Breakdown of Zijn gezicht wordt vlekkerig en zweterig tijdens de training.
en
and
zijn
his
worden
to become
de training
the training / the practice
het gezicht
the face
tijdens
during
vlekkerig
blotchy / spotty
zweterig
sweaty
Questions & Answers about Zijn gezicht wordt vlekkerig en zweterig tijdens de training.
How is vlekkerig formed, and why is the 'k' doubled?
It is formed by adding the suffix -erig (meaning 'somewhat' or 'prone to') to the noun vlek (spot or blotch). The 'k' doubles to keep the preceding 'e' short, following standard Dutch spelling rules when adding a vowel suffix to a closed syllable.
Where does zweterig come from, and why does it drop an 'e' compared to the noun zweet?
It comes from zweet (sweat) plus the suffix -erig. Because adding the suffix creates an open syllable (zwe-te-rig), the vowel is automatically pronounced long. Therefore, the second 'e' is dropped to follow Dutch spelling rules.
Could I use the present participle zwetend (sweating) instead of zweterig here?
You could, but it changes the nuance. Zwetend focuses on the active, ongoing action of sweating. The suffix -erig is used to describe a general physical state or appearance, making zweterig (sweaty) much more natural when describing the condition of his face.
Why don't vlekkerig and zweterig get an -e ending, since they describe the noun gezicht?
Adjectives only get an -e ending when they are placed directly in front of the noun they modify. Here, they are used after the verb wordt to describe the subject. This means they are predicative adjectives, which always remain in their base form without an ending.
Learn Zijn gezicht wordt vlekkerig en zweterig tijdens de training and more in Dutch
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
- ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
- ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free