Breakdown of Het konijn weegt vijf kilo. Dat gewicht is namelijk goed voor dit ras.
zijn
to be
vijf
five
dit
this (neuter)
dat
that (het-words)
goed
good
voor
for (on behalf of)
wegen
to weigh
de kilo
the kilo
het konijn
the rabbit
het ras
the breed
namelijk
you see / namely / because (adverb)
het gewicht
the weight
Questions & Answers about Het konijn weegt vijf kilo. Dat gewicht is namelijk goed voor dit ras.
Why use namelijk here instead of want or omdat to explain the reason?
Namelijk is an adverb, not a conjunction. While want and omdat combine two thoughts into a single connected sentence, namelijk is used inside a brand new main clause to explain the statement that came right before it. It gives the feeling of adding 'you see' to your thought.
Why is namelijk placed after the verb is?
As an explanatory adverb, namelijk belongs in the middle field of the sentence. In a standard main clause like this one, the subject (Dat gewicht) comes first, the verb (is) comes second, and the adverb steps in immediately after the verb to modify the rest of the sentence.
Are the words weegt and gewicht connected?
Yes, they share the same root. Weegt is the conjugated verb for 'weighs' from the infinitive wegen. Gewicht is the noun form meaning 'weight'. Notice how Dutch builds this noun by wrapping the verb stem with the prefix ge- and the suffix -t.
Does ras always mean 'breed'?
No, ras translates to 'breed' when talking about categories of domestic animals, like rabbits or dogs. When referring to humans, it translates to 'race'.
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