Breakdown of Is dit project haalbaar, of valt het niet te redden?
zijn
to be
niet
not
het project
the project
dit
this (neuter)
Questions & Answers about Is dit project haalbaar, of valt het niet te redden?
How does valt het niet te redden mean "can it not be saved"? I don't see the word for "can" or a past participle.
This is the exact passive potential structure you are focusing on right now. By combining the verb vallen + te + an infinitive verb like redden (to save), you express that an action can or cannot be done. It translates naturally to a passive "can be saved" without needing the verb kunnen or a past participle.
Could I say is het niet te redden instead of using valt?
Yes, absolutely! Both zijn te + infinitive and vallen te + infinitive express that something is possible to do. Is het niet te redden is perfectly correct and means the same thing. Vallen sometimes sounds slightly more dynamic, focusing on the attempt, while zijn focuses purely on the state, but they are highly interchangeable.
How does the word haalbaar work?
Haalbaar means feasible or achievable. It is built from the verb halen (to get, to make it, or to achieve) and the suffix -baar. This suffix works exactly like the English "-able". You will see it in many other useful adjectives, such as eetbaar (edible) or leesbaar (readable).
Why is niet placed right before te redden?