Breakdown of Het plan is kansloos, tenzij we meer batterijen vinden.
zijn
to be
vinden
to find
we
we (unstressed form of wij)
meer
more
het plan
the plan
tenzij
unless
de batterij
battery
kansloos
hopeless / without a chance (no chance of success)
Questions & Answers about Het plan is kansloos, tenzij we meer batterijen vinden.
How does the word kansloos break down, and what is its literal meaning?
It combines the noun kans (chance or opportunity) with the suffix -loos (without or -less). Literally, it means "chanceless" or "without a chance." While the provided translation says "hopeless," kansloos specifically means there is zero probability of success.
Can I use hopeloos instead of kansloos in this sentence?
Yes, hopeloos is a valid alternative. However, kansloos is very commonly used in Dutch for plans, situations, or competitors that simply have no winning chance. Hopeloos can sometimes carry a more emotional weight of despair, whereas kansloos is often more factual.
Why is the verb vinden at the very end of the sentence?
The word tenzij (unless) is a subordinating conjunction. This means it introduces a dependent clause, which kicks the conjugated verb (vinden) to the very end of that clause.
What is the singular form of batterijen, and where does the stress fall?
The singular is batterij. Nouns ending in -ij take the standard -en ending for the plural. The stress in both the singular and plural falls on the final syllable of the root word: bat-te-RIJ and bat-te-RIJ-en.
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