Breakdown of Hij zei botweg dat hij niet meer komt.
hij
he / it (referring to a 'de'-word)
niet
not
zeggen
to say
komen
to come
meer
more
dat
that (conjunction)
botweg
bluntly
Questions & Answers about Hij zei botweg dat hij niet meer komt.
How does the suffix -weg change the meaning of bot here?
The adjective bot means "blunt", "dull", or "rude". Adding the suffix -weg turns it into an adverb of manner (botweg), meaning "bluntly" or "flat out". The suffix -weg is often used with adjectives to emphasize that an action is done directly, without hesitation, or simply as it is (like in simpelweg or kortweg).
Why is komt in the present tense even though the main verb zei is in the past tense?
In Dutch, when reporting speech, it is very common to keep the verb of the subordinate clause in the present tense if the statement is still true or refers to the future. Saying dat hij niet meer komt shows that his refusal to come is still a current reality. You could also say dat hij niet meer zou komen (that he would not come anymore), but using the present tense makes the refusal feel immediate and factual.
Could I use botweg to describe a literal physical bluntness, like a dull knife?
No, botweg is strictly used as an adverb for behavior, speech, or manner, meaning "bluntly" or "curtly". If you want to describe a knife that is dull, you would just use the adjective bot.
Why does komt go at the very end of the sentence?
The word dat (that) introduces a subordinate clause. In Dutch subordinate clauses, the conjugated verb is always pushed to the end. While this is a basic rule you have likely seen before, it is always good to remember that reporting someone's speech using dat will trigger this word order.
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