Breakdown of Betrouwbaarheid en eerlijkheid zijn essentieel.
zijn
to be
en
and
essentieel
essential
de betrouwbaarheid
the reliability
de eerlijkheid
the honesty
Questions & Answers about Betrouwbaarheid en eerlijkheid zijn essentieel.
How does the suffix -heid work in these words?
The suffix -heid turns an adjective into an abstract noun, similar to "-ness" or "-ity" in English. Here it transforms the adjectives betrouwbaar (reliable) and eerlijk (honest) into the nouns betrouwbaarheid (reliability) and eerlijkheid (honesty).
How is the word betrouwbaarheid constructed?
It starts with the root trouw (loyal) or the verb vertrouwen (to trust). Adding the suffix -baar (which works like "-able" in English) creates the adjective betrouwbaar (reliable). Finally, adding -heid turns it into the noun betrouwbaarheid (reliability).
Does eerlijkheid mean "honesty" or "fairness"?
It can mean both! The base adjective eerlijk translates to both "honest" and "fair". In this sentence, paired with reliability, "honesty" is the most natural translation, but "fairness" would also be correct.
Why is there no -e at the end of essentieel?
Adjectives only get an -e ending when they are placed directly before the noun they describe (for example, een essentiële regel). When the adjective simply describes the subject and comes after a linking verb like zijn, it stays in its basic dictionary form.
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