Breakdown of Hij zit de handleiding te lezen voordat hij het systeem test.
hij
he / it (referring to a 'de'-word)
lezen
to read
zitten
to sit
te
to (infinitive marker)
de handleiding
the manual
voordat
before
het systeem
the system
testen
to test
Questions & Answers about Hij zit de handleiding te lezen voordat hij het systeem test.
Why is the verb test at the very end of the sentence?
The word voordat (before) is a subordinating conjunction. It introduces a dependent clause and pushes the conjugated verb to the very end. That is why we say voordat hij het systeem test instead of voordat hij test het systeem.
Why does the sentence use zit ... te lezen instead of just leest?
Dutch often uses position verbs like zitten (to sit) followed by te and an infinitive verb to show that an action is currently ongoing. It is the standard Dutch way to express the continuous 'is reading' aspect.
Can I use voor instead of voordat here?
In written Dutch, you need voordat because it introduces a new clause with its own subject and verb (he tests). The word voor on its own is a preposition used directly before a noun, like voor de test (before the test). In casual speech, however, people sometimes drop the dat.
Why does the verb test not get an extra -t for the 'hij' (he) form?
The verb testen (to test) is a regular verb. The rule for the 'he' form is to take the stem and add -t. Because the stem of this verb is test, it already ends in a -t. Dutch spelling rules state you never write a double t at the end of a verb, so it stays just hij test.
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