Question 1

Is afleiden a separable verb? Why isn't it split up here?

Accepted Answer

Yes, afleiden (to deduce) is a separable verb (af + leiden). But because the modal verb kunnen acts as the conjugated verb in this sentence, the main verb afleiden is pushed to the very end in its full infinitive form. It only splits if it is the conjugated verb, like in Wij leiden het antwoord af (We deduce the answer).

Question 2

Why do we use uit instead of van for "from" in this sentence?

Accepted Answer

The verb afleiden pairs with the fixed preposition uit when it means "to deduce from" or "to derive from". Think of it as extracting a conclusion "out of" the experiment.

Question 3

This lesson is about using moeten for deductions. How would using moeten change this sentence?

Accepted Answer

If you said Wat moeten wij uit dat experiment afleiden?, it would mean "What must we deduce from that experiment?" It implies there is a specific conclusion you are required or expected to reach. Here, kunnen (can) is used to ask what conclusions are simply possible to draw.

Question 4

Why is it dat experiment and not die experiment?

Accepted Answer

Experiment is a neuter noun (het experiment). Because it is a het word, you must use dat for "that". If it were a de word, you would use die.

Wat kunnen wij uit dat experiment afleiden?

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