Breakdown of Wil je kleurrijke planten? Ik verkoop er vier goedkope.
ik
I
vier
four
verkopen
to sell
willen
to want
goedkoop
cheap
de plant
the plant
je
you (unstressed form of jij)
er
of them (with a number or quantity)
kleurrijk
colorful
Questions & Answers about Wil je kleurrijke planten? Ik verkoop er vier goedkope.
Why do we need the word er in Ik verkoop er vier goedkope?
This is the quantitative er, which translates to "of them" and points back to the noun planten (plants) from the first sentence. When you state a quantity of something in Dutch but leave out the noun itself, you must include er.
How does Dutch express the English word "ones" in "cheap ones"?
Dutch does not use a separate word for "ones". Instead, it leaves the adjective on its own. Because it is standing in for the plural noun planten, the adjective takes the standard -e ending, becoming goedkope. It behaves exactly as it would if the noun were still written out.
Why does the spelling change from the base word goedkoop to goedkope with only one o?
This is a classic Dutch spelling rule. By adding the -e ending, the word breaks into syllables as goed-ko-pe. The o is now at the end of its syllable (an open syllable), so it naturally produces a long sound. Writing two os here is unnecessary.
Could I change the word order to Ik verkoop vier goedkope er?
No, that order is incorrect. The quantitative er usually takes a position early in the sentence. It typically goes right after the verb and must come before the number (vier) and the adjective (goedkope).
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