Breakdown of Het is onmogelijk om de stof te analyseren.
zijn
to be
het
it
te
to (infinitive marker)
om
in order to
onmogelijk
impossible
de stof
the substance
analyseren
to analyze
Questions & Answers about Het is onmogelijk om de stof te analyseren.
Why does this sentence start with het?
Het acts as a dummy subject here, just like 'it' in the English sentence 'It is impossible...'. Because the real subject of the sentence is the entire action of analyzing the substance, Dutch uses het as a temporary placeholder at the beginning.
Why do we need om in this sentence?
When you have a phrase starting with 'It is [adjective] to [do something]', Dutch usually pairs it with the om ... te + infinitive structure. Om marks the beginning of the action you are describing, and te goes right before the verb at the end.
Why is de stof placed between om and te analyseren?
In an om ... te clause, the verb (analyseren) always goes at the very end. Any other information, like the object you are acting upon (de stof), must be sandwiched between om and the te + verb part.
Doesn't stof usually mean 'dust' or 'fabric'?
Yes, stof is a word with multiple meanings. While it commonly means 'dust' or 'fabric' (for clothing), in a scientific or technical context like this one, it translates to 'substance' or 'matter'.
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