Dat boek is heel mooi.

to be

Breakdown of Dat boek is heel mooi.

• het boek: the book
• heel: very
• mooi: beautiful
• dat: that

Questions & Answers about Dat boek is heel mooi.

Why do we use Dat instead of Dit in this sentence?

Dat is used when referring to something that is a het-word (such as het boek) and is perceived to be farther away or not immediately near the speaker. Dit would be used if the object were closer or being handed to someone directly.

What does heel mean, and why is it placed before mooi?

Heel literally translates to very or quite in English. It emphasizes the adjective that follows, in this case mooi (beautiful). Placing it before mooi shows just how beautiful or nice the book is.

Is there a difference between saying heel mooi and erg mooi or zeer mooi?

They all convey the idea of something being very beautiful, but heel mooi is one of the most common ways. Erg mooi and zeer mooi mean much the same thing, though they can sound slightly more formal or more emphatic depending on the context.

How can I identify that boek is a het-word to use dat correctly?

Learning which words take het vs. de often involves memorization and exposure to the language. In general, about two-thirds of Dutch nouns use de, and roughly one-third use het. Over time, you get used to which nouns take het, like het boek, het huis, and so on.