Breakdown of We zouden actief burgerschap en goed leiderschap moeten bevorderen.
en
and
goed
good
moeten
to have to, must
zullen
shall / will
Questions & Answers about We zouden actief burgerschap en goed leiderschap moeten bevorderen.
How does the suffix -schap work in the words burgerschap and leiderschap?
The suffix -schap is added to the nouns burger (citizen) and leider (leader) to create abstract nouns that describe a state, condition, or role. It works exactly like the English suffix '-ship' in words like 'leadership' or 'citizenship'.
Why are the adjectives written as actief and goed instead of actieve and goede?
Almost all abstract nouns ending in -schap are neuter (het-words), including het burgerschap and het leiderschap. Because they are neuter and used here without an article (indefinite), the adjectives before them drop the -e ending.
How does the grammar behind zouden ... moeten bevorderen work here?
Dutch does not have a single verb for 'should'. Instead, it uses zouden (would) plus moeten (must). Because this sentence contains multiple verbs, the conjugated verb zouden stays in the second position, while the infinitives moeten and bevorderen are stacked at the end of the clause.
Could I use promoveren instead of bevorderen for 'to promote'?