Breakdown of Ik heb last van mijn keel.
de keel
the throat
last hebben van
to be bothered by / to suffer from
Questions & Answers about Ik heb last van mijn keel.
Why doesn't the Dutch sentence use a single verb for "bothering"?
Instead of a single verb, Dutch frequently uses the fixed expression last hebben van, which literally means "to have trouble from" or "to have a burden from". So, Ik heb last van mijn keel translates naturally to "My throat is bothering me."
How could I add wat to this sentence to say my throat is bothering me a little?
You would place wat right before last. Saying Ik heb wat last van mijn keel uses wat as an adverb of degree, and it is a very natural, native-sounding way to say "My throat is bothering me a bit" or "I have a slight sore throat."
Could I just say Ik heb keelpijn instead?
Yes, you can! Ik heb keelpijn specifically means "I have a sore throat" with a focus on the actual pain (pijn). Ik heb last van mijn keel is slightly broader—it means your throat is bothering you, which could be pain, but could also just be a dry tickle, a cough, or a hoarse voice.
Can I use last hebben van for things other than body parts?
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