Laat die melding even zien, dan kan ik je helpen.

Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Dutch grammar and vocabulary.

Start learning Dutch now

Questions & Answers about Laat die melding even zien, dan kan ik je helpen.

What is the purpose of even in Laat die melding even zien?
In this context, even is a softening adverb that means “for a moment” or “briefly.” It makes the request more casual and indicates that you only want to see the notification quickly, not spend a lot of time on it.
Why is je used here instead of jou?
Dutch distinguishes between unstressed and stressed object pronouns. Je is the unstressed form (used in most everyday sentences), while jou is the stressed form (used for emphasis or after prepositions). In dan kan ik je helpen, je is the natural, unstressed object of helpen.
Why is there a comma before dan, and why does the verb come before the subject in dan kan ik je helpen?
You have two clauses: an imperative (Laat…zien) and a second clause indicating result or possibility (dan kan ik je helpen). A comma separates them. In Dutch main clauses the finite verb must occupy the second position (V2 rule). Because dan is in first position, the verb kan follows, then the subject ik.
What does melding mean, and can it be translated as “message”?
Melding literally means “notification,” “alert,” or “report.” In a computer or app context it’s a pop-up or system message. You can often translate it as “message,” but “notification” is more precise if it’s an automatic alert.
What kind of construction is Laat … zien?
That’s a causative or “let” construction using the verb laten plus the bare infinitive zien (“to show”). In the imperative Laat X zien you’re literally instructing someone to let X be shown, i.e. “show me X.”
What’s the difference between de melding and die melding here?
  • de melding is just “the notification.”
  • die melding uses the demonstrative die (“that”) to point to a specific notification you’ve been looking at or talking about. It feels more precise, like “that one.”
How informal is this sentence, and how could you make it more polite?

Using je makes it informal (second-person singular). For a polite/formal version you could switch to u and avoid the imperative:

  • Kunt u mij die melding even laten zien? Dan kan ik u helpen.
    This uses a question form with kunt u and the polite pronoun u.
Can even be moved around in the sentence, and does its position change the nuance?
Yes. You could say Laat even die melding zien, which shifts the focus a bit: you’re signaling “just a quick moment” before mentioning the notification. The meaning stays similar, but placing even immediately after laat emphasizes the brevity of the action rather than the object.