Word
Jij speelt altijd vals, en dat is oneerlijk.
Meaning
You always cheat, and that is unfair.
Part of speech
sentence
Pronunciation
Course
Questions & Answers about Jij speelt altijd vals, en dat is oneerlijk.
How does the prefix on- work in the word oneerlijk?
It works exactly like the English prefix "un-", turning the adjective eerlijk (fair or honest) into its opposite. A key detail for pronunciation: when adding on- to an adjective, the spoken stress usually shifts to the prefix, so you say ON-eerlijk.
Why is "cheat" translated as vals spelen instead of a single verb?
Vals spelen (literally "to play false") is the specific Dutch expression for cheating at games, sports, or tests. If you used a verb like bedriegen (to deceive) or vreemdgaan (to cheat on a romantic partner), the sentence would mean something completely different!
Why do we use dat instead of het in the phrase dat is oneerlijk?
Dat is used here to point back to the entire previous clause, meaning "the fact that you always cheat." While het is oneerlijk is also grammatically correct, dat acts as a stronger, clearer pointer to the specific behavior you just complained about.
Does starting the sentence with Jij instead of Je change the tone?
Yes, using the emphatic pronoun Jij makes it a direct, pointed accusation: "You always cheat." If you used the unstressed je, the tone would sound a bit less confrontational.