Hij drinkt veel, want hij is dorstig.

to be

Breakdown of Hij drinkt veel, want hij is dorstig.

• hij: he
• drinken: to drink
• want: because
• dorstig: thirsty
• veel: a lot

Questions & Answers about Hij drinkt veel, want hij is dorstig.

Why is the conjunction want used here instead of omdat?

In Dutch, both want and omdat mean because, but want is a coordinating conjunction that introduces a reason in a more direct, explanatory way, whereas omdat is a subordinating conjunction that typically places the reason in a subordinate clause. In this sentence, using want keeps the phrasing simple and direct.

Is there a reason why hij is dorstig is structured that way instead of something like hij dorstig is?

In Dutch, the typical word order for a basic clause is Subject + Verb + Other Elements. So, hij is dorstig follows that standard order: subject (hij), verb (is), and the adjective (dorstig). Inverting it would sound incorrect in standard Dutch.

What's the difference between dorstig and the simpler concept of thirsty in English?

They are direct equivalents: dorstig in Dutch and thirsty in English both describe the state of needing to drink. There’s no particular nuance difference; dorstig is just the Dutch adjective form.

Why do we say Hij drinkt veel? Can I say Hij drinkt veel water or Hij drinkt veel bier?

Saying Hij drinkt veel on its own means He drinks a lot (in general). You can specify what he drinks by adding the noun, for example: Hij drinkt veel water or Hij drinkt veel bier. The idea is simply that "veel" means a lot, and it can be used generally or specifically, depending on context.