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Questions & Answers about Zij arresteren de agressieve handlanger.
If someone asked "Is de handlanger agressief?", how would I answer "Yes, he is" using the resumptive pronoun from this lesson?
In this lesson, we use het to replace a previously mentioned adjective. You would reply "Ja, hij is het". The pronoun het steps in so you don't have to repeat agressief.
Why does the spelling change from agressief to agressieve here?
Handlanger is a de word, and adjectives placed before a noun with de take an -e ending. When you add the -e to agressief, the final f changes to a v because it is now sandwiched between two vowels.
What is the literal meaning of the word handlanger?
It translates to accomplice or henchman, but literally means "hand-reacher" (from hand and langen, meaning to hand over or reach). Originally it just meant a manual assistant, but today handlanger almost exclusively carries a negative, criminal connotation.
Why use zij instead of ze at the beginning of this sentence?