Breakdown of Zij besluiten de moeite te nemen.
zij
they
nemen
to take (general, abstract, e.g., transport, medicine)
te
to (infinitive marker)
besluiten
to decide
de moeite
the effort
Questions & Answers about Zij besluiten de moeite te nemen.
Why do we need te before nemen here?
The verb besluiten (to decide) is one of the specific verbs that requires te when it is linked to another verb. Just like in English you say decide to do something, in Dutch you use te + the infinitive verb (nemen).
Why are te and nemen placed at the very end of the sentence?
When you use a te + infinitive construction, it gets pushed to the end of its clause. The object of that action (de moeite) comes before it, creating the order: object + te + infinitive.
The translation says to make the effort, but doesn't nemen mean to take?
Exactly! Languages often use different verbs for standard expressions. While English speakers make an effort, Dutch speakers take the effort (de moeite nemen). Another common translation for de moeite is the trouble, as in to take the trouble.
How do we know zij means they instead of she in this sentence?
We look at the verb that follows it. besluiten is the plural form of the verb. If zij meant she, the verb would be singular: zij besluit.
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