Breakdown of De gevel is deels wit en deels zwart, wat voor een groot contrast zorgt.
zijn
to be
een
a/an
en
and
groot
big
zwart
black
wit
white
zorgen voor
to take care of
wat
that / which (relative)
deels
partly
de gevel
facade
het contrast
contrast
Questions & Answers about De gevel is deels wit en deels zwart, wat voor een groot contrast zorgt.
How exactly do we use the structure deels ... deels?
It translates to 'partly ... partly' and is used to show that something consists of two or more parts. Just like in English, you place deels directly before the words you are contrasting. Here it modifies the adjectives wit and zwart, but you can also use it with verbs or prepositional phrases.
Why does the second clause start with wat instead of dat or die?
We use the relative pronoun wat when referring back to a complete preceding clause, rather than a specific noun. It is the entire situation of 'the facade being partly white and partly black' that creates the contrast, not just the word gevel (facade).
I learned that zorgen voor means 'to take care of'. Why is it translated as 'creates' here?
While zorgen voor does mean 'to take care of' (like a person or pet), it is also very commonly used to mean 'to cause', 'to result in', or 'to provide'. In this context, the color combination 'results in' or 'causes' a great contrast.
Why is it een groot contrast and not een grote contrast?
The word contrast is a neuter noun (het contrast). Remember the grammar rule for adjectives: when an adjective comes before a singular het-word and follows een (or no article at all), you do not add an -e to the adjective.
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