Question 1

How does te betalen work here, and why does it mean "to be paid" rather than just "to pay"?

Accepted Answer

This structure is the attributive modal infinitive. By placing te plus an infinitive directly before a noun, you create a passive meaning that implies an obligation or a possibility. Therefore, de te betalen nota naturally translates to "the bill that must be paid" or "the bill to be paid."

Question 2

Why doesn't betalen get an extra -e at the end, like a normal adjective would after the word de?

Accepted Answer

Even though it modifies the noun like an adjective, an attributive modal infinitive keeps its basic infinitive form. You do not add an -e ending to it. Be careful not to confuse this with the present participle, which does get an -e and has an active meaning, such as de betalende klant (the paying customer).

Question 3

If I wanted to specify that the bill needs to be paid tomorrow, where would the word morgen go?

Accepted Answer

Any extra details belong directly before the te plus infinitive construction. If it is the bill to be paid tomorrow, the phrase becomes de morgen te betalen nota. This creates an adjective-like "bracket" holding the extra information before the noun, a structure you will see often in formal written Dutch.

Question 4

Is there a difference between nota and rekening?

Accepted Answer

Both words mean bill or invoice and are very often interchangeable. However, nota is slightly more formal and is typically used in business, administrative, or official contexts. This formal tone fits perfectly with a commissie (committee) reviewing it. For a daily situation like a restaurant or bar tab, you would almost always use rekening.

De commissie controleert de te betalen nota.

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