Breakdown of Wij verbreden de oprit voor de nieuwe auto.
de auto
the car
wij
we
nieuw
new
voor
for (on behalf of)
Questions & Answers about Wij verbreden de oprit voor de nieuwe auto.
How does the prefix ver- work to create the verb verbreden?
The verb verbreden is built from the adjective breed (wide or broad). By adding the prefix ver-, you create a verb that means "to make [adjective]." In this case, it means "to make wider" or "to widen," indicating a change of state.
Why is verbreden spelled with only one 'e' in the middle when the adjective it comes from is breed?
This is due to the Dutch spelling rule for open syllables. When you add the -en suffix to make it a verb, the syllables are split as ver - bre - den. Because the middle syllable ends in a vowel, it is an "open" syllable. A single e in an open syllable already makes a long vowel sound, so the second e is dropped.
Oprit translates to "driveway" here. Does it have other meanings in traffic contexts?
Yes! Besides a residential driveway, an oprit is also the standard word for an "on-ramp" or "slip road" leading onto a highway. The word literally implies the place where you drive (rijden) onto (op) a road or property.
Just as a quick refresher, why do we add an -e to make it nieuwe auto instead of nieuw auto?