Breakdown of De tandarts die mijn tanden controleert, is altijd aardig.
zijn
to be
altijd
always
mijn
my
controleren
to check
Questions & Answers about De tandarts die mijn tanden controleert, is altijd aardig.
Why do we use die here to mean "who"?
In Dutch, the word for "who" or "which" in a relative clause depends on the gender of the noun it describes. Because tandarts is a de-word (de tandarts), we must use die. Dutch doesn't use a separate word for people versus things here!
Why is the verb controleert at the end of the phrase die mijn tanden controleert?
This phrase is a relative clause, which follows the same rules as a sub-clause. In Dutch sub-clauses, the conjugated verb is always pushed to the very end. The literal word order is "who my teeth checks".
Why are there two verbs right next to each other (controleert, is)?
The main sentence is De tandarts is altijd aardig. The relative clause (die mijn tanden controleert) is inserted right in the middle to describe the dentist. Because the relative clause pushes its verb to the end, it bumps directly into the main verb. The comma is there to separate them!
Is tanden a regular plural?
Yes! The singular is de tand (the tooth). To make it plural, you just add the standard -en ending to get de tanden.