Breakdown of De deelnemer was afwezig, niet aanwezig.
de deelnemer
the participant
aanwezig
present
afwezig
absent
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Questions & Answers about De deelnemer was afwezig, niet aanwezig.
What is the literal meaning behind afwezig and aanwezig?
Both words use the old verb wezen (to be) combined with the adjective ending -ig. Aanwezig literally means "at-being" (present), and afwezig means "off-being" or "away-being" (absent).
I see the verb nemen in deelnemer. How is this word constructed?
It comes from the separable verb deelnemen (to participate), which is a combination of deel (part) and nemen (to take). Adding -er to the verb turns it into the person doing the action: literally a "part-taker".
If I wanted to practice this lesson's grammar and change the sentence to "Every participant was absent", which form would I use?
You would use elke deelnemer or iedere deelnemer. Because deelnemer is a de-word (de deelnemer), these determiners get an -e at the end. You only drop the -e (elk or ieder) with singular het-words.