Breakdown of Over het algemeen weerspiegelt de peiling de mening.
de peiling
the poll
weerspiegelen
to reflect
over het algemeen
in general / generally
Questions & Answers about Over het algemeen weerspiegelt de peiling de mening.
Why is the verb weerspiegelt placed before the subject de peiling here?
The sentence starts with the phrase Over het algemeen (In general), which takes up the first position. Because Dutch follows the "verb-second" (V2) rule in main clauses, the verb weerspiegelt must come immediately after this introductory phrase, pushing the subject de peiling to the third position.
Is over het algemeen a fixed expression?
Yes, it is the standard Dutch idiom for "in general" or "generally". It literally translates to "over the general". You can also use in het algemeen, which is perfectly synonymous and interchangeable.
Weerspiegelen looks like a separable verb made of weer + spiegelen. Is it separable?
No, it is an inseparable verb. Even though the prefix weer- often creates separable verbs (like in weergeven), weerspiegelen stays together. That is why it is de peiling weerspiegelt and not de peiling spiegelt weer. Similarly, its past participle is weerspiegeld (without an extra -ge- in the middle).
Where does the word peiling (poll) come from?
It comes from the verb peilen, which originally means "to fathom" or "to measure the depth of water". In a modern context, peilen is used figuratively to mean "to gauge" someone's opinion or mood. Therefore, a peiling is a "gauging" of public sentiment—a poll or survey.
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