Question 1

Why do we use geen instead of niet here, when the English translation says 'not ... yet'?

Accepted Answer

Even though we say 'not yet' in English, Dutch uses nog geen instead of nog niet because it negates the indefinite noun spruit. You are essentially saying she has eaten 'yet no sprout'. If you were negating a specific sprout ('the sprout') or a verb, you would use nog niet.

Question 2

Is it common to use the singular spruit? We usually talk about Brussels sprouts in the plural.

Accepted Answer

You are right that Brussels sprouts are usually plural (spruitjes or spruiten). Using the singular spruit here adds a bit of emphasis, sounding like 'not even a single Brussels sprout'.

Question 3

Since this lesson is about evenmin (nor / neither), how could I add 'nor has the boy' to this sentence?

Accepted Answer

You could add a short phrase at the end: en de jongen evenmin (and the boy neither). Because evenmin is an adverb, you could also add it as a full independent clause with inversion: evenmin heeft de jongen een spruit gegeten (nor has the boy eaten a sprout).

Question 4

Could I use the simple past (at) instead of the present perfect (heeft gegeten) here?

Accepted Answer

You could say het meisje at nog geen spruit, but the present perfect (heeft gegeten) is much more natural here. When you use nog geen (not yet), you are describing a state that is still true right up to the present moment, which perfectly aligns with how Dutch uses the present perfect.

Het meisje heeft nog geen spruit gegeten.

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