Breakdown of Een adempauze is mentaal erg belangrijk.
zijn
to be
een
a/an
erg
very / really
belangrijk
important
Questions & Answers about Een adempauze is mentaal erg belangrijk.
What exactly is an adempauze?
It literally translates to 'breath pause' (adem + pauze) and is the exact equivalent of the English phrase 'a breather'. You use it when talking about a short break to recover your energy or focus.
How could I add 'even if it is just for a minute' to this sentence using the current lesson's grammar?
You can add it to the end of the statement: Een adempauze is mentaal erg belangrijk, al is het maar voor een minuut. The phrase al is het maar literally means 'even if it is only' and is perfect for expressing this kind of concessive minimalism.
Why does mentaal not have an -e ending here?
In this sentence, mentaal functions as an adverb meaning 'mentally' (modifying how the breather is important). In Dutch, adverbs never take the -e ending. If you used it as an adjective directly in front of a noun, such as 'a mental break', it would get the ending: een mentale pauze.
Could I use heel instead of erg in this sentence?
Yes, heel belangrijk and erg belangrijk both mean 'very important' and are completely interchangeable here. Erg is often preferred for abstract concepts or feelings, but both are perfectly natural to a Dutch speaker.