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Questions & Answers about Is de buurt veilig?
Why doesn't veilig get an -e at the end here?
When an adjective comes after the noun it describes (connected by a verb like is), it never gets an -e ending. We only add the -e when the adjective comes directly before the noun, like in de veilige buurt (the safe neighborhood).
How would I ask 'Is it safe there?' using the locative er from this lesson?
You would say Is het er veilig?. In Dutch, the unstressed word er often replaces a specific place you are talking about (like the neighborhood). It acts like the English word 'there' but without putting any strong emphasis on the location.
Why is the verb is at the very beginning of the sentence?
Just like in English, yes/no questions in Dutch are formed by swapping the subject (de buurt) and the verb (is). Instead of the normal statement order De buurt is veilig (The neighborhood is safe), you put the verb first to make it a question.
How do I pronounce the 'uu' in buurt?
The Dutch uu is a long vowel that doesn't exactly exist in English. To make this sound, make the 'ee' sound from 'cheese', but tightly round your lips as if you are getting ready to whistle.