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Questions & Answers about De geit eet het gewas op.
How would the word order change if I incorporated this into the current lesson's grammar, starting with ondanks het feit dat (despite the fact that)?
Because dat introduces a subordinate clause, the verb is pushed to the end. Additionally, the parts of the separable verb opeten recombine. The new clause becomes: ondanks het feit dat de geit het gewas opeet.
Why is op separated and placed at the very end of this sentence?
This is a quick refresher on separable verbs. The infinitive is opeten (to eat up). In a standard independent main clause like this one, the conjugated verb (eet) takes the second position, while the separable prefix (op) is pushed all the way to the end.
Could I just say De geit eet het gewas without the op?
Yes, but it changes the nuance. Using the base verb eten simply means the goat is eating the crop. Using opeten emphasizes completion or destruction, showing that the goat is eating the crop entirely.
What is the plural form of het gewas?
The plural is de gewassen. Notice that when adding the -en suffix, the s is doubled to preserve the short 'a' vowel sound of the singular noun.