Breakdown of Wij kiezen de meest voorzichtige manier.
wij
we
kiezen
to choose
voorzichtig
carefully
meest
most
de manier
the way, the manner
Questions & Answers about Wij kiezen de meest voorzichtige manier.
Why is the superlative formed with meest here instead of adding -st to make voorzichtigste?
In Dutch, you usually add -st to an adjective to make it a superlative (like grootste for 'biggest'). However, for longer adjectives, especially those ending in -ig or -lijk, Dutch speakers sometimes use meest (most) instead to make it sound smoother or put more emphasis on the word. Both de voorzichtigste manier and de meest voorzichtige manier are perfectly correct.
Why does voorzichtig get an extra -e at the end here?
The adjective comes right before the noun manier and follows the definite article de. In Dutch grammar, adjectives in this position get an -e ending. Even though the word meest is in front of it, voorzichtige is still modifying manier.
I often see kiezen voor used for 'to choose'. Why is there no voor in this sentence?
You can use kiezen as a direct action, meaning you pick a specific thing, which takes a direct object (like de manier here). You use kiezen voor when you are making a decision or expressing a preference for a concept or option (for example, wij kiezen voor veiligheid, meaning 'we opt for safety'). Here, you are directly selecting the method, so just kiezen is used.
Could I use weg instead of manier for the word 'way' in this sentence?
No, that would sound strange here. In English, 'way' can mean a physical path or a method. In Dutch, a physical path or road is a weg, but a method or manner of doing something is always a manier. Since 'careful' describes how you are doing something, manier is the right word.
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