Breakdown of U moet de zalf niet smeren indien de huid rood is.
zijn
to be
u
you (formal)
niet
not
rood
red
moeten
to have to, must
smeren
to apply (a substance) / to smear
de zalf
the ointment
indien
in the event that
de huid
the skin
Questions & Answers about U moet de zalf niet smeren indien de huid rood is.
Why does the verb is go at the very end of the sentence?
Because indien (in the event that / if) is a subordinating conjunction. Just like with dat or omdat, it introduces a subclause and forces the verb in that clause (is) to move to the end.
Could I use als instead of indien in this sentence?
Yes, you could. Als means 'if' and is used in everyday language. Indien has the exact same meaning and verb-final word order, but it is much more formal. You will typically see it in official documents, contracts, and medical leaflets like this one.
I learned that niet moeten means 'do not have to'. Why is it translated as 'must not' here?
Usually, niet mogen is used for strict rules ('must not' or 'not allowed to'). However, in strong advice or medical instructions like this, moet ... niet is frequently used to mean 'you really shouldn't' or 'you must not'. Additionally, in Flemish (Belgian Dutch), moet niet is the standard way to say 'must not'.
Does the verb smeren only apply to medical ointments?
No, smeren simply means 'to spread' or 'to smear'. While it is the standard verb for applying ointment (de zalf) or sunscreen, you also use it for everyday actions like spreading butter on bread.
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