Question 1

Why is the word order vieren we instead of we vieren?

Accepted Answer

Because the sentence starts with the time word Vandaag. In a standard Dutch main clause, the verb must sit in the second position (the V2 rule). When you put anything other than the subject at the beginning, the subject has to move to the spot immediately after the verb.

Question 2

Why does onvergetelijke get an -e added to it even though it follows the indefinite article een?

Accepted Answer

Because mijlpaal is a de-word (de mijlpaal). You only leave off the -e when an adjective comes before a het-word preceded by een, geen, or nothing at all. For de-words, the adjective always gets the -e ending, regardless of the article.

Question 3

How do the parts of the word onvergetelijke break down?

Accepted Answer

It is built from the prefix on- (meaning un-), the verb root vergeet from vergeten (to forget), and the suffix -lijk (which works like the English -able). Finally, the -e at the very end is added for the adjective agreement we see with de-words.

Question 4

Since this lesson is about the temporal dat, how would I use it to say "Today is the day that we celebrate a milestone"?

Accepted Answer

You would say: Vandaag is de dag dat we een mijlpaal vieren. In this case, dat refers back to the time word de dag, acting as a smoother, more natural replacement for waarop (on which).

Vandaag vieren we een onvergetelijke mijlpaal.

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