Breakdown of Wat dit plan kan waarmaken, is jouw drijfveer.
zijn
to be
jouw
your
dit
this (neuter)
kunnen
can
het plan
the plan
wat
that / which (relative)
waarmaken
to realize/to fulfill
de drijfveer
the motive/the drive
Questions & Answers about Wat dit plan kan waarmaken, is jouw drijfveer.
Why do we have a comma followed immediately by the verb is?
Because the entire pseudo-cleft clause Wat dit plan kan waarmaken occupies the first grammatical position of the main sentence. To satisfy the Dutch V2 (verb-second) rule, the main verb is must immediately follow this whole block.
Could dit plan be the subject of the first part instead of Wat?
Grammatically, yes. Because neither wat nor dit plan change their spelling when acting as an object, this clause could technically mean 'What this plan can realize'. We rely purely on logic and context to know that the drive is realizing the plan, not the other way around.
Why is the verb cluster kan waarmaken at the very end of the first clause?
Because Wat introduces a subordinate clause, which forces all verbs to the end. Since we have a conjugated modal verb (kan) and an infinitive (waarmaken), they form a verb cluster. You could also legally swap them and say waarmaken kan.
What is the literal meaning of the noun drijfveer?
It literally means 'drive spring' (like a mechanical coil). It combines drijven (to drive or propel) and veer (a spring or feather). It is the standard Dutch term for someone's underlying motivation or drive.
How does the verb waarmaken get its meaning?
It is a separable verb made up of waar (true) and maken (to make). Literally meaning 'to make true', it is widely used when talking about realizing a plan, fulfilling a dream, or living up to expectations.
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