Ik ga leren, ook al ben ik moe.

I am going to study, even though I am tired.

Breakdown of Ik ga leren, ook al ben ik moe.

• ik: I
• zijn: to be
• gaan: to go
• moe: tired
• ook al: even though
• leren: to study

Questions & Answers about Ik ga leren, ook al ben ik moe.

What does the construction "ga leren" mean, and why is "gaan" used here?

In Dutch, "ga leren" is a near-future construction. Instead of having a dedicated future tense, Dutch commonly uses the present tense of "gaan" (to go) together with an infinitive—in this case, "leren" (to learn)—to indicate an intention or plan for a future action. This is similar to saying "I am going to learn" in English.

What is the meaning of the expression "ook al" in this sentence?

The phrase "ook al" translates to "even though" or "although" in English. It introduces a concessive idea, showing that despite a negative or contrasting condition (being tired), the main action (learning) will still take place.

Why is there a comma before "ook al ben ik moe"?

The comma separates the main clause ("Ik ga leren") from the concessive clause ("ook al ben ik moe"). This punctuation helps to clearly signal the contrast between the speaker's intended action and the adverse condition. It functions similarly to a comma in English that sets off a subordinate or contrasting clause.

Why does the clause "ook al ben ik moe" use an inverted word order ("ben ik moe") instead of the regular order ("ik ben moe")?

After certain concessive expressions like "ook al" (and similar constructions such as "al"), Dutch often employs subject-verb inversion. This means the finite verb ("ben") comes before the subject ("ik"). The inversion emphasizes the contrast introduced by the conjunction and is a commonly accepted construction in Dutch for such clauses.

Can this sentence be rephrased while maintaining the same meaning?

Yes, the sentence can be rephrased. An equivalent alternative is: "Hoewel ik moe ben, ga ik leren." This version uses "hoewel" (meaning "although") to introduce the concession. Both constructions express that the speaker will learn despite feeling tired, though the connectives and clause order differ slightly.