Breakdown of De vergadering der leden was erg plechtig.
zijn
to be
erg
very / really
de vergadering
the meeting
het lid
the member
plechtig
solemn / solemnly
der
of the (genitive, feminine/plural)
Questions & Answers about De vergadering der leden was erg plechtig.
Why does the sentence use der leden instead of van de leden?
der is a relic of the old Dutch genitive (possessive) case, meaning "of the". While modern Dutch almost exclusively uses van de to show possession, the old genitive survives in highly formal, legal, or traditional phrases like de vergadering der leden.
Is der always the word used for "of the" in these old genitive phrases?
Not always. der is used for plural nouns (like leden) and singular feminine nouns. If the noun is singular masculine or neuter, the genitive article is des, often combined with an -s added to the noun, as in de tand des tijds (the ravages of time).
Leden is the plural of lid (member). Why does the vowel change from short to long?
Lid is one of a small group of irregular Dutch nouns that change from a short vowel in the singular to a long vowel in the plural. You have likely seen this before with words like schip / schepen (ship / ships) or stad / steden (city / cities).
What is the difference between plechtig and serieus?
While both can translate to "serious", plechtig specifically means "solemn" or "ceremonial". You use plechtig to describe things with a formal, dignified, or ritualistic atmosphere, like a graduation, a wedding, or an official assembly. Serieus just means not joking or earnest.
Learn De vergadering der leden was erg plechtig 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