Breakdown of Wat wij koesteren, is onze familie.
zijn
to be
wij
we
de familie
the family
onze
our (de-words, plurals)
wat
that / which (relative)
koesteren
to cherish
Questions & Answers about Wat wij koesteren, is onze familie.
Why is the verb is placed immediately after the comma?
The entire first clause Wat wij koesteren acts as the subject of the sentence, taking up position one. Since Dutch main clauses follow the verb-second rule, the main verb is must come right next in position two. The comma simply clarifies where the subject clause ends.
Why do we use Wat here instead of Dat?
In this focus structure, you need a word that means "that which" or "the thing that." In Dutch, this independent relative pronoun is always wat. You would only use dat if you were pointing back to a specific neuter noun from a previous sentence.
Does the verb koesteren only apply to people, like onze familie?
It is often used for people you hold dear, but it is also widely used for abstract concepts. For example, you can een wens koesteren (harbor a wish) or hoop koesteren (hold onto hope).
Does flipping the sentence to Onze familie is wat wij koesteren change the meaning?
The literal meaning stays the same, but the focus shifts. This lesson's structure, starting with Wat, builds anticipation and places heavy rhetorical emphasis on the complement at the end. It puts a spotlight on the fact that family is the specific thing you cherish.
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