Breakdown of Wij klagen over de voortdurende overlast.
wij
we
over
about
klagen
to complain
voortdurend
constant / constantly
de overlast
the nuisance / the trouble
Questions & Answers about Wij klagen over de voortdurende overlast.
Why is it voortdurende and not just voortduren?
The word voortduren is a verb meaning "to continue" or "to last". By adding a -d, we turn the infinitive into a present participle (voortdurend), which acts like an "-ing" word in English (continuing/constant). Because it's being used as an adjective in front of a de word (de overlast), it gets the standard adjective ending -e.
Since this lesson is about using infinitives as nouns, could we use het klagen here?
Not in this exact sentence, because klagen is acting as the main conjugated verb here ("We are complaining"). However, you could definitely use it as a noun (a substantival infinitive) to talk about the activity itself! For example: Het klagen over de overlast helpt niet (The complaining about the nuisance doesn't help).
Is klagen over a fixed combination?
Yes! When you want to say you are complaining about something, you always use the verb klagen with the preposition over. Learning verbs with their fixed prepositions is a great habit at this level.
What kind of nuisance is overlast?
Overlast is a very common Dutch word for any external nuisance, trouble, or inconvenience that disturbs people. You will often hear it in compound words like geluidsoverlast (noise nuisance) or stankoverlast (odor nuisance).
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