Learn Hardcore Dutch: Als de opslag vol raakt, ontvangt hij een vertrouwelijk bericht. - When the storage becomes full, he receives a confidential message.

opslag here means “storage” or “storage space” (for example, disk or memory space). In this context it’s uncountable: you don’t talk about “one storage” or “two storages,” but rather about the available storage capacity as a whole.

Why is there a comma after Als de opslag vol raakt?

In Dutch, subordinate clauses introduced by words like als (“when/if”) must be separated from the main clause by a comma when they come first. So you write:
• Subordinate clause (comma)
• Main clause
That comma marks the boundary between the two clauses.

Why does the main clause start with ontvangt instead of hij ontvangt?

Because when a subordinate clause precedes the main clause, Dutch uses inversion in the main clause. Normally a main clause has Subject-Verb-Object order (hij ontvangt een bericht), but after a fronted subordinate clause you switch to Verb-Subject-Object (ontvangt hij een bericht).

What’s the difference between raakt vol and is vol?

• raakt vol (to become full) emphasizes the process or change of state.
• is vol (is full) simply states the end result or current condition.
Here, vol raakt highlights the moment storage fills up.

Is raakt part of a separable verb like volraken?

No. raken is a regular verb meaning “to get” or “to become.” When you say raakt vol, you use raakt plus the adjective vol (“full”). There is no separation or prefix to pull off.

Why is the finite verb raakt placed at the end of the subordinate clause?

In Dutch subordinate clauses (those introduced by als, dat, omdat, etc.), the finite verb goes to the end of the clause (or after any other verbs). Here the clause has only one verb, so raakt ends up last, just before the comma.

What does vertrouwelijk bericht mean, and how is vertrouwelijk different from geheim?

• vertrouwelijk bericht = a “confidential message,” meant to be shared only with authorized people.
• vertrouwelijk (confidential) suggests limited, trusted access.
• geheim (secret) implies something entirely hidden from most people.
So a vertrouwelijk bericht isn’t necessarily a “secret” in the deepest sense, but you handle it with care.

Who does hij refer to in this sentence?

hij is the third-person singular pronoun “he.” In context it refers to the person (or system user, admin, etc.) who will receive the message when the storage fills up. The exact referent would be clear from earlier sentences or the overall scenario.