Hij moet elke dag oefenen om beter te worden.

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Breakdown of Hij moet elke dag oefenen om beter te worden.

• oefenen: to practice
• om: for
• elke: every
• de dag: the day
• beter: better
• moeten: must
• worden: to get

Questions & Answers about Hij moet elke dag oefenen om beter te worden.

Why is it “Hij moet” and not “Hij moeten”?

In Dutch, moet is the correct conjugation of the verb moeten in the third person singular (hij/zij/het). So it’s similar to how in English we say he has instead of he have.

What does “elke dag” mean, and why is it placed after “Hij moet”?

Elke dag means every day. In Dutch, adverbs of frequency typically follow the conjugated verb. Hence it’s common to see “Hij moet elke dag …”. However, word order can vary, so you might also encounter “Elke dag moet hij …”.

Why do we say “oefenen” instead of another verb like “spelen” or “praktiseren”?

The verb oefenen specifically means to practice in the sense of exercising a skill (such as practicing an instrument or practicing a craft). Although spelen can also mean to play, it carries a different connotation. Praktiseren does exist in Dutch, but it’s much less common and usually refers to professional practice (e.g. a doctor or a lawyer practicing).

What is the function of “om beter te worden”?

Adding om … te … introduces the purpose or goal of the action. So om beter te worden means in order to become better. This structure is very common in Dutch, resembling how English uses in order to.