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U moet zich vandaag ziekmelden bij uw werkgever.

U moet zich vandaag ziekmelden bij uw werkgever.
You have to call in sick to your employer today.
From Lesson 475:Consequential particles (dan ook)·Dutch

Questions & Answers about U moet zich vandaag ziekmelden bij uw werkgever.

Why is the reflexive pronoun zich used here instead of u?
Both zich and u are correct reflexive pronouns for the formal subject u. However, zich is often preferred in Dutch to avoid repeating the sound of u twice in the same sentence, making it flow much better.
Why is ziekmelden written as one word at the end of the sentence?
Ziekmelden is a separable verb (made of ziek and melden). Because this sentence uses the modal verb moet, the main verb is pushed to the end of the clause in its full infinitive form. When a separable verb's infinitive is placed at the end of a clause, its parts are glued back together into a single word.
Why do we use the preposition bij for 'to your employer' instead of aan or naar?
While in English you report 'to' someone, the Dutch verb zich melden (to report or present oneself) pairs with the preposition bij. You are essentially saying you are reporting yourself sick 'at' or 'with' your employer.
If we wanted to use the consequential particle cluster dan ook to say 'You must therefore call in sick today', where would it go?
It belongs in the middle field. It typically lands after the reflexive pronoun zich and often after specific time words like vandaag. A natural placement would be: U moet zich vandaag dan ook ziekmelden bij uw werkgever.

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