De conciërge van onze school houdt alles schoon en netjes.

The caretaker of our school keeps everything clean and tidy.

Breakdown of De conciërge van onze school houdt alles schoon en netjes.

• de school: the school
• en: and
• onze: our
• schoon: clean
• alles: everything
• houden: to keep
• van: of
• de conciërge: the caretaker
• netjes: tidy

Questions & Answers about De conciërge van onze school houdt alles schoon en netjes.

What does the word conciërge mean, and why is it written with a diaeresis (ë)?

Conciërge means the caretaker or janitor of a building, such as a school. The diaeresis over the ë signals that the sequence ië should be pronounced as two separate vowels (i.e., in different syllables) rather than as a single blended sound. This helps ensure proper pronunciation.

Why is the verb form houdt used in this sentence instead of simply houd?

In Dutch, verbs are conjugated based on the subject. Houdt is the third-person singular form of the verb houden (“to keep” or “to maintain”). Since the subject De conciërge is singular, houdt is used rather than the base form houd.

What role does the phrase van onze school play in this sentence?

The phrase van onze school is a prepositional phrase that specifies which school’s concierge is meant. It functions as an adjective to modify the subject, indicating that the concierge works at “our school.”

Why do the adjectives schoon and netjes appear without any additional endings or inflection?

In Dutch, adjectives used predicatively—meaning they follow the verb and describe the subject or object—do not take extra endings. Here, schoon and netjes serve as predicate adjectives describing alles, and thus they remain in their base form, much like adjectives following linking verbs in English.

Is there a subtle difference between schoon and netjes, and why are both adjectives used in the sentence?

Yes, there is a nuanced difference. Schoon typically emphasizes cleanliness, referring to the absence of dirt or mess, while netjes highlights tidiness and orderliness. Using both adjectives together reinforces that everything is not only free from dirt but also well-organized and presentable.