Breakdown of Vanavond is de spanning zo hoog dat we niet slapen.
zijn
to be
niet
not
slapen
to sleep
vanavond
tonight
we
we (unstressed form of wij)
zo
so (to such a degree)
hoog
high / tall
dat
that (conjunction)
de spanning
the tension
Questions & Answers about Vanavond is de spanning zo hoog dat we niet slapen.
Why does the Dutch sentence use the present tense verbs is and slapen when the English translation uses "will be" and "won't sleep"?
In Dutch, it is very common to use the present tense to talk about the future. Because the sentence starts with the time word Vanavond (tonight), the future context is already clear. You don't need to add a future auxiliary verb like zullen (will), so both clauses just use the simple present tense.
Why is the word order is de spanning instead of de spanning is?
This happens because the sentence starts with the time word Vanavond. In a standard Dutch main clause, the verb must be the second idea in the sentence. Since Vanavond takes up the first spot, the verb is takes the second spot, forcing the subject de spanning to move after it. This swapping of the subject and verb is called inversion.
Why does the verb slapen go at the very end of the sentence?
The word dat (that) links the two halves of the sentence and introduces a dependent clause. In Dutch dependent clauses, all conjugated verbs are pushed to the very end. This is also why niet appears right before the verb here, rather than after it as it normally would in a main clause.
Does spanning only mean negative "tension" or stress?
Not at all! While it can mean stress, spanning is also the normal Dutch word for excitement, suspense, or thrill (like the feeling before a big sports match, an election, or a holiday). Depending on the context, staying awake from de spanning could be a very positive thing!
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