Breakdown of De prijzen stijgen. We maken echter minder winst.
maken
to make
we
we (unstressed form of wij)
de prijs
the price
minder
less / fewer
echter
however
de winst
the profit
stijgen
to rise
Questions & Answers about De prijzen stijgen. We maken echter minder winst.
Why is echter placed after the verb here, rather than at the beginning of the sentence?
Echter is an adverb, not a conjunction. While English often starts sentences with 'however', it is much more common and natural in Dutch to place echter in the middle of the sentence. It usually comes directly after the finite verb (maken) and the subject (we).
How is echter different from maar if they both express a contrast?
Echter translates to 'however' and is slightly more formal, mostly used in written Dutch or careful speech. Grammatically, maar (but) is a conjunction that glues two sentences together (e.g., De prijzen stijgen, maar we maken minder winst). Echter is an adverb, meaning it usually operates within a standalone sentence rather than merging two clauses.
If I wanted to start the second sentence with echter, what would happen to the word order?
Normally, starting a Dutch sentence with an adverb causes inversion (putting the verb before the subject). However, echter is a unique exception! If you place it at the start, you separate it with a comma and keep the standard word order: Echter, we maken minder winst. Even so, placing it in the middle like our main sentence is considered much better style.
Is winst maken a standard expression?
Yes, winst maken is the standard Dutch phrasing for 'making a profit'. Winst means 'profit' or 'gain' (related to the verb winnen, which means to win or extract). Just like in English, it pairs with the verb maken (to make).
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