Schrijf de nieuwe woorden op, zodat je ze niet vergeet.

Write down the new words so that you don't forget them.

Breakdown of Schrijf de nieuwe woorden op, zodat je ze niet vergeet.

• niet: not
• nieuw: new
• het woord: the word
• zodat: so that
• vergeten: to forget
• je: you
• ze: them
• opschrijven: to write down

Questions & Answers about Schrijf de nieuwe woorden op, zodat je ze niet vergeet.

What is the grammatical structure of the sentence "Schrijf de nieuwe woorden op, zodat je ze niet vergeet"?

The sentence is composed of a main clause and a subordinate clause. The main clause, "Schrijf de nieuwe woorden op," is in the imperative mood (giving a command). The subordinate clause, "zodat je ze niet vergeet," is introduced by the conjunction zodat (meaning so that) to explain the purpose of the command. Notice that in Dutch, subordinate clauses often place the conjugated verb at the end.

Is "Schrijf" the imperative form, and why is it used without an explicit subject?

Yes, Schrijf is the imperative form of the verb schrijven (to write). Imperative sentences in Dutch (as in English) typically omit the subject; it is implied that you are talking to someone informally. This makes the command direct and clear.

How does the separable verb "opschrijven" work in this sentence?

The verb opschrijven (to write down) is separable. In the imperative, the command is given as Schrijf … op with the prefix op moved to the end of the clause. This separation is a standard feature in Dutch when using separable verbs: the main part of the verb appears near the beginning, and the prefix appears at the end of the sentence or clause.

What is the meaning and function of the conjunction "zodat" here?

The word zodat translates to so that in English. It introduces a purpose clause, which tells you why you should write the new words down. Essentially, it explains that writing the words down is meant to prevent you from forgetting them.

Why does the subordinate clause "zodat je ze niet vergeet" place the verb "vergeet" at the end?

In Dutch subordinate clauses, the general rule is that the conjugated verb is positioned at the end of the clause. Therefore, in "zodat je ze niet vergeet," the verb vergeet comes at the end, following the subject (je), the object pronoun (ze), and the negation (niet). This word order is characteristic of Dutch subordinate clauses.