Breakdown of Ze controleren de machine voordat ze het systeem aanzetten.
controleren
to check
ze
they; she (unstressed form of zij) / them (object)
voordat
before
de machine
the machine
aanzetten
to turn on
het systeem
the system
Questions & Answers about Ze controleren de machine voordat ze het systeem aanzetten.
Why is the verb aanzetten at the very end of the sentence?
The word voordat (before) is a subordinating conjunction. This means it introduces a dependent clause and forces the verb in that part of the sentence to the very end.
Aanzetten (to turn on) is a separable verb. Why isn't it split up here?
In a normal main clause, a separable verb splits up, and the prefix goes to the end (like: ze zetten het systeem aan). However, because voordat pushes the verb to the end of the clause, the two parts of the separable verb meet at the end and merge back into one word: aanzetten.
The word ze is used twice. How can we tell if it means she or they?
You can tell by looking at the verbs! Both controleren and aanzetten are in their plural forms (ending in -en). If the sentence were about a single female, the singular verbs would be used: ze controleert and voordat ze het systeem aanzet.
How would the word order change if we put the voordat part at the beginning of the sentence?
If you start the whole sentence with the voordat clause, that entire clause counts as the first block of information. The main clause must then immediately follow with its verb to keep the verb in the second position. It becomes: Voordat ze het systeem aanzetten, controleren ze de machine.
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