Breakdown of Zij is verslaafd door elke melding te checken.
zijn
to be
zij
she
door
through
te
to (infinitive marker)
elk
each, every
checken
to check (informal)
de melding
the notification
verslaafd
addicted
Questions & Answers about Zij is verslaafd door elke melding te checken.
How does the door ... te structure work in this sentence?
The phrase door ... te combined with an infinitive verb translates to 'by doing [something]'. In Dutch, door starts the phrase, the object (elke melding) goes in the middle, and te plus the infinitive verb (checken) goes at the very end.
Could I say Zij is verslaafd door te checken elke melding?
No, that word order is incorrect. In Dutch prepositional infinitive clauses, the te plus infinitive part must always come at the end of the clause. Any objects or adverbs, like elke melding, have to be placed between door and te.
Why is it elke instead of elk before melding?
Melding is a de-word (de melding), so the word for 'each' or 'every' must get an -e at the end, becoming elke. If it were a het-word, you would use elk.
What exactly does melding mean compared to bericht?
While both can mean 'message', melding specifically refers to a 'notification', 'alert', or 'report' (like a push notification on your phone). A bericht is usually a written message you send to someone, like a text or a chat message.
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