Breakdown of De uitnodigingen voor de reünie werden gisteren gestuurd.
sturen
to send
voor
for (on behalf of)
gisteren
yesterday
worden
to become
de uitnodiging
the invitation
de reünie
the reunion
Questions & Answers about De uitnodigingen voor de reünie werden gisteren gestuurd.
Why does this sentence use werden instead of waren to mean "were"?
In Dutch, the passive voice (describing an action done to the subject) is formed using the verb worden rather than zijn (to be). Since this sentence is in the past tense, it uses the past tense plural of worden, which is werden. If you used waren gestuurd, it would mean they had been sent (past perfect).
Why is the verb gestuurd at the very end of the sentence?
In Dutch main clauses, the conjugated verb (here, werden) takes the second position. Any other verbs in the sentence, such as the past participle gestuurd, are pushed to the very end.
What is the purpose of the two dots on the 'u' in reünie?
Could I say verzonden instead of gestuurd?
Yes, verzonden (the past participle of verzenden) means sent or dispatched and is a great alternative, especially for formal mail or packages. Gestuurd (from sturen) is slightly more common in everyday speech.
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