Mijn kleine nicht schudt soms haar hoofd als iets haar niet bevalt.

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Breakdown of Mijn kleine nicht schudt soms haar hoofd als iets haar niet bevalt.

• mijn: my
• soms: sometimes
• iets: something
• haar: her
• als: when
• klein: little
• de nicht: the niece
• schudden: to shake
• het hoofd: the head
• bevallen: to please

Questions & Answers about Mijn kleine nicht schudt soms haar hoofd als iets haar niet bevalt.

What does the verb schudt mean in this sentence, and how is it conjugated?

The verb schudt comes from the infinitive schudden, which means “to shake.” In this sentence, it is conjugated in the third person singular form (she shakes) to agree with the subject mijn kleine nicht.

What role does the adverb soms play in the sentence?

Soms translates to “sometimes” and functions as an adverb that indicates the frequency of the action. It tells us that the action of shaking her head does not occur all the time but only on certain occasions.

How does the subordinate clause als iets haar niet bevalt function, and what does it convey?

The clause als iets haar niet bevalt is introduced by the subordinating conjunction als, meaning “when” or “if.” This clause provides a condition that explains why she shakes her head—namely, when something does not please her. Notice that in Dutch subordinate clauses, the verb often comes at the end, as seen with bevalt.

Why is the possessive adjective haar used with hoofd, and how is possession commonly expressed in Dutch?

In Dutch, possession is expressed by placing the possessive adjective (here, haar meaning “her”) directly before the noun (hoofd, meaning “head”). Since the subject (mijn kleine nicht) is already established, using haar clearly indicates that the head being shaken belongs to her. This is a standard way of expressing possession in Dutch.

What differences in word order between Dutch and English can be observed in this sentence?

One notable difference is the placement of the adverb soms, which in Dutch often appears immediately after the subject and before the main object, whereas in English the corresponding adverb may be placed at the beginning or end of the sentence. Additionally, the subordinate clause als iets haar niet bevalt places the verb at the end, following the Dutch norm for subordinate clauses—a structure that differs from typical English word order.

What does nicht mean, and how is it used in Dutch family terminology?

Nicht means “cousin,” specifically referring to a female cousin. In Dutch family terminology, nicht is used for a female cousin, while the male counterpart is neef. The adjective kleine (“little”) in mijn kleine nicht may also convey affection or familiarity, similar to saying “my little cousin” in English.