Breakdown of Er is een duidelijke verwantschap tussen deze talen.
zijn
to be
een
a/an
deze
this / these
er
there (existential)
de taal
the language
duidelijk
clear (obvious, comprehensible)
tussen
between
de verwantschap
the kinship
Questions & Answers about Er is een duidelijke verwantschap tussen deze talen.
How is the word verwantschap formed, and what does the base word mean?
It is built from the adjective verwant, which means "related" or "akin" (used for family members or things with a shared origin). Adding the suffix -schap turns it into an abstract noun representing that state of being, making verwantschap mean "kinship" or "affinity."
I noticed it says een duidelijke verwantschap with an -e on the adjective. Does that mean -schap words are usually de words?
Yes! Abstract nouns formed with the suffix -schap to express states or conditions (like vriendschap, blijdschap, or verwantschap) are always de words. Because it is de verwantschap, the adjective duidelijk gets the -e ending even after the indefinite article een. (Note: a few concrete geographical collectives are het words, like het landschap).
Why use verwantschap here instead of a more common word like relatie?
While relatie means a general "relationship" or "connection," verwantschap specifically implies a shared origin, ancestry, or intrinsic similarity. When talking about languages belonging to the same language family (like English and Dutch), verwantschap is the most accurate and natural term to describe their "kinship."
Since there are likely more than two languages being discussed, why does the sentence use tussen (between) instead of a word for "among"?
Unlike English, which often distinguishes "between" (for two) and "among" (for three or more), Dutch uses tussen for both when describing relationships, comparisons, or connections. You generally only use onder for "among" when it means "in the midst of a group" (e.g., onder de mensen - among the people).
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