Breakdown of Beide afdelingen zijn bij het overleg.
zijn
to be
bij
at / near / by
het overleg
the consultation / the meeting (deliberation)
beide
both (things or groups)
Questions & Answers about Beide afdelingen zijn bij het overleg.
Why is it beide without an -n here?
When "both" is used as an adjective right in front of a noun (like afdelingen), you always use beide. You only use beiden (with an -n) when the word stands alone and specifically refers to people.
Why use bij for "at the meeting" instead of op or in?
In Dutch, bij is used to mean you are attending an event, gathering, or process. You use in or op for physical locations (like a room or a building), but for being present at a consultation or meeting (het overleg), bij is the natural choice.
What is the difference between het overleg and de vergadering?
Both translate to "meeting", but they have a slightly different feel. De vergadering is usually a formal, scheduled meeting with a clear agenda. Het overleg translates closer to "consultation" or "deliberation"—it can refer to the act of discussing things or a more collaborative, problem-solving meeting between groups.
How do we know the gender of the singular word afdeling?