Reporting a Leak with Concrete Details | Learn Dutch in English

About This Lesson

Use Reporting a Leak with Concrete Details to practice Dutch conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Ik merkte dat er een vochtige plek begon te ontstaan onder de gootsteen in de keuken.

ick MAIRK-tuh dat air un VOKH-tuh-guh plek buh-GKHIN tuh un-STAAN ON-dur duh KHOTE-stayn in duh KUR-kuhn. I noticed a damp patch forming under the kitchen sink.

Dat moet worden aangepakt voordat het kastje beschadigt.

daht MOOT VOR-duhn AAN-guh-pakt vohr-DAHT hut KAHSH-yuh buh-SKHAH-dikht. That needs attention before it damages the cabinet.

Ik heb daar een bak neergezet, maar het lek druppelt nog steeds langzaam.

ick hep dahr un BAHK NAYR-khuh-ZAYT, mahr ut LEK DRUP-ult nokh STAYTS LAANG-zahm. I placed a container there, but the leak is still dripping slowly.

Staat daar iets opgeslagen dat de toegang kan blokkeren?

SHTAHT dahr eets op-khuh-SLAH-khun daht duh TOO-khahng kun bloh-KAY-run? Is anything stored there that could block access?

Ik heb de ruimte vrijgemaakt, zodat de monteur die gemakkelijk kan inspecteren.

ick hep duh RUYM-tuh FRAY-khuh-MAHKT, soh-DAHT duh mon-TUR dee khuh-MAHK-uh-luk kun in-spehk-TAY-run. I cleared the area, so the technician can inspect it easily.

Ik kan het als dringend aanmerken, hoewel het inplannen nog steeds tijd kan kosten.

ick kun hut als DRING-unt AAN-MEHR-kun, hoo-WAYL ut in-PLAH-nun nokh STAYTS tayt kun KOH-stun. I can mark it as urgent, although scheduling may still take time.

Vermeld alstublieft dat de vloer begint te vervormen.

vuh-MELT al-stuh-BLEEFT daht duh VLOOR buh-KHINT tuh vuh-VOR-mun. Please mention that the floor is beginning to warp.

Dat detail hoort in het rapport te staan.

daht duh-TAHL hohrt in ut rah-PORT tuh STAHN. That detail should go in the report.

Het heeft gevolgen voor de veiligheid en het reparatieplan.

hut hayft khuh-VOHL-khun vohr duh VAY-likh-hayt un hut ray-pah-RAH-tsee-plahn. It affects safety and the repair plan.

Word by Word

Ik “Ik” means “I” and is the speaker who noticed, placed, cleared, or can mark something in the dialogue. It is used as the subject before the verb, as in “Ik merkte dat” and “Ik heb daar een bak neergezet.”

merkte “merkte” means “noticed” in “Ik merkte dat er een vochtige plek begon te ontstaan.” It introduces an observation, especially with “dat” followed by what was noticed.

dat In “Ik merkte dat er een vochtige plek begon te ontstaan,” “dat” introduces what was noticed. At the start of “Dat moet worden aangepakt,” “Dat” refers back to the reported problem, so it can also point to something already mentioned.

er “er” helps express that something is forming in “er een vochtige plek begon te ontstaan”; it does not need a separate English word here. It is useful in descriptions of something appearing or existing, as in the pattern “er … ontstaat.”

een “een” means “a” in “een vochtige plek,” introducing one unspecified damp patch. It comes directly before the noun phrase and is useful when reporting a newly observed thing.

vochtige “vochtige” means “damp” or “moist” and describes the condition of the plek in “een vochtige plek.” This combination is useful when giving concrete details about water damage or moisture.

plek “plek” means “spot” or “patch,” here referring to the visible damp area under the sink. “een vochtige plek” is a practical phrase for reporting a localized mark or area.

begon “begon” means “began” in “begon te ontstaan,” showing that the damp patch was starting to appear. The pattern “begon te” introduces an action or change that was just starting.

te “te” links “begon” to the infinitive “ontstaan” in “begon te ontstaan.” Together, “begon te ontstaan” describes something starting to form.

ontstaan “ontstaan” means “form” or “come into existence” in “een vochtige plek begon te ontstaan.” It is used after “te” here to describe the appearance of a new condition.

onder “onder” means “under” and locates the damp patch below the sink in “onder de gootsteen in de keuken.” It is used for describing the position of an object or problem relative to another object.

de “de” means “the” in “de gootsteen” and “de keuken.” It appears before these nouns when referring to the specific sink and kitchen involved in the report.

gootsteen “gootsteen” means “sink,” specifically the sink beneath which the damp patch is forming. “onder de gootsteen” is useful when locating a leak or maintenance problem in a kitchen.

in “in” means “in” and identifies the kitchen in “in de keuken.” It is used to locate something inside a place or area.

de keuken “de keuken” means “the kitchen” and specifies which sink is meant in “onder de gootsteen in de keuken.” This phrase is useful when a maintenance request needs a clear location.

moet “moet” expresses that something needs to happen in “Dat moet worden aangepakt.” It is used with “worden aangepakt” to state that the problem requires attention.

worden In “moet worden aangepakt,” “worden” helps form the passive construction: the problem receives the action rather than the person doing it being named. This pattern is useful when stating that an issue needs to be dealt with.

aangepakt “aangepakt” means “addressed” or “dealt with” in “Dat moet worden aangepakt.” The form is useful for saying that a problem requires action, especially in a maintenance or repair request.

voordat “voordat” means “before” and introduces the risk that the cabinet will be damaged in “voordat het kastje beschadigt.” It connects the needed repair with a later event that should be prevented.

het In “het kastje,” “het” means “the”; in “Het heeft gevolgen voor de veiligheid,” “Het” means “it” and refers to the problem. The exact meaning therefore depends on whether it comes before a noun or refers back to something already discussed.

kastje “kastje” means “cabinet” in the context of the cabinet under or near the sink. It identifies the part of the kitchen that could be damaged by the leak.

beschadigt “beschadigt” describes the cabinet becoming damaged in “voordat het kastje beschadigt.” This form is useful when warning that a continuing leak may harm a particular object.

heb “heb” means “have” and helps describe the completed action in “Ik heb daar een bak neergezet.” The pattern “Ik heb … neergezet” reports something the speaker has already placed.

daar “daar” means “there” and points to the location under the sink in “Ik heb daar een bak neergezet.” It avoids repeating the full location after it has already been established.

bak “bak” means “container” or “tub” here, referring to the container placed under the leak. “een bak neergezet” is useful when explaining a temporary measure to catch dripping water.

neergezet “neergezet” means “placed” or “set down” in “Ik heb daar een bak neergezet.” It describes putting an object in a particular place, here as a response to the leak.

maar “maar” means “but” and contrasts the temporary action with the continuing problem in “maar het lek druppelt nog steeds langzaam.” It is useful for adding an outcome that remains different from what was hoped.

lek “lek” means “leak,” the source of the dripping water in “het lek druppelt nog steeds langzaam.” It is a central word for reporting water escaping from a pipe, fitting, or other part of a building.

druppelt “druppelt” means “drips” and describes the leak’s ongoing action in “het lek druppelt nog steeds langzaam.” It gives a concrete description of how the water is coming out.

nog In “nog steeds langzaam,” “nog” helps express that the dripping continues. Together with “steeds,” it is useful for saying that a condition has not stopped.

steeds In “nog steeds langzaam,” “steeds” contributes the meaning “still” or “continually,” showing that the slow dripping remains present. The full expression “nog steeds” is useful for reporting an ongoing problem.

langzaam “langzaam” means “slowly” and describes the rate of the dripping in “druppelt nog steeds langzaam.” It is useful when distinguishing a slow leak from a sudden or heavy flow.

Staat In the question “Staat daar iets opgeslagen dat de toegang kan blokkeren?”, “Staat” asks whether something is located or kept there. This question form is useful when checking whether objects are obstructing an inspection area.

iets “iets” means “anything” in the question “Staat daar iets opgeslagen …?” It refers to an unspecified object and is useful when asking openly whether something is present.

opgeslagen “opgeslagen” means “stored” or “kept” in “iets opgeslagen.” It describes objects being placed in an area, especially when checking whether they might obstruct access.

toegang “toegang” means “access” in “de toegang kan blokkeren.” It refers to the ability to reach the area that the technician needs to inspect.

kan “kan” expresses possibility in “de toegang kan blokkeren,” meaning that the stored object could block access. It is followed here by the infinitive “blokkeren.”

blokkeren “blokkeren” means “block” in “de toegang kan blokkeren.” The phrase is useful for describing an object or condition that prevents someone from reaching a place.

ruimte “ruimte” means “area” or “space” in “Ik heb de ruimte vrijgemaakt.” Here it refers to the area around the leak that the technician needs to reach.

vrijgemaakt “vrijgemaakt” means “cleared” or “made free” in “Ik heb de ruimte vrijgemaakt.” It describes removing obstacles so that another person can work or inspect the area.

zodat “zodat” means “so that” and introduces the purpose of clearing the area in “zodat de monteur die gemakkelijk kan inspecteren.” It connects an action with the result it is intended to make possible.

monteur “monteur” means “technician” or repair worker in “de monteur.” It identifies the person who is expected to inspect and address the maintenance problem.

die “die” refers to the cleared area in “de monteur die gemakkelijk kan inspecteren,” meaning that the technician can inspect it easily. It avoids repeating “de ruimte” in the same sentence.

gemakkelijk “gemakkelijk” means “easily” and describes how the technician can inspect the area in “die gemakkelijk kan inspecteren.” It is useful for explaining that access has been made uncomplicated.

inspecteren “inspecteren” means “inspect” in “kan inspecteren.” It follows “kan” and describes the technician’s planned examination of the cleared area.

als In “het als dringend aanmerken,” “als” means “as” and links the item to the status being assigned to it. The whole pattern is used to designate something as having a particular priority.

dringend “dringend” means “urgent” in “het als dringend aanmerken.” It gives the maintenance request a high-priority status when the problem needs attention soon.

aanmerken “aanmerken” means “mark” or “designate” in “Ik kan het als dringend aanmerken.” The pattern “iets als dringend aanmerken” is useful when assigning an urgent status to a request.

hoewel “hoewel” means “although” and introduces a limitation in “hoewel het inplannen nog steeds tijd kan kosten.” It is useful for acknowledging a difficulty while keeping the main statement valid.

inplannen “inplannen” means “schedule” or “arrange in the schedule” in “het inplannen.” Here it refers to arranging a time for the maintenance visit, and it is used as the activity that may take time.

tijd “tijd” means “time” in “het inplannen nog steeds tijd kan kosten.” The pattern “tijd kosten” is used to say that an activity requires time.

kosten In “tijd kan kosten,” “kosten” means “take” rather than referring to money: scheduling may take time. This pattern is useful for describing how long an action or process may require.

Vermeld “Vermeld” is a direct request meaning “mention” or “include” in “Vermeld alstublieft dat de vloer begint te vervormen.” It is useful when asking someone to add an important fact to a report or request.

alstublieft “alstublieft” means “please” and makes the request in “Vermeld alstublieft …” polite. It can accompany a direct request when speaking to a service representative or another person handling the report.

vloer “vloer” means “floor” in “de vloer begint te vervormen.” It identifies the building surface affected by the leak and is a concrete detail for a repair request.

begint “begint” means “begins” in “begint te vervormen,” showing that the floor is only starting to change shape. The pattern “begint te” introduces a change that is now starting.

vervormen “vervormen” means “warp” or “deform” in “de vloer begint te vervormen.” It is useful for describing a floor or other material that is losing its normal shape because of damage or moisture.

detail “detail” means “detail” in “Dat detail hoort in het rapport te staan.” It refers to the specific information about the floor that should be included in the written report.

hoort In “Dat detail hoort in het rapport te staan,” “hoort” expresses that the detail belongs there or should be included there. This construction is useful for saying where information properly needs to appear.

rapport “rapport” means “report” in “in het rapport.” It refers to the written maintenance record where the relevant damage information should be documented.

staan In “in het rapport te staan,” “staan” means “be included” or “be written,” rather than simply standing physically. The phrase is useful for saying that information belongs in a document.

heeft In “Het heeft gevolgen voor de veiligheid en het reparatieplan,” “heeft” means “has” and expresses an effect or consequence. The pattern “heeft gevolgen voor” is useful when explaining that an issue affects another matter.

gevolgen “gevolgen” means “consequences” or “effects” in “heeft gevolgen voor de veiligheid en het reparatieplan.” It is used to explain what results from the leak or the damage it is causing.

voor In “gevolgen voor de veiligheid en het reparatieplan,” “voor” identifies what the consequences affect. The pattern “gevolgen voor …” is useful for connecting a problem with its practical impact.

veiligheid “veiligheid” means “safety” in “gevolgen voor de veiligheid.” It identifies the safety impact that should be considered when assessing the leak and repair priority.

en “en” means “and” and links the two affected areas in “de veiligheid en het reparatieplan.” It is used to connect items that are both relevant to the same statement.

reparatieplan “reparatieplan” means “repair plan,” the plan for addressing the damage. In “de veiligheid en het reparatieplan,” it identifies the practical repair decisions that the reported detail may influence.

Grammar Points

Hoewel + bijzin, hoofdzin

Hoewel de toegang geblokkeerd is, inspecteert de monteur de ruimte.

hoo-WAYL duh TOO-khahng khuh-BLOH-kayRT is, in-spehk-TAYRT duh mon-TUR duh RUYM-tuh.

Although access is blocked, the technician inspects the space.

Na hoewel staat het werkwoord aan het einde van de bijzin. In de hoofdzin komt het werkwoord direct na de komma.

zijn + voltooid deelwoord

De ruimte is vrijgemaakt en het reparatieplan is opgeslagen.

duh RUYM-tuh is FRAY-khuh-MAHKT un hut ray-pah-RAH-tsee-plahn is op-khuh-SLAH-khun.

The space has been cleared and the repair plan has been stored.

Zijn met een voltooid deelwoord beschrijft een voltooide handeling of het resultaat daarvan.

Dutch Vocabulary

aanpakken verb

AAN-PAH-kun to address; to deal with aangepakt

beschadigen verb

buh-SKHAH-dih-khun to damage beschadigt

blokkeren verb

bloh-KAY-run to block

druppelen verb

DRUP-uh-lun to drip druppelt

gootsteen noun

KHOTE-stayn sink

lek noun

lek leak

ontstaan verb

ont-STAAN to form; to arise

opslaan verb

op-SLAAN to store opgeslagen

plek noun

plek spot; patch

ruimte noun

RUYM-tuh space; area

toegang noun

TOO-khahng access

vochtig adj

VOKH-tikh damp vochtige

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to address; to deal with

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aangepakt

to store

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opgeslagen

spot; patch

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plek

to drip

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druppelt