Breakdown of De hond moet nuchter blijven. De maag moet namelijk helemaal leeg zijn.
zijn
to be
de hond
the dog
leeg
empty
blijven
to stay
moeten
to have to, must
helemaal
completely
namelijk
you see / namely / because (adverb)
nuchter
fasting / on an empty stomach
de maag
stomach
Questions & Answers about De hond moet nuchter blijven. De maag moet namelijk helemaal leeg zijn.
How does namelijk work in the second sentence?
It provides a reason or explanation for the first sentence. While it often translates to "you see" or "namely", it functions logically like "because". However, instead of connecting two clauses into one using a word like want or omdat, you use namelijk inside a standalone second sentence.
Why isn't namelijk at the beginning of the sentence if it gives a reason?
namelijk is an adverb, not a conjunction. You cannot start a sentence with it to give a reason. It belongs in the middle field of the sentence, usually right after the conjugated verb (here, moet) and before other details like helemaal leeg zijn.
I learned that nuchter means "sober" (not drunk). Why is it translated as "on an empty stomach" here?
nuchter is a very versatile word! It can mean "sober" (no alcohol), "down-to-earth" (describing a practical personality), or "fasted" for a medical procedure. The second sentence about the stomach (de maag) makes it clear we mean the medical sense here.
Why do blijven and zijn both go at the very end of their respective sentences?
Both sentences use the modal verb moeten (must). In a Dutch main clause, the conjugated verb (moet) takes the second position, and any additional verbs, like the infinitives blijven and zijn, get pushed to the very end.
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