Breakdown of Deze container is immers alleen voor blik.
zijn
to be
deze
this / these
voor
for (on behalf of)
alleen
alone; only
immers
after all (giving a reason)
de container
the dumpster / the (shipping) container
het blik
the tin
Questions & Answers about Deze container is immers alleen voor blik.
How does immers change the meaning of this sentence?
Immers is used to justify a statement using information that the speaker assumes the listener already knows. It translates roughly to 'after all' or 'as you know.' Here, the speaker is reminding someone that the container is for cans, likely because the person was about to throw the wrong trash in it.
Why is immers placed right after the verb is?
As an adverb of consensus, immers typically goes in the middle field of the sentence, which is right after the finite verb in a main clause. It comes before specific details like alleen voor blik.
The English translation says 'cans', but isn't blik singular?
Yes, blik literally means 'tin' as a material. In Dutch recycling terminology, you use the singular, uncountable material name to refer to the category of waste, just like we say 'glass' or 'paper' in English.
Could I say dit container instead of deze container?
No, because container is a de-word. For de-words, you must use deze (this) or die (that). You only use dit and dat for het-words.
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