Breakdown of Met zijn grote eetlust smult hij van drie vierde van de taart.
hij
he / it (referring to a 'de'-word)
groot
big
drie
three
met
with
de taart
the cake
zijn
his
vierde
fourth (4th)
van
out of (in ratios, e.g. two out of five)
smullen
to feast
de eetlust
the appetite
Questions & Answers about Met zijn grote eetlust smult hij van drie vierde van de taart.
Why is it drie vierde and not drie vierdes like "three-quarters" in English?
In Dutch, when a fraction is used to express a mathematical amount or a specific portion, the denominator (the bottom number, vierde) does not get a plural -s. It remains singular.
Are standard fractions like drie vierde always written as two separate words?
Yes! When writing out a fraction consisting of a cardinal number (like drie) and an ordinal number (like vierde), they are written as two separate words in standard Dutch.
Why is the preposition van used twice in this sentence?
They serve two different functions. The first van belongs to the fixed verb phrase smullen van (to feast on or enjoy eating). The second van simply means "of" to connect the fraction to the object: drie vierde van de taart (three-quarters of the cake).
Why is the word order smult hij instead of hij smult?
The translation says "appetite". What is the literal breakdown of the word eetlust?
It is a compound of eet (the stem of eten, to eat) and lust (desire or urge). Together, this "eat-desire" forms the standard Dutch noun for appetite.
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