Breakdown of De baas reageert nooit op mijn e-mail.
mijn
my
de baas
the boss
nooit
never
de e-mail
the email
reageren op
to respond to
Questions & Answers about De baas reageert nooit op mijn e-mail.
Why do we use op here instead of a literal translation for 'to'?
The verb reageren (to respond or react) is paired with the fixed preposition op. While English speakers say 'respond to', Dutch speakers always say reageren op. This is one of those fixed verb-preposition pairs you just have to memorize!
Could I use the verb antwoorden (to answer) in this sentence instead?
Yes! You could say De baas antwoordt nooit op mijn e-mail. Both reageren and antwoorden use the fixed preposition op. Just be careful not to confuse it with beantwoorden, which takes a direct object and does not use a preposition at all (De baas beantwoordt mijn e-mail nooit).
Why is nooit placed exactly where it is, instead of at the end of the sentence?
Time words like nooit (never) or altijd (always) typically go right after the main verb in a simple sentence. More importantly, they must be placed before prepositional phrases, which is why nooit sits right before op mijn e-mail.
Why is the verb spelled reageert with a double e?
The full infinitive verb is reageren. When we take off the -en to find the root, we are left with 'reager'. To keep the long 'e' sound from the infinitive under Dutch spelling rules, we have to double that vowel, making the root reageer. Finally, we add a -t because the subject is de baas (he/she).
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