Questions & Answers about Ik vind het zonde dat haar stem vals klinkt.
Why do we need the word het in this sentence?
Het is the anticipatory provisional object, which acts as a placeholder. The verb vinden (to find or to consider) needs a direct object. Because the actual thing you are expressing an opinion about is an entire clause (dat haar stem vals klinkt), Dutch uses het to hold the object's place in the main clause before introducing the full idea.
Doesn't zonde normally mean sin? Why is it translated as a shame?
While the literal and religious meaning of zonde is indeed a sin, in everyday conversational Dutch it is the standard way to say a pity, a shame, or a waste. For example, wat zonde simply translates to what a shame.
Why does vals mean out of tune here? Doesn't it mean false?
Vals generally means false, fake, or even mean when describing a person's behavior. However, whenever you are talking about voices, singing, or musical instruments, vals specifically means out of tune.
Why is the verb klinkt placed at the very end of the sentence?
The word dat (that) introduces a subordinate clause (dat haar stem vals klinkt). In Dutch subordinate clauses, the conjugated verb is pushed to the end of the phrase, which is why klinkt must come after vals.