Breakdown of Omdat zij jarig is, schenken wij het parfum aan haar.
zijn
to be
zij
she
wij
we
haar
her
omdat
because (subordinating)
aan
to (recipient)
jarig
having one's birthday
schenken
to gift / to give (to donate, to pour)
het parfum
the perfume
Questions & Answers about Omdat zij jarig is, schenken wij het parfum aan haar.
How would this sentence change if we dropped the word aan?
You would have to change the word order! Without the preposition aan, the indirect object (haar) must come before the definite direct object (het parfum). The sentence would become: Omdat zij jarig is, schenken wij haar het parfum.
Why do we use aan instead of voor in this sentence?
The verb schenken (to gift) involves transferring something directly to a recipient, which pairs naturally with aan (to). You generally use voor (for) when you are doing a favor on someone's behalf, or making/buying something for them.
Why does the second part of the sentence say schenken wij instead of wij schenken?
Why is the verb is at the very end of the first clause?
Omdat (because) is a subordinating conjunction. It introduces a dependent clause and kicks the conjugated verb—in this case, is—all the way to the end of that specific clause.
How does zij jarig is translate to "it is her birthday"?
In Dutch, having a birthday is described using the adjective jarig. You don't say "it is her birthday"; instead, you say zij is jarig, which translates more literally to "she is birthday-ing" or "she is a birthday-person."
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