Breakdown of Ondanks de storm wisten we de vallei veilig te verlaten.
veilig
safe
we
we (unstressed form of wij)
te
to (infinitive marker)
de storm
the storm
ondanks
despite
verlaten
to leave / to abandon (a place or person)
de vallei
the valley
weten te
to manage to
Questions & Answers about Ondanks de storm wisten we de vallei veilig te verlaten.
Why is wisten used here if the translation says "managed to" instead of "knew"?
This sentence uses the construction weten te plus an infinitive (verlaten). While weten normally means "to know", this specific combination is used to say you "manage to" or "succeed in" doing something. It highlights a successful achievement, often despite difficulty.
Why is the word order wisten we rather than we wisten?
This is an example of inversion caused by the verb-second (V2) rule. Because the sentence begins with the prepositional phrase Ondanks de storm, that phrase takes up the first position. The finite verb wisten must be in the second position, which pushes the subject we to the third position.
Why are de vallei and veilig placed between wisten we and te verlaten?
In a Dutch main clause, the conjugated verb (wisten) sits in the second position, but the rest of the verbal block (te verlaten) is sent to the very end of the sentence. The direct object (de vallei) and the adverb (veilig) get sandwiched in this middle space.
How can you tell that veilig means "safely" rather than "safe"?
In Dutch, adjectives and adverbs almost always have the exact same form. Veilig can mean "safe" (modifying a noun) or "safely" (modifying a verb). You can tell it acts as an adverb here because it describes how they performed the action of leaving (verlaten).
Learn Ondanks de storm wisten we de vallei veilig te verlaten 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