Toch voorspellen we dat de muziek leuk zal zijn, want hij heeft een mooie stem.

Still, we predict that the music will be fun, because he has a lovely voice.

Breakdown of Toch voorspellen we dat de muziek leuk zal zijn, want hij heeft een mooie stem.

• zijn: to be
• hebben: to have
• hij: he
• wij: we
• mooi: beautiful
• dat: that
• want: because
• de muziek: the music
• zullen: will
• leuk: fun
• voorspellen: to predict
• de stem: the voice

Questions & Answers about Toch voorspellen we dat de muziek leuk zal zijn, want hij heeft een mooie stem.

Why is the adverb toch placed at the beginning of the sentence, and what does it mean here?

Toch is used as a contrast marker that can be translated as “nevertheless” or “still.” By starting the sentence with toch, the speaker indicates that despite any previous expectations or evidence, they are making a prediction. This introductory element sets up a nuance that the outlook might be unexpected.

Why does the sentence begin with “voorspellen we” instead of the more expected “we voorspellen”?

In Dutch, when an element such as an adverb (toch in this case) starts the sentence, the subject and the finite verb are inverted. That’s why the sentence is structured as “voorspellen we dat…” instead of “we voorspellen dat…”. This inversion is a common feature in Dutch word order when an adverbial comes in front.

How is the future prediction expressed with “zal zijn” in this sentence?

The future prediction is formed using the modal auxiliary zal followed by the main verb zijn (“will be”). This construction is typical in Dutch when talking about something that is predicted or expected to happen in the future. So “leuk zal zijn” means “will be fun/enjoyable.”

What role does the conjunction want play here, and how is it different from omdat?

The conjunction want means “because” and is used to join two independent clauses by providing a reason. Unlike omdat—which introduces a subordinate clause and places the verb at the end—want simply links two full clauses without causing a change in the word order of the second clause. In this sentence, it connects the prediction with its justification.

What does the pronoun hij refer to in this context, especially given that the only explicit noun mentioned is “de muziek”?

Although de muziek is the only noun in the first part of the sentence, the pronoun hij typically refers to a person. In context, it is most likely that the antecedent is an implied musician or singer whose good voice makes the music enjoyable. The learner should note that sometimes context or previous sentences provide the missing noun, which explains why a masculine pronoun is used.