Ik wil later iets tekenen om mijn herinnering levend te houden.

I want to draw something later to keep my memory alive.

Breakdown of Ik wil later iets tekenen om mijn herinnering levend te houden.

• ik: I
• om: for
• willen: to want
• mijn: my
• later: later
• de herinnering: the memory
• levend: alive
• houden: to keep
• tekenen: to draw
• iets: something

Questions & Answers about Ik wil later iets tekenen om mijn herinnering levend te houden.

Why is later placed after wil in this sentence?

In Dutch word order, time indicators like later can come after the verb when describing when something will happen. The verb phrase wil ... tekenen stays together, and later is added between them (e.g., Ik wil later ... tekenen). You could also place later at the beginning of the sentence (Later wil ik iets tekenen) without changing the meaning, but the current placement is a common pattern.

Why is the infinitive form tekenen preceded by iets instead of using a more specific object?

The word iets means "something," and it implies that the speaker hasn’t decided exactly what they will draw yet, only that they intend to draw something. This is a common way in Dutch to keep the object general. If you already know what you want to draw, you could replace iets with the specific object (for example: Ik wil later een landschap tekenen).

What function does om have before mijn herinnering levend te houden?

In Dutch, om ... te + infinitive means “in order to…” or “so that…”. It introduces a purpose or reason for doing something. In this sentence, the purpose of drawing something is to keep the speaker’s memory alive. So, om mijn herinnering levend te houden clarifies why they want to draw.

Is it common to say herinnering in singular form here?

Yes, herinnering can be singular if you’re referring generally to a particular memory or the concept of staying connected to the past. If you meant multiple memories or a variety of them, you could use the plural herinneringen (om mijn herinneringen levend te houden). However, the singular form works well if there’s one overall memory or if you’re referring to “memory” in a more abstract, collective sense.

Why do we say levend te houden instead of a different phrasing like in leven houden?

Levend te houden literally means “to keep alive,” focusing on the active state or vibrancy of the memory. If you said in leven houden, it would still carry a similar meaning, but levend te houden is more idiomatic when referring to an abstract concept like a memory. It emphasizes continuing vitality or a sense of life.