Breakdown of We willen de badkamer vergroten.
willen
to want
we
we (unstressed form of wij)
de badkamer
the bathroom
vergroten
to enlarge
Questions & Answers about We willen de badkamer vergroten.
How does the prefix ver- change the meaning of groot in vergroten?
The prefix ver- is often used to turn an adjective into a verb that indicates a change of state. By adding it to the adjective groot (big or large), it creates the verb vergroten, meaning to make bigger or to enlarge.
Why is there only one o in vergroten when the adjective groot has two?
This is a classic example of the Dutch open syllable rule. In groot, the syllable is closed by the letter t, so it needs a double vowel to keep the long sound. When it becomes the verb vergroten, the syllables split as ver-gro-ten. Because the o is now at the end of an open syllable, a single o automatically keeps the long sound.
Why is vergroten placed at the very end of the sentence?
In this sentence, willen is the conjugated modal verb, which takes the second position. In Dutch main clauses, any additional verbs, like the infinitive vergroten, must be pushed to the very end of the sentence.
What are some other common verbs that use ver- to show a change of state like vergroten?
You will see this pattern a lot! For example, klein (small) becomes verkleinen (to shrink or reduce), breed (wide) becomes verbreden (to widen), and nieuw (new) becomes vernieuwen (to renew).
Learn We willen de badkamer vergroten and more in Dutch
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
- ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
- ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free