Breakdown of Hij bestelt een dubbele portie friet.
hij
he / it (referring to a 'de'-word)
een
a/an
bestellen
to order
de friet
the fries
de portie
the portion
dubbel
double
Questions & Answers about Hij bestelt een dubbele portie friet.
Why does dubbel get an -e at the end here?
Portie is a de-word (de portie). When you have an indefinite article like een in front of a de-word, the adjective takes an -e ending. So it becomes een dubbele portie.
How does dubbele fit in with the fraction words from this lesson?
While words like de helft (half) and een kwart (quarter) divide a quantity, dubbel (double) multiplies it. Just like een halve (a half), dubbele acts as a regular adjective here to describe the size of the portion.
Why is there no word for 'of' between portie and friet?
In Dutch, when talking about amounts, containers, or portions, you usually leave out the word for 'of'. You simply put the quantity and the substance right next to each other, like een glas water (a glass of water) or een portie friet (a portion of fries).
Why isn't friet in the plural form like 'fries' is in English?
In Dutch, friet (and the regional alternative patat) is treated as an uncountable mass noun, similar to 'sand' or 'soup' in English. You just use the singular form for the food itself.
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