Breakdown of Deze kriebelige trui is lastig te wassen.
zijn
to be
wassen
to wash
deze
this / these
de trui
the sweater
Questions & Answers about Deze kriebelige trui is lastig te wassen.
The lesson is about the suffix -erig, but this word is kriebelig. Why doesn't it have the -erig suffix?
The stem of the word is kriebel (from the verb kriebelen, to itch or tickle). When a word stem already ends in -el or -er, adding -erig (making it kriebelerig) sounds too repetitive. Instead, Dutch just adds -ig to these stems to create the exact same meaning of a mild state or tendency.
Does kriebelig imply the sweater is extremely itchy?
No, it implies a mild state. The suffix -erig (or in this case, just -ig) softens the meaning. A kriebelige trui is somewhat scratchy, tickly, or mildly irritating, rather than causing a severe itch.
Why is there an -e at the end of kriebelige?
Because it comes directly before the noun it describes (trui). Since trui is a de-word and is preceded by the demonstrative deze, the adjective gets the standard -e ending.
Is the structure lastig te wassen exactly the same as English 'hard to wash'?