Denk jij dat we de voorsprong houden? Ik hoop van wel.
Do you think we will keep the lead? I hope so.
Breakdown of Denk jij dat we de voorsprong houden? Ik hoop van wel.
ik
I
jij
you
denken
to think
we
we (unstressed form of wij)
hopen
to hope
dat
that (conjunction)
houden
to hold, to keep
van wel
so / that it is
de voorsprong
the lead
Questions & Answers about Denk jij dat we de voorsprong houden? Ik hoop van wel.
Why do we use van wel to translate "so" here?
When replacing a positive statement after verbs of thinking, hoping, or communicating (like hopen, denken, and zeggen), Dutch uses van wel. You cannot translate "so" directly with words like zo. It acts as a shortcut meaning "I hope yes".
How would I say "I hope not" in this exact context?
You would use the negative counterpart, which is van niet. Your response would simply be Ik hoop van niet.
Is it correct to reply with Ik hoop het instead?
Yes, Ik hoop het (literally "I hope it") is a very common alternative. However, choosing Ik hoop van wel places a stronger, more explicit emphasis on the positive "yes" aspect of your expectation.
How is the noun voorsprong constructed?
It is a compound of voor (ahead or before) and sprong (jump or leap). Together they mean a head start or a lead in a race, competition, or game.
Just to review, why does houden sit at the very end of the first sentence?
The word dat creates a subordinate clause. A core rule of Dutch grammar is that subordinate clauses push the conjugated verb, which is houden here, to the very end of that clause.
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