Breakdown of Je hoeft het apparaat slechts met de wifi te verbinden.
met
with
je
you (unstressed form of jij)
hoeven
to need (to)
te
to (infinitive marker)
het apparaat
the appliance / the device
slechts
only / merely (just, no more than)
de wifi
the Wi-Fi
verbinden
to connect (to link, join)
Questions & Answers about Je hoeft het apparaat slechts met de wifi te verbinden.
Why is hoeven used here without a negative word like niet?
Usually, hoeven (to need to) is only used in negative sentences. However, restrictor words like slechts (only/merely) or alleen maar count as a negative context because they strictly limit the obligation. It implies you do not have to do anything else. Just like with niet hoeven, you must pair it with te + infinitive at the end of the sentence.
Could I use alleen maar instead of slechts in this sentence?
Yes, absolutely! Both mean 'only' and work exactly the same way to create a restrictive obligation. Slechts sounds a bit more formal, which is why you often see it in manuals or written instructions like this one. Alleen maar is much more common in everyday spoken Dutch.
Why do we say met de wifi instead of translating 'to the Wi-Fi'?
In Dutch, the verb verbinden (to connect) is naturally paired with the preposition met (with). So instead of connecting a device 'to' a network like you do in English, you always connect it 'with' the network in Dutch.
Why is te verbinden placed at the very end of the sentence?
Here, hoeven is the main conjugated verb, which automatically pushes any other verbs to the end of the clause. Because hoeven requires the word te before the infinitive, the whole block te verbinden goes at the very end, after the direct object (het apparaat) and all other details (met de wifi).
Learn Je hoeft het apparaat slechts met de wifi te verbinden and more in Dutch
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
- ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
- ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free