Learn Dutch: De traditionele architectuur is zo mooi dat we alles behouden. - The traditional architecture is so beautiful that we keep everything.

De traditionele architectuur is zo mooi dat we alles behouden.

The traditional architecture is so beautiful that we keep everything.

Breakdown of De traditionele architectuur is zo mooi dat we alles behouden.

we (unstressed form of wij)

so (to such a degree)

Questions & Answers about De traditionele architectuur is zo mooi dat we alles behouden.

Since this lesson focuses on deels ... deels (partly ... partly), how could we change this sentence to say we only preserve parts of it?

You would replace alles (everything) with your contrasting actions. For example: De architectuur is zo mooi dat we het deels behouden, deels renoveren (The architecture is so beautiful that we partly keep it, partly renovate it).

What is the difference between using behouden here instead of just houden?

While houden is the general verb for 'to keep' or 'to hold', the prefix be- makes behouden mean 'to preserve' or 'to retain'. It has a slightly higher register and is the perfect choice when talking about preserving cultural heritage, nature, or architecture.

Why does behouden go at the very end of the sentence?

The word dat (that) introduces a subordinate clause (dat we alles behouden). In Dutch, a subordinate clause always pushes the conjugated verb to the very end of that clause.

Why does the adjective traditioneel get an -e ending here?