Learn Dutch: Waarover klaagt de docent vandaag? - What is the teacher complaining about today?

In Dutch, when you ask a question about a thing using a preposition (like over) and the word "what" (wat), you cannot say "wat over". Instead, wat changes to waar and attaches to the front of the preposition. So, "about what" becomes the single word waarover.

How do I know to use over with waar in this sentence?

The preposition is decided by the verb. The Dutch verb for "to complain" is klagen, and just like in English, it pairs with the preposition over to mean "to complain about". Because the sentence asks what the teacher is complaining about, we use waarover.

Why does klaagt come immediately after waarover?

This is the standard word order for open questions in Dutch. The question word or phrase goes in the very first position. Since the combined word waarover counts as the first position, the verb klaagt must take the second position, pushing the subject de docent to the third position.

What is the difference between docent and leraar?

Both words mean "teacher". You will often hear docent used for teachers in high schools, colleges, or universities. Leraar is a more general term that can apply to any teacher, especially in primary schools.