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Hoewel de locatie gunstig is, wonen we liever niet centraal.

Hoewel de locatie gunstig is, wonen we liever niet centraal.
Although the location is favorable, we prefer not to live centrally.
From Lesson 237:Proportional comparisons (hoe ... des te)·Dutch

Questions & Answers about Hoewel de locatie gunstig is, wonen we liever niet centraal.

Why is the verb is at the very end of the first clause?
The word hoewel (although) is a subordinating conjunction. It introduces a dependent clause, which means the conjugated verb (is) must be pushed to the very end of that specific clause, right before the comma.
Why does the second part say wonen we instead of we wonen?
This happens because of the V2 (verb-second) rule. The entire first clause (Hoewel de locatie gunstig is) occupies the first position in the main sentence. Because the verb must come second, the main verb wonen is placed immediately after the comma, causing inversion with the subject we.
How do we get the meaning 'prefer' from the word liever?
In Dutch, liever is the comparative form of the adverb graag (gladly / with pleasure). While you use graag to say you like doing something, you use liever to say you like doing it more. In English, we naturally translate this comparative form as the verb 'prefer'.
Could I use in het centrum instead of centraal here?
Yes, absolutely. Saying we wonen liever niet in het centrum is incredibly common and means the same thing. In this sentence, centraal is just used as an adverb to describe how you live (centrally).

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