Breakdown of De verzekering dekt de schade, voor zover de polis geldig is.
zijn
to be
de schade
the damage
de verzekering
the insurance
geldig
valid
Questions & Answers about De verzekering dekt de schade, voor zover de polis geldig is.
Why is the verb is at the very end of the sentence?
The phrase voor zover acts as a subordinating conjunction. This means it introduces a dependent clause and pushes the working verb (is) all the way to the end of its clause.
Does voor zover literally mean 'as far as' in terms of physical distance?
No, it is used figuratively here. Voor zover means 'to the extent that' or 'provided that.' It sets a condition or a limit on the main clause.
What happens to the word order if I put the voor zover clause at the beginning of the sentence?
If you start the sentence with Voor zover de polis geldig is, the main clause must use inverted word order. It would become: Voor zover de polis geldig is, dekt de verzekering de schade. The entire dependent clause counts as the first block of information, so the main verb (dekt) must come exactly second.
Is schade a singular or plural noun here?
Schade is singular. Just like the English word 'damage,' it is typically an uncountable noun in everyday language. You might occasionally see the plural schades in strict insurance contexts to refer to separate claims, but usually, it stays singular regardless of how much is broken.