Questions & Answers about Haar humeur is dan weer goed, dan weer slecht.
Why does dan weer translate to "sometimes" instead of "then again" in this sentence?
While dan means "then" and weer means "again", the fixed correlative structure dan weer ..., dan weer ... is used in Dutch to describe a fluctuating state or alternating events. It translates best to "sometimes ..., sometimes ..." or "one moment ..., the next moment ...".
Could I start the sentence with dan weer to emphasize the fluctuation?
Yes, you can! If you put the adverbial phrase first, you trigger inversion (putting the verb before the subject). The sentence would become: Dan weer is haar humeur goed, dan weer slecht. Both word orders are completely natural at this level.
Is there a difference between using dan weer ... dan weer and just saying soms ... soms?
Yes, there is a subtle nuance. Soms is haar humeur goed, soms slecht simply states two independent facts about her mood. Using dan weer ..., dan weer ... highlights the constant, active shifting between the two extremes, making her mood sound much more erratic and unpredictable.
I've also learned the word stemming for "mood". Could I use it instead of humeur here?
Yes, Haar stemming is dan weer goed, dan weer slecht is also correct. Humeur often refers specifically to a personal, momentary temper (like being grumpy or cheerful), while stemming can be slightly broader and also apply to the atmosphere of a room. However, in this specific context, they are practically interchangeable.