Breakdown of De klant eist de manager te spreken.
de klant
the customer
te
to (infinitive marker)
de manager
the manager
spreken
to speak (a language) / to speak (give a statement / speak for someone)
Questions & Answers about De klant eist de manager te spreken.
Why is there no "om" before "de manager te spreken"?
With verbs that express a command, request, or demand like eisen (to demand), vragen (to ask), or bevelen (to order), the word om is optional and usually left out. You can just use te + infinitive to report what needs to be done.
Could we report this demand using a "dat" (that) clause instead?
Yes, but it is less natural here. Because the customer is the one who will do the speaking, using a dat clause makes it repetitive: De klant eist dat hij de manager spreekt (The customer demands that he speaks to the manager). Using the te + infinitive structure is much smoother for reported requests when the subject stays the same.
Why does "de manager" come before "te spreken"?
In Dutch, the object of the infinitive (de manager) must come before the te + infinitive verbs. The verbs are always pushed to the end of the clause, unlike in English where you say "to speak to the manager".
Why isn't there a preposition like "met" (with) before "de manager"?
In Dutch, iemand spreken (to speak [to] someone) can be used directly without a preposition, especially in professional or formal contexts. You could also say met de manager te spreken, but leaving the preposition out is very common when demanding to see someone.