Breakdown of Mijn ooms computer is kapot.
zijn
to be
mijn
my
de oom
the uncle
de computer
the computer
kapot
broken
Questions & Answers about Mijn ooms computer is kapot.
Why is there no apostrophe in ooms?
In Dutch, you usually attach the possessive -s directly to the word. You only use an apostrophe if adding the s would change how the vowel sounds (like words ending in a single open vowel, such as oma's). Since oom ends in a consonant, we just stick the s right on the end.
Could I also say de computer van mijn oom?
Yes, absolutely! Using van (of) is very common in Dutch, and de computer van mijn oom means exactly the same thing. Adding an -s directly to family members (like vaders, moeders, ooms) is just a shorter, natural-sounding alternative.
Why use kapot instead of gebroken for "broken"?
Kapot is used when a machine, device, or object stops functioning, which is exactly what happens to a broken computer. Gebroken is used for things that are physically snapped or shattered into pieces, like a bone or a glass.
Where is the article (de or het) for computer?
Just like in English, when you use a possessive phrase (like mijn ooms / my uncle's), you drop the article. You say "my uncle's computer", not "my uncle's the computer". Therefore, de computer just becomes computer here.
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