Learn Dutch: De arts verbiedt mij om te roken. - The doctor forbids me to smoke.

In Dutch, when you report a command, request, or prohibition using verbs like verbieden (to forbid), vragen (to ask), or zeggen (to tell), you use an om te plus infinitive construction. This matches the English 'to' plus verb structure, such as 'forbids me to smoke'.

Is the word om strictly necessary here?

No, the om is actually optional when used with verbs of requesting or commanding. You can just say De arts verbiedt mij te roken. However, including om is extremely common and makes the sentence flow very naturally in everyday speech.

Where would I put extra information, such as 'outside'?

In an om te clause, all the extra details go right between om and te. If you wanted to say 'The doctor forbids me to smoke outside', it would become De arts verbiedt mij om buiten te roken.

Is there a difference between arts and dokter?

Both words mean doctor and are often used interchangeably. Arts is a bit more formal and is the base word for many specialists, like tandarts (dentist) or dierenarts (veterinarian). Dokter is more common in everyday speech, especially when talking directly to your general practitioner.