Breakdown of Wij renoveren de constructie deels vandaag en deels morgen.
en
and
wij
we
vandaag
today
morgen
tomorrow
deels
partly
renoveren
to renovate (restore, renew)
de constructie
the construction
Questions & Answers about Wij renoveren de constructie deels vandaag en deels morgen.
How does the correlative structure deels ... deels work in this sentence?
Deels means 'partly' or 'in part'. When repeated as deels ... en deels, it acts as a correlative adverb linking two contrasting or complementary parts of the sentence. Here, it balances the two timeframes, vandaag and morgen. You can use it with or without the conjunction en between the two parts.
Why is the time phrase deels vandaag en deels morgen placed after the direct object de constructie?
In Dutch, a definite direct object (like de constructie) often comes before adverbs of time. Furthermore, because deels vandaag en deels morgen is a long, contrasting phrase, placing it at the end gives it more emphasis and keeps the core verb and object neatly together.
Could I use gedeeltelijk instead of deels here?
Yes, you could technically say gedeeltelijk vandaag en gedeeltelijk morgen. However, deels is much more commonly used in this repeated structure because it is shorter and flows better. Gedeeltelijk is more often used when 'partly' only appears once in the sentence.
Can I put the time phrase at the start of the sentence for emphasis?
Yes, but you must apply verb inversion. The entire correlative phrase acts as a single block in the first position, so the verb must immediately follow it: Deels vandaag en deels morgen renoveren wij de constructie.
Learn Wij renoveren de constructie deels vandaag en deels morgen 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