Question 1

If this was a statement starting with the lesson's target word desondanks (nevertheless), what would the word order be?

Accepted Answer

It would be: Desondanks waren zij ontevreden over de service. Because desondanks is an adverb occupying the first position, it triggers Verb-Second (V2) inversion. The verb (waren) must take the second position, pushing the subject (zij) right behind it into the third position.

Question 2

Why do we use over instead of met for "with" here?

Accepted Answer

In Dutch, the adjectives tevreden (satisfied) and ontevreden (dissatisfied) are fixed to the preposition over. Because prepositions often don't translate word-for-word between English and Dutch, it helps to memorize combinations like ontevreden over (dissatisfied with) as a single set phrase.

Question 3

Why doesn't the adjective ontevreden get an -e at the end here?

Accepted Answer

Adjectives only get an -e ending when they are placed directly before the noun they describe (for example, de ontevreden gasten). When the adjective comes later in the sentence after a verb like zijn (to be), it always stays in its base form.

Question 4

Can I use ze instead of zij in this sentence?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you absolutely can. Zij is the stressed form of "they," used when you want to put emphasis on the group of people ("Were they the ones who were dissatisfied?"). If you are just asking a neutral question, the unstressed form ze is actually more common.

Question 5

Is the word service pronounced like it is in English?

Accepted Answer

Yes, because it is a loanword from English, the pronunciation is mostly the same. You don't pronounce the final "e" like you normally would in a native Dutch word, though you might hear the "r" pronounced with a slight Dutch roll or tap.

Waren zij ontevreden over de service?

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