Questions & Answers about Wij hopen dat de zon schijnt.
Why is the word order normal in the first part (Wij hopen)?
Wij hopen is the main clause of the sentence. In a normal main clause, the verb sits in the second position, right after the subject. The special verb-at-the-end word order only applies to the sub-clause that comes after dat.
Why is the verb schijnt at the very end of the second part?
This is because of the word dat (that). Dat introduces a dependent sub-clause. In Dutch, connecting words like this always push the conjugated verb to the end of their clause.
Can I leave out dat, just like we often drop 'that' in English?
No, you generally cannot drop dat in Dutch. While English speakers often say things like 'We hope the sun is shining' without the word 'that', Dutch strictly requires dat to link the two parts of the sentence together.
The English translation says 'is shining', but Dutch just uses schijnt. Why isn't there a translation for 'is'?
Dutch doesn't use a continuous tense ('is doing something') nearly as often as English does. A simple present verb like schijnt translates to both 'shines' and 'is shining' depending on what sounds best in English.