Breakdown of Daarna delen we het liefst een toetje.
een
a/an
daarna
after that
we
we (unstressed form of wij)
delen
to share
liefst
most (preferably)
het toetje
the dessert
Questions & Answers about Daarna delen we het liefst een toetje.
How does het liefst work here, and how is it different from graag?
het liefst is the highest level (superlative) of graag (gladly). While you use graag to say you like doing something, and liever to say you prefer it, you use het liefst to say you like doing it best or the most. In this sentence, sharing a dessert is their absolute favorite choice.
Why is the word order delen we instead of we delen?
The sentence starts with the time word Daarna (After that). In Dutch, whenever you start a main clause with something other than the subject, the verb and subject swap places. So, the normal order we delen inverts to delen we.
Where should I place het liefst in a sentence?
Preference words like graag, liever, and het liefst act as adverbs describing the verb. They typically come after the verb and subject, and before the direct object. Here, het liefst sits right between the verb phrase (delen we) and the thing being shared (een toetje).
I see toetje ends in -je. Is it a diminutive?
Yes! It is based on the word toe (which relates to the end or closing of the meal). Even though it is formed like a diminutive (a 'little' word), toetje is the standard, everyday Dutch word for a dessert.
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