Clarifying Repair Responsibility | Learn Dutch in English

Dutch lesson set in a contemporary Amsterdam everyday setting: In a housing office discussion, a tenant asks whether a gradually loosened fixture is routine maintenance and how to document the repair request..

EN → NL / Level: B2

About This Lesson

Use Clarifying Repair Responsibility to practice Dutch conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Ik weet niet zeker of deze reparatie mijn verantwoordelijkheid is.

ik VAYT neet SAY-kur ov DAY-zuh ray-pah-RAHT-see mayn vair-ant-WOHR-duh-luk-hayt is I am unsure whether this repair is my responsibility.
B

Dat hangt ervan af of de schade door normaal gebruik is ontstaan.

daht HAHNGT er-VAHN ahf ov duh SKHAH-duh dohr nor-MAHL guh-BROYK is ont-STAHN It depends on whether the damage came from normal use.
A

Het armatuur is geleidelijk losgeraakt, zonder ongewone kracht.

hut ar-mah-TUUR is guh-LAY-duh-luk lohs-guh-RAHKT, ZON-dur on-guh-WOH-nuh krahkht The fixture loosened gradually, without any unusual force.
B

Dan valt het misschien onder het reguliere onderhoud.

dahn valt ut mis-SKHEEN ON-dur ut ray-guh-LEER-uh ON-dur-howt Then it may fall under routine maintenance.
A

Ik heb liever dat de beoordeling wordt vastgelegd.

ik hep LEE-vur daht duh buh-OHR-duh-ling vohrt VAHST-guh-laykht I would prefer the assessment to be documented.
B

Dat klinkt logisch, want de verantwoordelijkheid moet gebaseerd zijn op de oorzaak.

daht KLINKT LOH-gis, vahnt duh vair-ant-WOHR-duh-luk-hayt moet guh-bah-SAYRT zayn op duh OHR-zahk That makes sense, since responsibility should be based on the cause.
A

Ik kan foto's meesturen met het onderhoudsverzoek.

ik kahn FOH-tohs MAY-stur-uhn met ut ON-dur-howts-vur-ZOOK I can send photos with the maintenance request.
B

Voeg ze alstublieft toe en beschrijf hoe het probleem zich heeft ontwikkeld.

voog zuh ahl-stuh-BLEEFT too en buh-SKHRAYF hoo ut proh-BLAYM zikh hayft ont-WIK-uhlt Please attach them and describe how the problem developed.

Word by Word

Ik “Ik” means “I” and identifies the speaker as the person who is unsure, can send photos, or expresses a preference. It commonly appears before the verb as the subject of a statement.
weet “weet” means “know” in “Ik weet niet zeker”, expressing the speaker’s uncertainty. It is used with “niet zeker” to say that someone is not certain about something.
niet “niet” makes the statement negative, so “Ik weet niet zeker” means that the speaker is not sure. It commonly comes before the part of the sentence being negated.
zeker “zeker” means “sure” or “certain” in this dialogue. Together with “niet” after “weet”, it expresses uncertainty about whether the repair is the speaker’s responsibility.
of “of” introduces the question of whether the repair is the speaker’s responsibility. It is useful for introducing an embedded yes-or-no question.
deze “deze” means “this” and points to the specific repair being discussed. It is placed before “reparatie” to identify the relevant item.
reparatie “reparatie” means “repair”, referring here to the work needed for the fixture. It can be used for a repair that is being discussed, requested, or assessed.
mijn “mijn” means “my” and shows that the responsibility is connected to the speaker. It is placed before “verantwoordelijkheid” to express possession or association.
verantwoordelijkheid “verantwoordelijkheid” means “responsibility” in the discussion about who must handle the repair. It can be used with a person or organization to identify who is accountable for something.
is “is” means “is” and links the repair with the speaker’s responsibility in “deze reparatie mijn verantwoordelijkheid is”. It is used to state what something is or how it is classified.
Dat “Dat” means “that” or “it” at the beginning of “Dat hangt ervan af”. Here it refers to the matter under discussion and introduces the statement that the answer depends on a condition.
hangt “hangt” contributes the meaning “depends” in “hangt ervan af”. The complete expression is used when an answer or result is determined by something else.
ervan “ervan” means “from it” or “on it” within “hangt ervan af”. It refers to the factor on which the matter depends and is used together with “af” in this expression.
af “af” is the particle that completes “hangt ervan af”, the expression meaning “depends on it”. It should be understood as part of that fixed expression rather than as the whole meaning by itself.
de “de” means “the” and introduces the specific damage being discussed. It is placed before “schade” to refer to known damage.
schade “schade” means “damage” in the explanation of what caused the repair need. It can be used with a cause, such as normal use, to describe how the damage arose.
door “door” means “through” or “from” here and identifies the cause of the damage in “door normaal gebruik”. It is commonly used before a cause or source.
normaal “normaal” means “normal” and describes the ordinary use that may have caused the damage. It is placed before “gebruik” to specify the kind of use.
gebruik “gebruik” means “use” in “normaal gebruik”. The phrase refers to ordinary use of the fixture or property and is useful when discussing how something was used.
ontstaan “ontstaan” expresses that the damage arose or originated. In “is ontstaan”, it describes the origin of the damage, with “door normaal gebruik” stating the possible cause.
Het “Het” means “the” in “Het armatuur” and introduces the specific fixture being discussed. It is placed before “armatuur” to identify that fixture.
armatuur “armatuur” means “fixture”, referring to the physical item that gradually came loose. It is useful in a maintenance discussion when identifying a fixed fitting or installed object.
geleidelijk “geleidelijk” means “gradually” and shows that the fixture loosened over time rather than suddenly. It can describe a change that develops step by step.
losgeraakt “losgeraakt” means “come loose” in “is geleidelijk losgeraakt”. It describes the fixture’s resulting condition and is used here with “is” to report what happened.
zonder “zonder” means “without” and introduces the absence of unusual force. It is placed before the thing or circumstance that was absent.
ongewone “ongewone” means “unusual” and describes the force that was not used. It is placed before “kracht” to specify that the force would have been outside the ordinary situation.
kracht “kracht” means “force” in the phrase “zonder ongewone kracht”. It refers to physical force and can be used to describe how strongly something was handled.
Dan “Dan” means “then” or “in that case” and connects the stated cause with the possible classification of the repair. It is useful for introducing a conclusion based on what was just explained.
valt “valt” contributes the idea of being placed or classified in “valt ... onder”. Here the expression says that the repair may be covered by routine maintenance.
misschien “misschien” means “perhaps” and shows that the speaker is not making a definite classification. It is useful when offering a possible conclusion without complete certainty.
onder “onder” means “under” in “valt ... onder het reguliere onderhoud”. Here it marks the category or responsibility area under which the repair may be included.
reguliere “reguliere” means “routine” or “regular” and describes the maintenance category. It is placed before “onderhoud” to specify ordinary scheduled or standard maintenance.
onderhoud “onderhoud” means “maintenance” and refers to the work category that may cover the repair. It is used here as the category following “onder”.
heb “heb” means “have” in “Ik heb liever”, but together with “liever” it expresses a preference rather than possession. This pattern is useful for stating what the speaker would prefer.
liever “liever” means “rather” or “prefer” in “Ik heb liever dat...”. It introduces the speaker’s preferred outcome and is followed here by the situation the speaker wants.
beoordeling “beoordeling” means “assessment”, referring to the evaluation of the repair and its responsibility. It can be used when a situation or condition is formally evaluated.
wordt “wordt” contributes the meaning “is made to be” or “gets” in “wordt vastgelegd”. Together with “vastgelegd”, it presents the assessment as receiving documentation.
vastgelegd “vastgelegd” means “documented” or “recorded” in “wordt vastgelegd”. It describes information being put into a lasting record, such as a repair assessment.
klinkt “klinkt” means “sounds” in “klinkt logisch”. It is used to give an impression or evaluation of what someone has just said.
logisch “logisch” means “logical” or “sensible” in “Dat klinkt logisch”. The expression is useful for agreeing that someone’s reasoning makes sense.
want “want” means “because” or “since” and introduces the reason for agreeing with the request. It connects the statement of agreement with its explanation.
moet “moet” means “must” or “should” and expresses the requirement that responsibility be based on the cause. It is used before the remaining verb phrase to state an obligation or expectation.
gebaseerd “gebaseerd” means “based” in “gebaseerd zijn op de oorzaak”. It describes responsibility as being determined by a particular basis or reason.
zijn “zijn” means “be” and completes “moet gebaseerd zijn”, meaning “should be based”. It is used after “gebaseerd” to form the complete expression describing the required basis.
op “op” means “on” in “gebaseerd zijn op”. This preposition introduces the basis on which responsibility should be determined.
oorzaak “oorzaak” means “cause” and identifies the reason for the damage. It is used after “op” as the basis for deciding responsibility.
kan “kan” means “can” and expresses the speaker’s ability to send the photos along. It commonly appears before another verb to describe what someone is able to do.
foto's “foto's” means “photos” and refers to visual evidence of the repair problem. It is used here as the thing that can be sent with the maintenance request.
meesturen “meesturen” means “send along”, so the photos are sent together with the maintenance request. It follows “kan” and identifies the action the speaker is able to perform.
met “met” means “with” and connects the photos to the maintenance request they accompany. It commonly introduces something that is included together with another thing.
onderhoudsverzoek “onderhoudsverzoek” means “maintenance request”, referring to the request submitted about the repair. It is a compound used for a request concerning maintenance work.
Voeg “Voeg” tells the listener to add or attach something. In “Voeg ze ... toe”, it is used as a polite instruction to include the photos with the request.
ze “ze” means “them” and refers back to “foto's”. It is used as the object of the instruction to attach or add those photos.
alstublieft “alstublieft” means “please” and makes the instruction polite. It is useful in requests or instructions addressed respectfully to another person.
toe “toe” is the particle that completes “Voeg ze ... toe”, meaning to add or attach them. Its contribution is directional, showing that something is added to the request or submission.
en “en” means “and” and joins the instruction to attach the photos with the instruction to describe the problem. It connects two actions in the same request.
beschrijf “beschrijf” means “describe” and gives the listener the instruction to explain the development of the problem. It is useful when requesting a clear account of what happened.
hoe “hoe” means “how” and introduces the details of the problem’s development. It is used before a clause that explains the manner or course of an event.
probleem “probleem” means “problem” and refers to the repair issue being reported. It is the subject of the clause describing how the issue developed.
zich “zich” links the development back to “het probleem” in “het probleem zich heeft ontwikkeld”. Together with the surrounding words, it describes the problem changing or developing over time.
heeft “heeft” means “has” and helps form the past description “heeft ontwikkeld”. It appears before “ontwikkeld” in the clause explaining what happened to the problem.
ontwikkeld “ontwikkeld” means “developed” in “het probleem zich heeft ontwikkeld”. It describes how the problem changed or progressed over time, which the listener is asked to explain.

Grammar Points

voeg ... toe (toevoegen)

Voeg het onderhoudsverzoek toe.

voog ut ON-dur-howts-vur-ZOOK too

Add the maintenance request.

In Dutch, a separable verb splits in a main clause: voeg ... toe. The prefix moves to the end.

hangt ervan af (afhangen van)

De schade hangt ervan af.

duh SKHAH-duh hahngt er-VAHN ahf

The damage depends on it.

The separable verb afhangen van becomes hangt ... af in a main clause; ervan means “on it.”

Dutch Vocabulary

afhangen van verb
ahf-HAHNG-uhn vahn to depend on hangt ervan af
armatuur noun
ar-mah-TUUR fixture
gebruik noun
guh-BROYK use
geleidelijk adv
guh-LAY-duh-luk gradually
kracht noun
krahkht force
losraken verb
LOHS-rah-kuhn to come loose losgeraakt
normaal adj
nor-MAHL normal
ongewone adj
on-guh-WOH-nuh unusual
regulier onderhoud phrase
ray-guh-LEER ON-dur-howt routine maintenance het reguliere onderhoud
reparatie noun
ray-pah-RAHT-see repair
schade noun
SKHAH-duh damage
verantwoordelijkheid noun
vair-ant-WOHR-duh-luk-hayt responsibility

mijn verantwoordelijkheid

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

damage

Show Answerschade

fixture

Show Answerarmatuur

to come loose

Show Answerlosgeraakt

gradually

Show Answergeleidelijk