Breakdown of Stel dat we te snel opschalen.
snel
fast
te
too
we
we (unstressed form of wij)
stel dat
suppose that / imagine that
Questions & Answers about Stel dat we te snel opschalen.
Why is the verb opschalen at the very end of the sentence?
The phrase stel dat (suppose that) acts as a subordinating conjunction. This means it introduces a subclause, which forces the conjugated verb (opschalen) all the way to the end of the sentence.
Why isn't the separable verb opschalen split up in this sentence?
In a normal main clause, a separable verb splits (for example: We schalen te snel op). However, because stel dat triggers subclause word order, all verb parts are pushed to the end of the sentence. When a separable verb goes to the end of a subclause like this, it reconnects and is written as one word.
Could I use aangenomen dat here instead of stel dat?
Grammatically, yes, but the nuance changes. Stel dat feels more like "what if" or "imagine if" - perfect for brainstorming or raising a sudden concern. Aangenomen dat means "assuming that," which sounds more formal and is usually used to set a firm premise before making a logical conclusion.
Can I drop the word dat, like we often drop "that" in English?
In informal spoken Dutch, you will actually hear people say Stel we schalen te snel op. Notice that when you drop dat, the sentence turns back into a regular main clause with normal word order. However, in writing and standard Dutch, you should stick to stel dat followed by a subclause.