Breakdown of Het ouderschap is uitputtend, nu we zo weinig slapen.
zijn
to be
slapen
to sleep
we
we (unstressed form of wij)
zo
so (to such a degree)
weinig
little / few
nu
now that
het ouderschap
the parenthood
uitputtend
exhausting
Questions & Answers about Het ouderschap is uitputtend, nu we zo weinig slapen.
Why is the verb slapen at the very end of the second part of the sentence?
Because it is in a subordinate clause. The word nu (now) is acting as a subordinating conjunction here, meaning "now that". This type of conjunction kicks the working verb to the end of its clause. That's why it is nu we zo weinig slapen instead of the normal main-clause word order (we slapen zo weinig).
Can I say nu dat instead of just nu to mean "now that"?
You don't need to! While you might occasionally hear native speakers say nu dat in casual speech, simply using nu on its own is the standard, most natural way to say "now that" to introduce a circumstance in Dutch.
Is the -schap in ouderschap similar to an English suffix?
Yes, it is very similar to the English suffixes "-hood" and "-ship". It turns the noun ouder (parent) into the abstract concept ouderschap (parenthood). A helpful grammar tip: almost all abstract nouns ending in -schap are het words.
How is the word uitputtend (exhausting) formed?
It comes from the verb uitputten (to exhaust / to deplete). By adding a -d to the full verb, you create the present participle (uitputtend), which functions exactly like an "-ing" adjective in English.
Learn Het ouderschap is uitputtend, nu we zo weinig slapen 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