Breakdown of In de robotica laten we de computer zichzelf programmeren.
in
in
we
we (unstressed form of wij)
laten
to let (laten we ... = let's ...)
de computer
the computer
Questions & Answers about In de robotica laten we de computer zichzelf programmeren.
Why do we use laten here instead of doen?
In Dutch, laten is used when you allow, permit, or delegate an action to someone or something else. Here, we are actively setting up or allowing the computer to do the work. Doen as a causative is reserved for involuntary, natural, or emotional reactions (like making someone laugh or sweat), which doesn't fit this scenario.
Why doesn't programmeren have te in front of it?
When you use a causative verb like laten (or doen), the second verb in the sentence must be a "bare infinitive" placed at the end of the clause. This means you use the whole verb (programmeren) without adding te.
Why is it zichzelf rather than just zich?
We use zichzelf to put strong emphasis on the fact that the computer is programming itself rather than programming something else. While zich is the standard reflexive pronoun for the third person, adding the -zelf suffix provides this necessary contrastive focus.
Why is the word order laten we instead of we laten?