Breakdown of Staan we nu echt op het punt om de database te herstarten?
nu
now
op
on
staan
to stand
we
we (unstressed form of wij)
Questions & Answers about Staan we nu echt op het punt om de database te herstarten?
How does the phrase op het punt staan work in this sentence?
The literal translation of op het punt staan is 'to stand on the point'. In Dutch, this fixed expression is the standard way to express that you are 'about to' do something. You connect it to the upcoming action using om ... te followed by the infinitive verb (herstarten).
Can I leave out the word om here?
Yes, grammatically you can drop om and just say op het punt de database te herstarten. However, including om makes the sentence flow much better and is what you will hear most native speakers use.
Why is it te herstarten instead of splitting the verb like her te starten?
Verbs that start with the prefix her- (meaning 're-') are inseparable. Because the verb cannot be split, the word te must be placed directly in front of the entire verb (te herstarten) rather than squeezing inside it.
Why do we say nu echt instead of echt nu?
It is much more natural to say nu echt. In Dutch, words indicating time (nu) generally come before other adverbs like echt (really). Placing nu first emphasizes the timing: right at this very moment.