Breakdown of Eet voorzichtig, want die koekjes kruimelen altijd.
eten
to eat
altijd
always
het koekje
the cookie
die
that / those (de-words and plurals)
Questions & Answers about Eet voorzichtig, want die koekjes kruimelen altijd.
How does kruimelen demonstrate the -elen suffix taught in this lesson?
The verb kruimelen (to crumble) comes from the noun kruimel (a crumb). The -elen suffix turns it into a verb describing a continuous, repeated minor action. Instead of breaking just once, the cookie repeatedly sheds tiny pieces as you handle or eat it.
Why doesn't the verb kruimelen move to the end of the sentence after want?
The word want (because) is a coordinating conjunction, which means it links two independent sentences without changing their normal word order. If you used the subordinating conjunction omdat (also meaning because), the verb would move to the end: omdat die koekjes altijd kruimelen.
Does the command Eet voorzichtig change if I am speaking to multiple people?
No, in modern Dutch, the base imperative form Eet is used whether you are speaking to one person or a group, and regardless of whether the situation is formal or informal.
Why is the word altijd at the very end of the sentence?
After the conjunction want, the clause starts fresh. The subject die koekjes takes the first position, so the conjugated verb kruimelen must take the second position. Adverbs of time like altijd generally come after the conjugated verb, and since there are no other objects or verbs here, it falls at the very end.