Breakdown of Niemand verwachtte zulke overstromingen.
niemand
no one
verwachten
to expect
zulke
such
de overstroming
the flood
Questions & Answers about Niemand verwachtte zulke overstromingen.
Why is it zulke overstromingen and not zo'n overstromingen?
We use zulke because overstromingen (floods) is plural. You use zulke for plural nouns and uncountable nouns. Zo'n is strictly for singular countable nouns (for example, zo'n overstroming means "such a flood").
Why is verwachtte spelled with a double 't' here?
This is the simple past tense of the verb verwachten (to expect). The stem of the verb is verwacht. Because the stem already ends in a 't', adding the singular past tense ending -te creates that double 't' (verwacht + te).
Does the subject niemand always take a singular verb?
Yes, niemand (nobody) is always treated as a singular subject in Dutch, just like in English. That's why we use the singular verb verwachtte instead of the plural verwachtten.
How does the word overstromingen break down?
It comes from the verb stromen (to flow). Adding over- gives us overstromen (to overflow or flood). Adding -ing turns it into a singular noun, overstroming (a flood), and adding -en makes it plural.
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