Mijn buurman oefent graag zijn gitaar, maar het is niet te luid.

My neighbor likes to practice his guitar, but it is not too loud.

Breakdown of Mijn buurman oefent graag zijn gitaar, maar het is niet te luid.

• zijn: to be
• niet: not
• maar: but
• oefenen: to practice
• het: it
• te: too
• graag: gladly
• de buurman: the neighbor
• de gitaar: the guitar
• luid: loud

Questions & Answers about Mijn buurman oefent graag zijn gitaar, maar het is niet te luid.

What does graag mean in this sentence?

Graag indicates that the neighbor performs the action with pleasure. It expresses that he enjoys practicing his guitar—similar to saying “likes to” play in English.

Why is the verb oefent used and what tense is it?

Oefent is the present tense, third person singular form of the verb oefenen. It agrees with the subject Mijn buurman (“my neighbor”), showing that he habitually or currently practices his guitar.

What role does te play in the phrase te luid?

Te acts as an intensifier meaning “too” or “excessively.” Thus, te luid translates to “too loud,” indicating that the guitar isn’t played at an excessive volume.

What purpose does the conjunction maar serve in this sentence?

Maar means “but” and is used to introduce a contrast. It connects the idea that the neighbor enjoys practicing (a positive habit) with the fact that his playing is not overly loud.

How is possession shown in the phrase zijn gitaar?

The word zijn is a possessive pronoun meaning “his.” In Dutch, it precedes the noun to indicate ownership, so zijn gitaar means “his guitar.”

Does oefenen imply just playing the guitar, or is there more to its meaning?

Oefenen specifically means to practice with the intention of improving one’s skill. It’s not merely playing for enjoyment; it implies a dedicated effort to get better at playing the guitar.

What can be noted about the word order in this sentence?

The sentence follows a typical Dutch main clause structure: the subject (Mijn buurman) comes first, followed by the verb (oefent), with the adverb (graag) immediately after the verb. This clear structure helps learners understand how to form similar sentences in Dutch.