Borrowing a charger and confirming when to return it | Learn Dutch in English

Sentence explanations

1. Ik heb mijn oplader ergens anders laten liggen en de batterij van mijn laptop is bijna leeg.

   I left my charger elsewhere and my laptop battery is nearly empty.

   Ik heb

   I have

   oplader

   charger

   ergens anders

   elsewhere

   laten liggen

   leave behind

   batterij

   battery

   laptop

   laptop

   bijna

   nearly

   leeg

   empty

   More detail

   Ik heb begins a first-person singular perfect construction: hebben is the auxiliary, and heb is its present-tense form with ik. Here it combines with the later verb group to describe a completed event. The same auxiliary appears with other completed actions, for example: Ik heb gebeld. — “I called / I have called.” oplader means “charger” here. It is related to the verb opladen (“to charge”) and uses -er to form a noun for an agent or instrument; the useful plural is opladers. In this sentence, mijn marks the charger as belonging to the speaker, but the noun itself does not carry that possessive meaning. ergens anders means “somewhere else” or “elsewhere.” ergens refers to an unspecified place, while anders adds the contrast with the relevant or expected place. A reusable expression is ergens dichtbij — “somewhere nearby.” laten liggen is a verb combination meaning “leave something lying” and, in this context, “leave something behind.” It consists of laten (“let/leave”) plus liggen (“lie”). In the perfect construction here, Dutch uses the infinitive group after the auxiliary: heb laten liggen, rather than replacing both verbs with a participle. For example: Ik heb mijn boek thuis laten liggen. — “I left my book at home.” batterij means “battery.” Its plural is batterijen. In de batterij van mijn laptop, van mijn laptop specifies which battery is meant: the battery belonging to or associated with the laptop. laptop is the noun “laptop.” The noun phrase mijn laptop means “my laptop,” with mijn expressing possession. A possessive does not itself change the noun’s number: mijn laptop is singular, while mijn laptops uses the noun’s ordinary plural form. bijna means “nearly” or “almost.” It modifies the description leeg and indicates that the battery is close to being empty. For example: De bus is bijna vol. — “The bus is almost full.” leeg means “empty.” In this sentence it describes the battery’s remaining charge, so bijna leeg means “nearly empty” rather than necessarily physically empty. Here leeg is a predicate adjective after is: de batterij ... is ... leeg. A useful contrast is vol — “full”; for a battery, vol means fully charged. Together, Ik heb mijn oplader ergens anders laten liggen says that the speaker left their charger somewhere other than the relevant place. en joins this with de batterij van mijn laptop is bijna leeg, meaning that the laptop’s battery is close to having no charge. The complete utterance is therefore: “I left my charger elsewhere and my laptop battery is nearly empty.”

2. Die van mij zou moeten passen, als jouw aansluiting de nieuwere connector gebruikt.

   Mine should fit, provided your port uses the newer connector.

   Die van mij

   mine

   zou moeten

   should

   passen

   fit

   als

   if; provided that

   aansluiting

   port; connection

   nieuwere

   newer

   connector

   connector

   gebruikt

   uses

   More detail

   Die van mij means “mine” here: die stands for an omitted noun phrase, while van mij expresses possession (“of mine”). In Dutch, die is used for a singular common-gender noun or for plural nouns; the omitted referent is not named in this sentence. The form is not the same as dat, which stands for a singular neuter noun. Example: Die van jou is groter. — “Yours is bigger.” zou moeten expresses the expected or conditional obligation “should” in this sentence. zou is the singular form of the conditional-looking/past form of zullen, and moeten remains an infinitive after it. Together with the following infinitive, the pattern is zou moeten + infinitive: “should/would have to …”. Example: Het zou moeten werken. — “It should work.” passen is the infinitive “to fit.” It follows moeten, because Dutch modal verbs such as moeten take another verb in the infinitive. Example: Deze stekker moet passen. — “This plug must fit.” als introduces the condition for the expected result. In this sentence, the intended meaning is “if” or “provided that,” not a general question about time or identity. A reusable pattern is X ..., als Y ... — “X ..., if Y ...”. aansluiting is a noun meaning “port” or “connection”; here it refers to the relevant port. Its article is de: de aansluiting. The related noun verbinding more generally means “connection,” but it is not interchangeable in every technical context. nieuwere is the comparative form of nieuw (“new”). The chain is nieuw → nieuwer → nieuwste (“new” → “newer” → “newest”). Here nieuwere is placed before the de-noun connector and has the attributive -e ending. The comparative says that this connector is newer than a relevant alternative, without stating what that alternative is. Example: We gebruiken de nieuwere versie. — “We use the newer version.” connector is a noun meaning “connector,” the component being used by the port. With the adjective, de nieuwere connector means “the newer connector.” The adjective describes connector; it is not the noun’s base form or a form of aansluiting. gebruikt is the third-person singular present form of gebruiken, “to use.” The subject here is jouw aansluiting (“your port”), so the verb agrees with that singular subject: jouw aansluiting gebruikt — “your port uses.” The past form is also gebruikte, while the infinitive is gebruiken. The sentence first gives the expected result: Die van mij zou moeten passen — “Mine should fit.” The conditional clause then states the condition: als jouw aansluiting de nieuwere connector gebruikt — “provided your port uses the newer connector.” Together, the utterance says that the speaker’s item is expected to fit under that stated technical condition.

3. Dat klopt, hoewel ik hem alleen tijdens deze upload nodig heb.

   It does, although I only need it during this upload.

   Dat klopt

   That’s right / It does

   hoewel

   although

   hem

   it

   alleen

   only

   tijdens

   during

   deze

   this

   upload

   upload

   nodig heb

   need

   More detail

   Dat klopt is a reusable Dutch way to confirm that a preceding statement is correct. Here dat is the demonstrative pronoun in the confirming expression; the English translation presents the whole expression as “It does.” klopt is the present-tense form of kloppen for hij/zij/het and means “is correct” in this use. Example: Dat klopt. — “That’s right.” hoewel introduces a subordinate clause meaning “although.” In this sentence, the clause after it qualifies the confirmation. Dutch commonly places the finite verb at the end of such a subordinate clause, as in ... nodig heb. hem is the object form of the third-person singular personal pronoun used here for the intended meaning “it.” The sentence and translation do not identify exactly what the pronoun refers to. The form marks the object role; its referent is understood from the situation. Example: Ik zie hem. — “I see it,” when the context identifies the object. alleen means “only” and restricts the need here to the stated time period. Its scope combines with tijdens deze upload: the speaker needs the item only during this upload, not necessarily at other times. tijdens is a preposition meaning “during” and introduces the event or period in which something happens. Example: Tijdens de les luister ik. — “During the lesson, I listen.” deze means “this” and modifies a singular de-word or a plural noun. In deze upload, it modifies upload. It is not the same form as dit, which is used with a singular het-word. upload is a noun meaning “upload,” the act or event of uploading. In tijdens deze upload, the noun names the event that provides the time reference; tijdens expresses that something is needed while it is happening. nodig heb belongs to the reusable construction nodig hebben, “to need.” nodig expresses what is needed, while heb is the first-person singular present form of hebben, “to have.” The observed heb agrees with the subject ik; in a subordinate clause it appears at the end: ik heb ... nodig in a main clause, but hoewel ik ... nodig heb here. Example: Ik heb hulp nodig. — “I need help.” Together, hoewel ik hem alleen tijdens deze upload nodig heb means “although I only need it during this upload.” The subject is ik (“I”), hem is the object that is needed, alleen limits the need, and tijdens deze upload states the relevant event or period. The full utterance therefore means: “That’s right, although I only need it during this upload.”

4. Dat is geen probleem, want mijn computer is al helemaal opgeladen.

   That is manageable, since my computer is already fully charged.

   Dat

   That

   is

   is

   geen

   no; not a

   probleem

   problem

   want

   because; since

   mijn

   my

   computer

   computer

   al

   already

   helemaal

   completely; fully

   opgeladen

   charged

   More detail

   Dat means “that” here. It is a demonstrative pronoun: it points to an already identifiable situation or thing, but this sentence does not specify the referent more precisely. Dutch also has dit for “this” in the corresponding demonstrative contrast. is is the present-tense third-person singular form of zijn (“to be”). The useful pattern is X is Y, as in De computer is klaar. — “The computer is ready.” geen negates the following noun phrase: geen probleem means “no problem” or “not a problem.” It is not by itself a statement of a numerical quantity. Compare geen tijd — “no time.” probleem is the noun “problem.” Its plural is problemen: een probleem — “a problem”; twee problemen — “two problems.” want links the first statement to its explanation and means “because” or “since.” It introduces the reason in this utterance: the situation is manageable because the computer is fully charged. Unlike a subordinating conjunction such as omdat, want normally leaves the following clause in ordinary main-clause word order. mijn means “my.” It is a possessive determiner referring to the speaker. The form mijn does not change for the gender or number of the possessed noun: mijn computer — “my computer” and mijn bestanden — “my files.” computer is the noun “computer.” A useful plural is computers: Mijn computer werkt. — “My computer works.” al means “already.” It places the state before the relevant reference point: the computer has reached the charged state by then. This differs from nog (“still/yet”), as in De computer is nog niet opgeladen. — “The computer is not charged yet.” helemaal means “completely” or “fully.” Here it strengthens the following state, so helemaal opgeladen means “fully charged.” It can also modify other descriptions, for example helemaal klaar — “completely ready.” opgeladen is the past participle of the separable verb opladen (“to charge” or “to load up”). A useful form chain is opladen — laadt op — laadde op — opgeladen. With zijn, as in is opgeladen, it describes the resulting charged state. De batterij is opgeladen. — “The battery is charged.” Together, Dat is geen probleem says “That is not a problem,” and want introduces the reason. mijn computer identifies the speaker’s computer; is al helemaal opgeladen says that it is already in a completely charged state. The whole utterance therefore means: “That is manageable, since my computer is already fully charged.”

5. Ik kan hem teruggeven zodra de bestanden klaar zijn met synchroniseren.

   I can give it back as soon as the files finish synchronizing.

   Ik kan

   I can

   hem

   it

   teruggeven

   give back

   zodra

   as soon as

   bestanden

   files

   klaar

   finished

   synchroniseren

   synchronize

   More detail

   Ik kan combines ik (“I”) with kan, the present-tense form of kunnen for “can” or “be able to.” A modal verb such as kunnen is followed by an infinitive: Ik kan teruggeven means “I can give back.” hem is the third-person singular object form used here for “it,” as established by the fixed translation. Dutch contrasts object hem with subject hij: Ik zie hem means “I see him/it,” while Hij ziet mij means “He sees me.” teruggeven is the infinitive “to give back” or “to return.” It is separable: in a main clause, geven and terug separate, as in Ik geef het terug (“I give it back”), but after kan the infinitive stays together: Ik kan het teruggeven. Its past participle is teruggegeven. zodra introduces a time clause meaning “as soon as.” Example: Ik bel je zodra ik thuis ben means “I will call you as soon as I am home.” In a Dutch subordinate clause, the finite verb is placed toward the end; when an infinitive follows, the finite verb comes before that infinitive, as in de bestanden ... zijn met synchroniseren. bestanden is the plural of bestand, “file.” The useful contrast is een bestand (“a file”) and bestanden (“files”). Here the fixed translation identifies them as “the files”; the bare plural itself does not express a numeric count. klaar can mean “ready” and, with zijn met plus an activity, “finished.” Ik ben klaar met werken means “I am finished working.” In this sentence, de bestanden ... klaar zijn met synchroniseren describes the files as finished synchronizing. synchroniseren is the infinitive “to synchronize.” It follows met in the pattern klaar zijn met + activity: Zij zijn klaar met installeren means “They are finished installing.” Together, Ik kan hem teruggeven means “I can give it back.” The time clause zodra de bestanden klaar zijn met synchroniseren means “as soon as the files finish synchronizing.” The whole utterance means: “I can give it back as soon as the files finish synchronizing.”

6. Houd hem alsjeblieft in de buurt, want misschien heb ik hem later nodig.

   Please keep it nearby, because I may need it later.

   Houd

   keep

   hem

   it

   alsjeblieft

   please

   in de buurt

   nearby

   want

   because

   misschien

   perhaps

   heb ik … nodig

   I need

   later

   later

   More detail

   Houd is the imperative of houden (“to keep/hold”). The imperative gives a direct instruction; the subject “you” is normally understood rather than stated. Example: Houd de deur open. — “Keep the door open.” hem is the object form of the third-person singular pronoun for a masculine person or masculine-gendered noun in Dutch. Here, the fixed translation identifies its intended meaning as “it”; the exact object is not named in this sentence. Dutch also has haar for a feminine singular object and hen/ze for plural objects, but the choice depends on the referent’s grammatical or personal properties, not simply on English “it.” alsjeblieft is a polite “please.” It can soften an imperative without changing the instruction’s basic force. in de buurt means “nearby” or “in the vicinity.” It is a reusable location phrase. Example: De winkel is in de buurt. — “The shop is nearby.” want introduces a reason and is commonly translated as “because” or “for.” Unlike a subordinating conjunction such as omdat, want connects two main-clause-like parts, so the following clause keeps main-clause word order. misschien means “perhaps” or “maybe.” In this sentence it expresses uncertainty about the later need. When it is placed first in its clause, the finite verb comes before the subject: Misschien komt hij morgen. — “Maybe he is coming tomorrow.” heb ik ... nodig is the Dutch construction for “I need ...”: literally, it uses hebben (“to have”) together with nodig (“needed/necessary”). The verb heb is the first-person singular present form of hebben; ik is the subject, and nodig appears after the object here. The object hem is inserted between the verb and nodig. Example: Ik heb je hulp nodig. — “I need your help.” Because misschien occupies the first position in this clause, the order is misschien heb ik ..., rather than misschien ik heb .... later means “later,” referring to a time after the current situation. Example: Ik bel je later. — “I’ll call you later.” Together, Houd hem ... gives the instruction “Keep it ...”; in de buurt specifies the location; and want misschien heb ik hem later nodig gives the reason, namely that the speaker may need it at a later time. The complete meaning is: “Please keep it nearby, because I may need it later.”

7. Ik kan in de buurt blijven, zodat je hem gemakkelijk terug kunt krijgen.

   I can stay close by so you can get it back easily.

   Ik kan

   I can

   in de buurt

   nearby

   blijven

   stay

   zodat

   so that

   hem

   it

   gemakkelijk

   easily

   terug kunt krijgen

   can get back

   More detail

   Ik kan combines the subject ik (“I”) with kan, the singular present form of kunnen (“can, be able to”). Dutch modal verbs such as kunnen are followed by an infinitive: Ik kan blijven = “I can stay.” Compare ik kan with wij kunnen (“we can”); the form changes with the subject. in de buurt is a reusable location phrase meaning “nearby” or “close by.” It does not itself specify exactly what the place is near; the surrounding context supplies that reference. blijven is the infinitive “to stay, remain.” With kan, it expresses ability or possibility: Ik kan blijven = “I can stay.” The infinitive remains blijven after this modal. zodat introduces the result or purpose made possible by the preceding clause: “so that.” It begins a subordinate clause. In the fixed sentence, the ability to stay nearby makes the following outcome possible. hem is an object pronoun. It commonly means “him” and can also refer to a singular noun or entity whose grammatical and contextual reference calls for hem; the choice is not determined solely by whether a noun is a de-word. In the fixed translation, its intended meaning is “it.” As an object pronoun, it marks what is being got back. gemakkelijk means “easily” here. It is the adjective/adverb form used to describe how the recovery happens. For example, Je kunt het gemakkelijk vinden means “You can find it easily.” terug kunt krijgen means “can get back.” kunt is a present form of kunnen used with je; krijgen is the infinitive “to get, receive.” In the subordinate clause after zodat, the conjugated modal comes after the subject (je ... kunt), while the infinitive comes at the end: zodat je hem terug kunt krijgen = “so that you can get it back.” Here terug adds the meaning “back” to krijgen; it is not part of the inflected verb form. Together, Ik kan in de buurt blijven says “I can stay nearby.” zodat je hem gemakkelijk terug kunt krijgen says “so that you can get it back easily.” The complete utterance therefore means: “I can stay close by so you can get it back easily.”

8. Die afspraak werkt zonder dat een van ons wordt gestoord.

   That arrangement works without interrupting either of us.

   Die

   that

   afspraak

   arrangement; appointment

   werkt

   works

   zonder dat

   without ... happening

   een van ons

   one of us

   wordt gestoord

   is interrupted

   More detail

   Die points to the singular common-gender noun afspraak and means “that” here. Dutch uses die with singular common-gender nouns and with plural nouns; dat is used with singular neuter nouns. The demonstrative identifies the arrangement being discussed rather than adding a new participant. afspraak means “arrangement” in this sentence. The same noun can also mean “appointment” when it refers to a planned meeting, so the surrounding meaning determines the translation. Its plural is afspraken. Example: We hebben een afspraak. — “We have an appointment.” werkt is the present-tense form of werken (“to work”) for a third-person singular subject. Here it means that the arrangement functions successfully, not that a person is doing physical work. The present-tense pattern is ik werk, jij werkt, hij/zij/het werkt. Example: Deze oplossing werkt. — “This solution works.” zonder dat introduces a subordinate clause meaning that something does not happen. It is a reusable pattern for “without ... happening,” and the verb group of the subordinate clause comes at the end. In this sentence, the finite auxiliary wordt comes before the past participle gestoord within that final verb group. zonder dat differs from zonder te when the understood subject is the same as that of the main clause; zonder dat explicitly introduces its own subject. Example: Hij vertrekt zonder dat iemand hem ziet. — “He leaves without anyone seeing him.” een van ons means “one of us.” In this fixed sentence, een is part of the selection pattern een van ..., and the phrase identifies one member of the group ons; it does not by itself describe a general quantity outside that construction. ons is the first-person plural form meaning “us” after the preposition van. Example: Een van ons blijft hier. — “One of us is staying here.” wordt gestoord is a passive form meaning “is interrupted” here. wordt is the third-person singular present form of worden, used as the auxiliary in the passive, and gestoord is the past participle of storen (“to interrupt” or “to disturb”). The singular subject is een van ons, so the auxiliary is singular. In the passive, the affected person is presented as the subject rather than the interrupter. Example: De vergadering wordt gestoord. — “The meeting is interrupted.” Together, Die afspraak werkt says “That arrangement works.” The subordinate clause zonder dat een van ons wordt gestoord adds the condition that neither member of the relevant group is interrupted: literally, “without one of us being interrupted.” Thus the complete utterance means, “That arrangement works without interrupting either of us.”