Breakdown of Ze beloven om vanavond mee te helpen.
vanavond
tonight
ze
they; she (unstressed form of zij) / them (object)
beloven
to promise
te
to (infinitive marker)
Questions & Answers about Ze beloven om vanavond mee te helpen.
Why is it written as mee te helpen instead of te meehelpen?
Meehelpen (to help out) is a separable verb, made of the prefix mee and the verb helpen. When a separable verb is used with te, the te is sandwiched right in the middle between the prefix and the main verb.
Could I leave out the word om in this sentence?
Yes, with the verb beloven (to promise), the om is technically optional. You could say Ze beloven vanavond mee te helpen. However, adding om is very common and helps clearly frame the action they are promising to do.
Why does vanavond go in the middle of the phrase?
In an om ... te clause, the word om starts the phrase and the te + verb combination must go at the very end. Any other details, like the time word vanavond (tonight), are placed between them.
What is the difference between helpen and meehelpen?
Helpen simply means 'to help'. Meehelpen adds the prefix mee (along/with), which gives it the specific meaning of 'helping out' or 'pitching in' on a task alongside other people.