Word
Zij kan het cijferslot in één minuut ontgrendelen.
Meaning
She can unlock the combination lock in one minute.
Part of speech
sentence
Pronunciation
Course
Questions & Answers about Zij kan het cijferslot in één minuut ontgrendelen.
Why do we use in here instead of binnen or over?
In this context, in expresses the exact duration needed to complete the action: it takes her one minute. If you used over één minuut, it would mean the action will happen one minute from now. Binnen één minuut would emphasize a deadline limit (within a minute).
Why does één have accent marks here?
The accents distinguish the number one (één) from the indefinite article a/an (een). Here, it emphasizes that it takes her exactly one minute, rather than just "a" minute.
How do we break down the compound noun cijferslot?
It is made of cijfer (digit or number) and slot (lock). In Dutch, a combination lock is literally called a "number lock".
What is the structure of the verb ontgrendelen?
It comes from the noun grendel, which means a bolt or latch. The prefix ont- is frequently used in Dutch to reverse an action or remove something, so ontgrendelen literally means "to un-bolt" or "to unlock".