Breakdown of Dit behang zal snel verouderen.
snel
fast
dit
this (neuter)
zullen
shall / will
het behang
the wallpaper
verouderen
to age
Questions & Answers about Dit behang zal snel verouderen.
How does the prefix ver- change the meaning in verouderen?
The prefix ver- indicates a change of state. It attaches to a base word to mean the process of 'becoming' that state. Here, it turns the concept of being old into the action of aging.
Why is it verouderen and not just "verouden"?
The verb is built on the comparative form of the adjective, ouder (older). Therefore, verouderen literally means 'to become older'. This is a common pattern with the ver- prefix, which you will also see in verbs like verbeteren (to improve, from beter) and verergeren (to worsen, from erger).
Why is dit used instead of deze for behang?
Behang (wallpaper) is a neuter noun, meaning it takes the definite article het. When pointing out a specific het word, you must use dit (this) or dat (that) instead of deze or die.
Does zal just indicate the future tense here?
While zal (from the verb zullen) does form the future tense, it is frequently used to express a prediction or expectation rather than a scheduled event. Here, the speaker is assessing the wallpaper's quality and predicting it will look dated quickly.
Could I use the present tense instead of zal for this future event?
Yes, in Dutch you can often use the present tense to imply the future (e.g., Dit behang veroudert snel). However, using zal makes the sentence feel much more like a strong prediction or warning about the material's lifespan.
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