Breakdown of De schoenmaker repareert naden die los zitten.
repareren
to repair
die
who / that (relative pronoun)
los
loose
de schoenmaker
the cobbler
Questions & Answers about De schoenmaker repareert naden die los zitten.
Why is there no comma before die los zitten, and what does that tell us?
This is a restrictive relative clause (beperkende relatieve bijzin). It restricts or defines the noun it describes. The cobbler isn't repairing all seams, only the specific ones that are loose. Just like in English, restrictive relative clauses in Dutch are not set off by commas.
Why does the sentence use zitten instead of zijn to say the seams "are" loose?
Dutch frequently uses position verbs like zitten (to sit) instead of zijn (to be) to describe how something fits or is physically attached. Since seams are a structural part of the shoe, los zitten is the most natural, idiomatic way to say they are loose or coming undone.
Would it be wrong to use dat instead of die for the relative pronoun here?
Yes, it would be incorrect. The relative pronoun refers back to naden (seams). Since naden is a plural noun, you must use die. The relative pronoun dat is strictly reserved for singular het-words.
Why is zitten pushed to the very end of the sentence?
A relative clause like die los zitten functions as a subordinate clause (bijzin). In Dutch subordinate clauses, the conjugated verb is always pushed to the end of the clause.