Breakdown of De vulkaan dreigt binnenkort uit te barsten.
binnenkort
soon (in the near future)
te
to (infinitive marker)
de vulkaan
the volcano
dreigen
to threaten (to do something) / to be at risk of
uitbarsten
to erupt
Questions & Answers about De vulkaan dreigt binnenkort uit te barsten.
Why is dreigt translated as "is at risk of" rather than "threatens to"?
While dreigen literally means "to threaten", when it is used as an auxiliary verb followed by te + infinitive, it indicates that an undesirable event is looming or imminent. In English, we usually express this aspectual meaning as "is at risk of", "is in danger of", or "is on the verge of".
Why is te placed in the middle of uitbarsten?
Uitbarsten (to erupt) is a separable verb, made of the prefix uit and the core verb barsten. When a separable verb is used in a te + infinitive construction (which is required here by dreigt), the te must always wedge itself between the prefix and the verb.
Why is uit te barsten written as three separate words?
This is a strict spelling rule in Dutch that often trips up learners. While the standard infinitive uitbarsten is one word, and the past participle uitgebarsten is one word, whenever te splits a separable verb, all three parts must be written as separate words with spaces.
How does the nuance change if I just say De vulkaan zal binnenkort uitbarsten?
Using zal (will) simply states a factual future event. By using the aspectual auxiliary dreigt, you specifically highlight the looming danger or the negative consequence of the eruption. It adds tension, signaling that a bad outcome is imminent rather than just neutrally stating the future.
Learn De vulkaan dreigt binnenkort uit te barsten 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