Breakdown of Hij probeert het budget uit te zoeken.
hij
he / it (referring to a 'de'-word)
proberen
to try
te
to (infinitive marker)
uitzoeken
to pick out / to figure out
het budget
the budget
Questions & Answers about Hij probeert het budget uit te zoeken.
Why is te placed in the middle of uit te zoeken?
Uitzoeken (to figure out) is a separable verb. When a separable verb is used with te, the te gets sandwiched right between the prefix (uit) and the base verb (zoeken). They are written as three separate words: uit te zoeken.
Why does het budget come before uit te zoeken?
In Dutch, infinitive verbs (like uit te zoeken) are sent to the very end of their clause. Because of this, the object they act upon (het budget) has to come before the verb, not after it like in English.
How does the prefix uit change the meaning of zoeken?
By itself, zoeken means to search or to look for. When you add the prefix uit (out), it becomes the separable verb uitzoeken, which means to figure out, to sort out, or to look into something.
Can I add om to this sentence and say om het budget uit te zoeken?
No, you shouldn't use om here. The verb proberen (to try) pairs directly with a te + infinitive clause. So you just use Hij probeert... te... (He tries... to...) without adding om.
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