Tom spreekt met een zachte stem, zodat hij niemand stoort.

Tom

Breakdown of Tom spreekt met een zachte stem, zodat hij niemand stoort.

• hij: he
• spreken: to speak
• met: with
• zodat: so that
• de stem: the voice
• zacht: soft
• niemand: anyone
• storen: to bother

Questions & Answers about Tom spreekt met een zachte stem, zodat hij niemand stoort.

What does zodat mean in the sentence, and what is its role?

zodat translates to so that in English. It introduces a subordinate clause that explains the result or purpose of Tom’s speaking style—in this case, that he speaks softly so that he doesn't disturb anyone.

Why is there a comma before zodat?

In Dutch, a comma is typically placed before subordinate clauses that begin with conjunctions like zodat. This punctuation helps separate the main clause from the subordinate clause and clarifies the sentence structure.

How is the phrase met een zachte stem constructed, and what function does it serve?

The phrase met een zachte stem is a prepositional phrase where met means with, een is the indefinite article a, and zachte stem means soft voice. It functions as an adverbial modifier, describing the manner in which Tom speaks.

How does the subordinate clause zodat hij niemand stoort affect the word order in the sentence?

In Dutch subordinate clauses introduced by conjunctions like zodat, the finite verb is typically placed at the end of the clause. That’s why in zodat hij niemand stoort, the subject hij (referring to Tom) and the object niemand come first, while the verb stoort appears at the end.

What does the word niemand mean, and why is it used here?

Niemand means no one or nobody in English. It is used to indicate that Tom's soft manner of speaking ensures he disturbs no person.

Who does the pronoun hij refer to in this sentence?

The pronoun hij refers back to Tom, the subject mentioned at the beginning of the sentence.