Wij studeren samen zodat wij beter kunnen leren.

We study together so that we can learn better.

Breakdown of Wij studeren samen zodat wij beter kunnen leren.

• wij: we
• leren: to learn
• samen: together
• beter: better
• zodat: so that
• studeren: to study
• kunnen: to be able

Questions & Answers about Wij studeren samen zodat wij beter kunnen leren.

Why do we use studeren and leren in the same sentence?

In Dutch, studeren typically means studying in a more formal or academic sense, often associated with doing homework or preparing for exams. Leren can mean "to learn" in a broader sense, such as acquiring knowledge or new skills in general. So, "Wij studeren samen" indicates the act of studying together, while "zodat wij beter kunnen leren" emphasizes the goal of improving our ability to learn.

What is the difference between wij and we?

In everyday Dutch, both wij and we mean "we." Wij (with the longer vowel sound) is used for emphasis—similar to how we might say "We, on the other hand, do this." We (with a shorter vowel sound) is the less emphasized form and more common in casual speech. In the sentence given, using wij highlights that it's specifically us who are studying.

What role does zodat play in this sentence?

Zodat is a conjunction that introduces a purpose or result—similar to "so that" in English. It tells us the reason or objective behind studying together. In other words, it explains why they study together: they do it so they can learn better.

Why do we place beter kunnen leren at the end?

In Dutch, when a sentence has multiple verbs, the finite verb (here kunnen) appears after the subject in the main clause, and the remaining verbs (in this case leren) often go to the end. Also notice that beter (an adverb) modifies leren and is placed before it. So the phrase beter kunnen leren is grouped together at the end of the clause introduced by zodat.

Could we use omdat instead of zodat?

Using omdat would shift the focus from purpose ("so that") to reason ("because"). Zodat specifically indicates the intended outcome or purpose of studying together. If you used omdat, the sentence would emphasize a cause-and-effect relationship (they study together because they can learn better) rather than an intended goal.