Checking an Email Before Sending | Learn Dutch in English

About This Lesson

Use Checking an Email Before Sending to practice Dutch conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Kun je de toon van deze e-mail controleren voordat ik hem verstuur?

Koon yuh duh TOHN vahn DAY-zuh EE-mayl kohn-troh-LAY-run vuh-DAHT ik um vuh-STUR? Could you check the tone of this email before I send it?

Hij is professioneel, maar de opening klinkt een beetje scherp.

Hay iss proh-fess-see-oh-NAYL, mahr duh OH-puh-ning klinkt uh BAYT-yuh skhairp. It is professional, but the opening feels a little sharp.

Ik wil ze aan het verzoek herinneren zonder ongeduldig te klinken.

Ik vil zuh ahn ut vuh-ZOOK uh-RIN-uh-run ZON-dur on-guh-DUH-luhkh tuh KLINK-un. I want to remind them about the request without sounding impatient.

Probeer een zachtere opening waarin je aangeeft dat je nog even terugkomt.

Proh-BEER uh ZAHKH-tuh-ruh OH-puh-ning vah-RIN yuh AHNG-khayft daht yuh nohk AY-vun tuh-RUHK-komt. Try a softer opening that says you are following up.

Dat klinkt beter. Is mijn verzoek duidelijk genoeg?

Daht klinkt BAY-tur. Iss mayn vuh-ZOOK DOW-duh-luk guh-NOOKH? That sounds better. Is my request clear enough?

Leg de volgende stap in dezelfde alinea uit.

LEKH duh VOL-khun-duh stahp in DAY-zelf-duh ah-lee-NAY-ah owt. Explain the next step in the same paragraph.

Ik heb aan het einde ook extra context toegevoegd.

Ik hehp ahn ut AYN-duh ohk EKH-truh KOHN-tekst too-khuh-VOOT. I also added extra context near the end.

De context is nuttig. Controleer de lijst met ontvangers voordat je de e-mail verstuurt.

Duh KOHN-tekst iss NUH-tuhkh. Kohn-troh-LAYR duh LAYST mut ohnt-VAHNG-urs vuh-DAHT yuh duh EE-mayl vuh-STURT. The context is helpful. Check the recipient list before you send it.

Dat was makkelijk over het hoofd te zien. De verkeerde persoon stond er per ongeluk bij.

Daht vahs MAK-uh-luk OH-vur ut HOHFT tuh zayn. Duh vuh-KAYR-duh pair-SOHN stohnt ur pair on-guh-LUHK bay. That was easy to miss. The wrong person was included by mistake.

Haal die persoon van de lijst.

Hahl dee pair-SOHN vahn duh LAYST. Remove that person from the list.

Dan is de e-mail klaar om te versturen.

Dahn iss duh EE-mayl klahr om tuh vuh-STUR-un. Then the email is ready to send.

Word by Word

Kun In “Kun je” this asks whether you are able or willing to do something, here to check the email. It is used with “je” and an infinitive such as “controleren” for a polite request.

je Here “je” means “you” as the person being asked to check the email. It appears directly after “Kun” in the request “Kun je”.

de In “de toon” and “deze e-mail”, “de” marks a definite noun phrase. With “toon”, it refers to the specific tone being discussed.

toon “Toon” means the tone or manner conveyed by the email. The reusable phrase “de toon van deze e-mail” identifies the tone of a particular message.

van In “de toon van deze e-mail”, “van” connects the tone with the email it belongs to. This pattern is used to express a relationship such as the tone of something.

deze “Deze” points to the particular email being discussed: “deze e-mail” means “this email”. It is placed before the noun.

e-mail “E-mail” is the message whose tone is being checked and whose recipient list is reviewed. In this dialogue it appears in noun phrases such as “deze e-mail” and “de e-mail”.

controleren “Controleren” means to check or review something carefully. After “Kun je”, it names the requested action in “Kun je de toon van deze e-mail controleren”.

voordat “Voordat” means “before” and introduces an action that must happen first. In “voordat ik hem verstuur”, it places the checking before the sending.

ik “Ik” means “I” and identifies the person who will send the email in “voordat ik hem verstuur”. It is the subject of that clause.

hem “Hem” refers back to the email as the thing being sent. In “ik hem verstuur”, it is the object of the sending action.

verstuur In “voordat ik hem verstuur”, “verstuur” means “send” and describes what I will do with the email. It follows the subject “ik” in this clause.

Hij Here “Hij” refers back to the email as the thing whose tone is being evaluated. In “Hij is professioneel”, it introduces the description of that email.

is In “Hij is professioneel”, “is” links the email to the description “professioneel”. It states what the email is like.

professioneel “Professioneel” describes the email as appropriate and professional in tone. It follows “is” in “Hij is professioneel”.

maar “Maar” means “but” and introduces a contrast. In the dialogue, the email is professional, but its opening still sounds sharp.

opening “Opening” means the beginning of the email, especially the first part the recipient reads. The dialogue evaluates this part with “de opening klinkt”.

klinkt In “de opening klinkt ...”, “klinkt” describes how the opening comes across to the reader. It is used with a description such as “scherp” or “beter”.

een “Een” means “a” and introduces a non-specific noun phrase. In “een beetje scherp”, it begins the small-degree expression before “beetje”.

beetje “Een beetje” means “a little” and softens the description “scherp”. It is useful when giving a mild criticism of a tone or quality.

scherp Here “scherp” describes the opening as sounding harsh or too direct, not physically sharp. The phrase “klinkt een beetje scherp” gives feedback about the tone of written communication.

wil In “Ik wil ...”, “wil” expresses the speaker’s intention or desire. Here it introduces the intention to remind the recipients about the request.

ze “Ze” refers to the people who should be reminded about the request. In “Ik wil ze aan het verzoek herinneren”, it is the people receiving that reminder.

aan In “aan het verzoek herinneren”, “aan” introduces what someone is reminded about. It belongs to the reminder construction used with “herinneren”.

het In “het verzoek”, “het” marks the definite noun phrase referring to the specific request already being discussed. It appears directly before “verzoek”.

verzoek “Verzoek” means the request that the email is following up on. In “aan het verzoek herinneren”, it is the matter being brought back to the recipients’ attention.

herinneren In “ze aan het verzoek herinneren”, “herinneren” means to remind someone about something. The dialogue uses it with the people “ze” and the request “het verzoek”.

zonder “Zonder” means “without” and introduces something that should not happen. Here it introduces “ongeduldig te klinken”, the manner the speaker wants to avoid.

ongeduldig “Ongeduldig” describes a tone that sounds impatient. In “ongeduldig te klinken”, it names the impression the writer wants to avoid giving.

te In “te klinken”, “te” marks the infinitive after “zonder”. Together with “klinken”, it forms the action of sounding a certain way.

klinken In “ongeduldig te klinken”, “klinken” means to sound or come across as. The phrase describes how the writer’s message might be perceived.

Probeer “Probeer” gives a direct suggestion to try something. Here it introduces the suggestion to use “een zachtere opening”.

zachtere “Zachtere” means “softer” and describes an opening with a gentler tone than the earlier one. In “een zachtere opening”, it modifies “opening”.

waarin “Waarin” means “in which” and links the opening to information contained in it. In “een zachtere opening waarin je aangeeft”, it introduces the relative clause describing that opening.

aangeeft In “waarin je aangeeft”, “aangeeft” means communicates or indicates. The opening communicates that the writer is returning to the earlier request.

dat “Dat” introduces the content of what is communicated in “aangeeft dat je nog even terugkomt”. It connects the reporting expression with the following message.

nog In “nog even terugkomt”, “nog” adds the idea of returning again or continuing the follow-up. It helps present the contact as a further brief response to the earlier request.

even In “nog even terugkomt”, “even” softens the expression by presenting the return or follow-up as brief. It is common in polite descriptions of a short action.

terugkomt “Terugkomt” means comes back or follows up in the context of an earlier request. In “dat je nog even terugkomt”, it describes contacting the recipients again.

beter “Beter” means better and evaluates the new opening more positively than the earlier one. It appears after “klinkt” in “Dat klinkt beter”.

mijn “Mijn” means “my” and shows that the request belongs to the speaker. In “mijn verzoek”, it comes directly before the noun.

duidelijk “Duidelijk” means clear or understandable. In “duidelijk genoeg”, it describes whether the request communicates what the recipient needs to know.

genoeg “Genoeg” means “enough” and follows “duidelijk” in “duidelijk genoeg”. Together they ask whether the request is sufficiently clear.

Leg “Leg” gives a direct instruction to explain something. In “Leg de volgende stap ... uit”, it is part of the separable verb expression meaning explain.

volgende “Volgende” means next and identifies the step that comes after the current one. It directly modifies “stap” in “de volgende stap”.

stap “Stap” means step in a process. Here “de volgende stap” is the action the reader should take after the request.

in In “in dezelfde alinea”, “in” means within. It specifies where the next step should be explained.

dezelfde “Dezelfde” means “the same” and refers to the paragraph already being used for the request. In “dezelfde alinea”, it emphasizes keeping both pieces of information together.

alinea “Alinea” means paragraph. In “dezelfde alinea”, it identifies the part of the email where the next step should be added.

uit In “Leg de volgende stap in dezelfde alinea uit”, “uit” completes the separable verb “uitleggen”, meaning explain. The complete expression tells someone to explain the next step.

heb In “Ik heb ... toegevoegd”, “heb” works with “toegevoegd” to state that the speaker has added something. It is followed by the added item and the completed action form.

einde “Einde” means the end. In “aan het einde”, it identifies the location near the final part of the email.

ook “Ook” means “also” and adds the extra context to other things already included in the email. In “ook extra context toegevoegd”, it marks this as an additional action or item.

extra “Extra” means additional or more than what was already there. It describes the context in “extra context”.

context “Context” means background information that helps the reader understand the request. In the dialogue, this information was added near the end of the email.

toegevoegd “Toegevoegd” means added or included. In “Ik heb aan het einde ook extra context toegevoegd”, it describes the context that the speaker put into the email.

nuttig “Nuttig” means useful or helpful. In “De context is nuttig”, it evaluates the added background information positively.

Controleer “Controleer” gives a direct instruction to check something. Here it tells the listener to review the recipient list before sending the email.

lijst “Lijst” means list. In “de lijst met ontvangers”, it refers to the collection of people who will receive the email.

met In “lijst met ontvangers”, “met” connects the list with the recipients it contains. It identifies what the list is a list of.

ontvangers “Ontvangers” means recipients, the people who receive the email. In “de lijst met ontvangers”, it identifies the people whose inclusion must be checked.

makkelijk “Makkelijk” means easy. In “makkelijk over het hoofd te zien”, it says that overlooking the mistake was easy to do.

over het hoofd te zien The whole expression “over het hoofd te zien” means to overlook or fail to notice something. “Over het hoofd” forms the fixed idiomatic part, while “te” marks the infinitive and “zien” means to see; the components work together rather than giving a literal meaning about looking over a head.

was “Was” places the situation in the past in “Dat was makkelijk over het hoofd te zien”. It describes the earlier mistake as having been easy to overlook.

verkeerde “Verkeerde” means wrong or incorrect and describes the person who was included. In “de verkeerde persoon”, it identifies the person who should not have been on the list.

persoon “Persoon” means person. In “de verkeerde persoon”, it refers to the individual who was included in the recipient list by mistake.

stond In “De verkeerde persoon stond er per ongeluk bij”, “stond” says that the person was present or listed. The expression describes inclusion in the recipient list.

er In “stond er per ongeluk bij”, “er” points to the presence of the person in the list. With “bij”, it helps express that someone was included among the others.

per ongeluk The whole expression “per ongeluk” means by mistake or accidentally. “Per” and “ongeluk” combine to describe the circumstance of the wrong person being included.

bij In “stond er per ongeluk bij”, “bij” means included or among the listed people. Together with “stond” and “er”, it describes someone being present on the list.

Haal “Haal” gives a direct instruction to remove or take something away. In “Haal die persoon van de lijst”, it tells the listener to remove the person from the recipient list.

die “Die” means “that” and points to the specific person already identified as wrong. In “die persoon”, it comes before the noun.

klaar “Klaar” means ready or finished. In “klaar om te versturen”, it says that the email now meets the conditions for sending.

om In “klaar om te versturen”, “om” introduces the action for which the email is ready. This construction is followed by “te” and the infinitive “versturen”.

versturen “Versturen” means to send or dispatch, here referring to sending the completed email. In “klaar om te versturen”, it names the action that can happen next.

Grammar Points

voordat + bijzin: het werkwoord staat achteraan

Ik controleer de toon voordat ik de e-mail verstuur.

Ik kohn-troh-LAYR duh TOHN vuh-DAHT ik duh EE-mayl vuh-STUR.

I check the tone before I send the email.

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

scheidbaar werkwoord: terugkomen → ik kom terug

Ik kom terug met de volgende stap.

Ik kohm tuh-RUHK met duh VOL-khun-duh stahp.

I will come back with the next step.

In a main clause, the prefix terug separates from komen and moves to the end.

Dutch Vocabulary

controleren verb

kohn-troh-LAY-run to check

e-mail noun

EE-mayl email

herinneren verb

heh-RIN-uh-run to remind

klinken verb

KLINK-un to sound

ongeduldig adj

on-guh-DUH-luhkh impatient

opening noun

OH-puh-ning opening

professioneel adj

proh-fess-see-oh-NAYL professional

scherp adj

skhairp sharp; harsh

toon noun

TOHN tone

versturen verb

vuh-STUR-un to send verstuur

verzoek noun

vuh-ZOOK request

voordat conj

vuh-DAHT before

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Remove that person from the list.

Show Answer

Haal die persoon van de lijst.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

before

Show Answer

voordat

to check

Show Answer

controleren

tone

Show Answer

toon

to remind

Show Answer

herinneren