Breakdown of De aansprakelijkheid die aan ons overgedragen, beperkt zich tot de software.
ons
us (object)
zich
oneself
die
who / that (relative pronoun)
aan
to (recipient)
beperken
to limit
de software
the software
tot
to (indicating a goal or position)
de aansprakelijkheid
the liability
overdragen
to transfer (property, responsibilities)
Questions & Answers about De aansprakelijkheid die aan ons overgedragen, beperkt zich tot de software.
Where is the auxiliary verb in the phrase die aan ons overgedragen?
In formal or legal written Dutch, the auxiliary verb (such as is or wordt) at the end of a relative clause is often left out. In everyday language, this would be die aan ons is overgedragen (which has been transferred to us). This omission is known as auxiliary deletion (hulpwerkwoorddeletie).
Why is the reflexive pronoun zich used in beperkt zich tot?
The Dutch verb zich beperken tot means "to be limited to" or literally "to limit itself to". Since the subject is de aansprakelijkheid (the liability), it takes the third-person reflexive pronoun zich. Where English uses a passive structure ("is limited to"), Dutch often prefers this reflexive construction.
Why do we use the prepositions aan and tot in this sentence?
These are fixed prepositions that belong to the verbs used here. You transfer something to someone with overdragen aan (hence aan ons overgedragen), and you limit something to something else with zich beperken tot (hence tot de software).
Why does the main clause verb beperkt come immediately after the comma?
Dutch uses V2 (verb-second) word order in main clauses. The entire phrase De aansprakelijkheid die aan ons overgedragen acts as one single, long subject taking up the first position. Therefore, the conjugated verb beperkt must take the second position, immediately following that entire subject block.
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