only a moment.
kijken Kijken means look and describes the brief inspection the staff member will make. It follows zal in Ik zal even kijken. A reusable pattern is even kijken when taking a quick look at something.
wilt Wilt means want in wilt u de machine ... openen, forming a polite request to the formal listener. It is used with u and an infinitive. A reusable pattern is wilt u + infinitive? when politely asking someone to do something.
machine Machine means machine, referring to the printer as a device that the patron should not open. It is the object of openen. You can use machine for a device that performs a mechanical or technical task.
alstublieft Alstublieft means please and makes the instruction not to open the machine polite. It is used inside the request wilt u de machine alstublieft niet zelf openen. You can use alstublieft when making a courteous request or instruction.
zelf Zelf means yourself and emphasizes that the patron should not open the machine personally. It refers back to u in de machine ... niet zelf openen. A reusable pattern is subject or object + zelf when emphasizing who performs an action.
openen Openen means open and refers to opening the printer machine. It follows wilt u in the polite request not to open it. A reusable pattern is something openen when opening a door, device, or container.
wacht Wacht means wait in Ik wacht hier, stating that the speaker will remain there while the printer is checked. It is the form used with Ik in this sentence. A reusable pattern is Ik wacht + place when saying where you will wait.
hier Hier means here and identifies the place where the speaker will wait. It completes Ik wacht hier. You can use hier when referring to the speaker's current location.
terwijl Terwijl means while and introduces the action happening during the waiting: the other person checks the printer. It connects two actions that overlap in time. A reusable pattern is terwijl + clause when one action takes place during another.
controleert Controleert means checks in terwijl u het controleert, referring to the formal listener checking the printer. It is used with u in the subordinate clause. Controleert is a form of controleren; you can use it when describing what someone is inspecting.
Dat Dat means that and refers back to the plan of waiting while the printer is checked. It is the subject of Dat helpt ons het probleem op te lossen. You can use Dat at the start of a sentence to refer to a situation just mentioned.
helpt Helpt means helps and describes how the agreed action contributes to solving the problem. In Dat helpt ons het probleem op te lossen, it is followed by the person helped and the purpose. A reusable pattern is iets helpt iemand + action when one action supports another person's result.
ons Ons means us and identifies the people who benefit from the action. It is the object of helpt in Dat helpt ons het probleem op te lossen. You can use ons when referring to the speaker together with one or more other people.
probleem Probleem means problem, referring to the stuck printing situation. It is the object being solved in het probleem op te lossen. You can use probleem when describing an issue that needs attention or a solution.
te Te marks the infinitive in op te lossen, linking the action of solving to helps. It appears between op and the infinitive form lossen. A reusable pattern is te + infinitive in a phrase describing an action to perform.
lossen Losen means solve here, together with op in op te lossen, referring to clearing the printing problem. The full expression op te lossen means to solve. A reusable pattern is een probleem oplossen when dealing with an issue that needs a solution.
zonder Zonder means without and introduces the condition that no additional print jobs are added. It is followed by the action phrase meer afdrukopdrachten toe te voegen. A reusable pattern is zonder + action when describing something that happens without another action.
meer Meer means more and indicates additional print jobs beyond the one already involved. It modifies afdrukopdrachten in zonder meer afdrukopdrachten toe te voegen. You can use meer when referring to an increased amount or additional items.
afdrukopdrachten Afdrukopdrachten means print jobs and refers to additional tasks waiting to be printed. It is the object of toe te voegen. Afdrukopdrachten is the plural of afdrukopdracht; you can use it when discussing several submitted printing tasks.
voegen Voegen means add in toe te voegen, referring to putting more print jobs into the queue. With toe, it forms the action of adding. A reusable pattern is items toevoegen when placing additional items into a list, queue, or group.

Grammar Points

er komt ... uit

Er komt niets uit.

air kohmt NEETS owt.

Nothing comes out.

In a main clause, the particle uit moves to the end of the separable verb eruit komen.

raak ... aan

Raak de knop aan.

rahk duh KNOP ahn.

Touch the button.

In a main clause, aan moves to the end of the separable verb aanraken.

Dutch Vocabulary

afdrukken noun
AHF-druk-kuhn printing
blijven hangen phrase
BLY-vuh(n) HAHNG-uhn to remain stuck blijft ... hangen
controleren verb
kohn-troh-LAY-ruh(n) to check
document noun
doh-koo-MENT document
dubbelzijdig adj
DUB-uhl-ZAY-dikh double-sided
eruit komen phrase
air-OWT KOH-muhn to come out er komt ... uit
foutmelding noun
FOWT-mel-ding error message
opdracht noun
OP-drahkht job; task
opnieuw adv
op-NYEW again; anew
printerwachtrij noun
PRIN-ter-wahkh-TRAY printer queue
scherm noun
SKHAIRM screen
versturen verb
ver-STEW-ruh(n) to send versturen; verstuurt

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

job; task

Show Answeropdracht

to check

Show Answercontroleren

again; anew

Show Answeropnieuw

document

Show Answerdocument