Learn Hardcore Dutch: Ik denk dat het zwak kan zijn, omdat de koelkast al heel oud is. - I think it might be weak, because the fridge is already very old.

The word omdat introduces a subordinate clause (or bijzin). In Dutch subordinate clauses, the finite verb (here, is) typically goes to the end of the clause.

What is the function of dat in Ik denk dat het zwak kan zijn?

After verbs like denken, vermoeden, or zeggen, you usually introduce the content of your thought or speech with dat. It works like “that” in English and signals the start of a subordinate clause.

Why do we say heel oud instead of another intensifier, like erg oud?

Dutch speakers commonly use heel to mean “very” or “really.” Using erg is possible as well, but heel is slightly more neutral and very frequently used in everyday language to stress how old something is.

Why is it de koelkast and not het koelkast?

In Dutch, most nouns take de, and koelkast falls into that category. Generally, all plural nouns use de, and many nouns that refer to objects (like tafel, stoel, koelkast) also use de. There isn’t always a hard-and-fast rule, so it’s often best to memorize or look up which article a specific noun takes.

Why is the word order het zwak kan zijn in the phrase Ik denk dat het zwak kan zijn?

In this subordinate clause, the conjugated modal verb (kan) comes before the main verb (zijn), and they both come after the subject (het) and adjective (zwak). The adjective zwak (“weak”) describes the subject, so it appears directly after the subject before the verbs.