Questions & Answers about Ben jij net zo verlegen als ik?
Can I use "even verlegen als" instead of "net zo verlegen als" here?
Yes, you can! Both net zo ... als and even ... als mean "as ... as". net zo translates literally to "just as", which adds a tiny bit more emphasis than even, but they are interchangeable in this sentence.
Why does the sentence end with "als ik" (as I) instead of "als mij" (as me)?
Dutch uses the subject pronoun ik here because you are comparing two subjects: jij and ik. Think of it like the formal English "Are you just as shy as I (am)?". While you might hear some Dutch people say als mij in casual speech, it is considered grammatically incorrect. Stick to als ik!
Why is the verb "ben" missing its "-t" in "Ben jij"?
Normally, "you are" is jij bent. But to make a question, the verb and subject swap places. Remember that whenever jij or je comes directly after the verb, the verb drops its -t ending. So, jij bent becomes ben jij?.
Where exactly do I put the adjective when making this kind of comparison?
The adjective always gets sandwiched right in the middle. The structure is net zo + adjective + als. In this sentence, verlegen (shy) is placed perfectly between them to mean "just as shy as".