Onze kat probeert soms te ontsnappen door de achterdeur, maar dat voorkomen we met een hek.

the cat

Breakdown of Onze kat probeert soms te ontsnappen door de achterdeur, maar dat voorkomen we met een hek.

• maar: but
• wij: we
• met: with
• onze: our
• dat: that
• soms: sometimes
• de achterdeur: the back door
• proberen: to try
• voorkomen: to prevent
• ontsnappen: to escape
• door: through
• het hek: the fence

Questions & Answers about Onze kat probeert soms te ontsnappen door de achterdeur, maar dat voorkomen we met een hek.

What does the verb probeert mean in this sentence, and why is it followed by te ontsnappen?

Probeert means "tries" in English. In Dutch, when expressing an attempt, the verb proberen (to try) is followed by an infinitive introduced by te. So te ontsnappen translates as "to escape", together meaning "tries to escape."

Where is the adverb soms placed, and what is its function within the sentence?

Soms means "sometimes". It is positioned right after the main verb probeert to indicate that the cat's attempt to escape happens occasionally. This placement is common in Dutch, where adverbs of frequency typically follow the verb they modify.

How is the phrase door de achterdeur constructed, and what does it indicate?

Door de achterdeur breaks down into door meaning "through" (or "by"), de meaning "the", and achterdeur meaning "back door". Together, they specify the route the cat uses to try to escape, i.e., "through the back door."

What is the purpose of the demonstrative dat in maar dat voorkomen we met een hek, and why is the word order arranged this way?

The word dat refers back to the cat's attempts to escape mentioned in the first part of the sentence. Placing it at the beginning of the second clause emphasizes what is being prevented. The structure dat voorkomen we met een hek uses a common Dutch stylistic inversion where the object (or reference) is fronted, followed by the verb and subject, adding emphasis on the theme of prevention.

What does the clause voorkomen we met een hek mean, and what does it tell us about how the situation is handled?

Voorkomen means "to prevent", so voorkomen we met een hek translates to "we prevent that with a gate." This clause explains that, in contrast to the cat’s occasional escape attempts, the speakers actively stop this by using a physical barrier—a gate (or fence).

Why is the possessive adjective onze used with kat, and what does it illustrate about Dutch grammar?

Onze means "our" and is used here because kat (cat) is a common gender noun in Dutch. Dutch possessive adjectives agree in form based on gender and number. For neuter nouns, one would use ons instead. This choice of onze shows the importance of gender agreement in Dutch grammar.