Mijn neef helpt mij met het opruimen, want hij vindt het leuk om samen te werken.

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Breakdown of Mijn neef helpt mij met het opruimen, want hij vindt het leuk om samen te werken.

• met: with
• samen: together
• want: because
• het: it
• om: for
• mijn: my
• werken: to work
• mij: me
• vinden: to find
• de neef: the nephew
• helpen: to help
• het opruimen: the tidying up
• leuk: nice

Questions & Answers about Mijn neef helpt mij met het opruimen, want hij vindt het leuk om samen te werken.

What's the difference between Dutch neef and English cousin or nephew?

Neef in Dutch can refer to both a male cousin and a nephew. Context usually clarifies whether it means cousin or nephew. For example, if you know the person’s parents and that the child is your sibling’s son, it means nephew. Otherwise, it could mean cousin. The sentence doesn’t explicitly say which one is intended, so you’d rely on additional context from the conversation.

Why do we say helpt mij met het opruimen instead of a simpler form like helpt mij opruimen?

In Dutch, helpen met (to help with) is a very common structure when referring to assisting someone in a task. It emphasizes helping with a specific activity, such as cleaning up. While helpt mij opruimen can sometimes be used, helpt mij met het opruimen is clearer and more standard.

Could we replace mij with me in this sentence?

Yes, you can use me instead of mij in an informal context. In standard Dutch, mij is the stressed form, and me is the unstressed or colloquial form. Both mean “me,” but mij can add a bit of emphasis.

What does opruimen mean?

Opruimen means to “tidy up” or “clean up.” It involves putting things back where they belong, discarding unwanted items, and making a space orderly. It’s a very common term in daily life.

What is the function of want in this sentence?

In Dutch, want is a coordinating conjunction meaning “because” or “for.” It explains the reason for the first part of the sentence. Here, it shows that the cousin’s motivation for helping is his enjoyment of working together.

Why does the sentence say hij vindt het leuk om samen te werken rather than hij vindt leuk samen te werken?

The verb vinden (to find) in Dutch typically uses het to refer to the following action. Also, the om … te construction is common when describing an activity someone likes or wants to do. So hij vindt het leuk om samen te werken is the natural, standard way of saying “he finds it fun to work together.”