Breakdown of De schoenmaker die mijn laarzen repareert, is bezig met de zolen.
zijn
to be
met
with
mijn
my
repareren
to repair
die
who / that (relative pronoun)
bezig
busy (occupied, engaged)
de laars
the boot
de schoenmaker
the cobbler
de zool
the sole
Questions & Answers about De schoenmaker die mijn laarzen repareert, is bezig met de zolen.
Why is there no comma before die, but there is one after repareert?
Because this is a restrictive relative clause. The phrase die mijn laarzen repareert is essential information needed to identify which cobbler we mean. In Dutch, you do not put a comma before a restrictive relative clause. However, you do place a comma at the end of the clause (after repareert) to clearly mark where the main clause resumes.
Why is the verb repareert at the end of the phrase die mijn laarzen repareert?
Relative clauses in Dutch are always subordinate clauses. In a subordinate clause, the working verb is pushed to the very end. That is why the verb goes after the object, making it die mijn laarzen repareert rather than keeping the standard main-clause word order.
Could I use dat instead of die for the relative pronoun?
No. The relative pronoun must match the article of the noun it refers back to. Because it refers to de schoenmaker (a de-word), you must use die. You only use dat when referring back to a het-word.
Does is bezig met mean he is rushed or has too much work to do?
Not necessarily. While bezig zijn met translates literally to "being busy with," it is simply the standard Dutch phrasing for "working on" or "being occupied with" a specific task right now. If you wanted to say he has a heavy workload and is stressed, you would instead say hij heeft het druk.
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