Word
Is verse melk steeds minder lang houdbaar?
Meaning
Does fresh milk keep for a shorter and shorter time?
Part of speech
sentence
Pronunciation
Course
Breakdown of Is verse melk steeds minder lang houdbaar?
zijn
to be
de melk
the milk
lang
long
minder
less / fewer
Questions & Answers about Is verse melk steeds minder lang houdbaar?
How does the suffix -baar work in the word houdbaar?
The suffix -baar is added to a verb stem to show that something can undergo that action, much like the English suffix '-able'. Here, it is attached to the stem of houden (to keep), creating houdbaar. So, something that is houdbaar is keepable, meaning it has a shelf life and will not spoil immediately.
Why is 'shorter and shorter time' translated as steeds minder lang?
When talking about time or duration, Dutch frequently uses minder lang (less long) rather than korter (shorter). Additionally, combining the word steeds with a comparative adjective is the standard way to express 'more and more' or 'less and less' in Dutch. Literally, steeds minder lang means 'continually less long'.
Why does vers get an -e ending (verse melk) when there is no article in front of it?
Melk is an uncountable de-word. When an adjective modifies a de-word, it almost always takes the -e ending, regardless of whether there is a definite article, an indefinite article, or no article at all. The only time you drop the -e ending for a noun is before a singular het-word without a definite article.
Why is houdbaar placed at the very end of the sentence?