Breakdown of Pas als wij infiltreren, kunnen we de machine saboteren.
wij
we
kunnen
can
we
we (unstressed form of wij)
als
if / when (condition)
de machine
the machine
pas
only / not until (of time)
infiltreren
to infiltrate
saboteren
to sabotage
Questions & Answers about Pas als wij infiltreren, kunnen we de machine saboteren.
The verb infiltreren starts with in-. Why isn't it a separable verb like other Dutch verbs with this prefix?
Native Dutch verbs starting with in- (like inloggen or inpakken) are separable, and the stress falls on the prefix. However, infiltreren is a loanword ending in the suffix -eren. These loanwords function as an inseparable unit, and the stress falls near the end of the word rather than on the prefix.
Why is Pas als used here instead of Alleen als?
While alleen als means 'only if' as a strict logical condition, pas als translates more closely to 'not until' or 'only after'. It emphasizes a timeline or sequence: the sabotage cannot happen until the infiltration is completed first.
Why does the second part of the sentence say kunnen we rather than we kunnen?
The entire first clause (Pas als wij infiltreren) takes up the first position in the sentence. In Dutch, the working verb of the main clause must come second. Therefore, the verb (kunnen) swaps places with the subject (we) to satisfy this rule.
Why does the speaker use wij in the first clause, but we in the second?
Wij is the stressed form, placing focus on the fact that 'we' are the ones who must infiltrate. Once the subject is established, the speaker switches to the unstressed we to keep the sentence flowing naturally and shift the emphasis onto the action of the sabotage itself.
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