Breakdown of De docent gebruikt een effectieve methode om ons te laten slagen.
een
a/an
de docent
the teacher
gebruiken
to use
ons
us (object)
slagen
to pass
te
to (infinitive marker)
om
in order to
laten
to have (something) done
de methode
the method
effectief
effective
Questions & Answers about De docent gebruikt een effectieve methode om ons te laten slagen.
Why is te placed before laten instead of the main action slagen?
In an om ... te clause with multiple infinitives, the verbs group together at the end of the sentence. The word te must go immediately before the auxiliary or modal verb, which leads the cluster. Because laten acts as the auxiliary verb here, it comes first, making it te laten slagen.
Is the word order om ons laten te slagen ever correct?
No, that is a common mistake for English speakers. Unlike in English where 'to' goes right before the action verb ('to pass'), Dutch keeps the infinitive verbs (laten and slagen) glued together at the end of the clause. The te must introduce this whole verb block, so it cannot be placed between them.
Why does the Dutch sentence use laten when the English translation says 'make'?
In Dutch, laten is used as a causative verb to mean 'to let' or 'to have someone do something'. English often uses 'make' in this context ('to make us pass'), but translating that literally with maken is incorrect in Dutch. You must use laten to express causing someone to do an action.
Why does the adjective have an -e ending (effectieve) if we are using the indefinite article een?
Methode is a de-word (de methode). Adjectives modifying a de-word always take the -e ending, regardless of whether you use de or een. You only leave off the -e when describing a het-word preceded by een. This is a great rule to keep fresh in your mind!
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