Ik wacht geduldig totdat de conciërge klaar is met zijn werk.

I wait patiently until the caretaker is done with his work.

Breakdown of Ik wacht geduldig totdat de conciërge klaar is met zijn werk.

• ik: I
• zijn: to be
• met: with
• zijn: his
• het werk: the work
• totdat: until
• klaar: done
• de conciërge: the caretaker
• wachten: to wait
• geduldig: patiently

Questions & Answers about Ik wacht geduldig totdat de conciërge klaar is met zijn werk.

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

Geduldig translates to patiently in English. In the sentence, it functions as an adverb modifying the verb wacht, describing the manner in which the speaker waits.

What is the purpose of the subordinating conjunction totdat in this sentence?

Totdat means until. It introduces the subordinate clause de conciërge klaar is met zijn werk, specifying the condition or time frame that limits the main action (waiting). As in many subordinate clauses in Dutch, it causes a change in word order—most notably, the finite verb of the clause is placed at the end.

Why is the verb is positioned at the end of the subordinate clause de conciërge klaar is met zijn werk?

In Dutch subordinate clauses (introduced by words like totdat), the finite verb is typically placed at the end of the clause. This is a standard grammatical rule that differs from the main clause, where the verb usually appears in the second position.

What does the noun conciërge mean, and how does its gender affect other words in the sentence?

Conciërge means concierge or caretaker. It is a masculine noun in Dutch, which is reflected in the use of the possessive pronoun zijn (meaning his) later in the sentence.

How is possession expressed in the phrase met zijn werk, and what does this phrase indicate?

The phrase met zijn werk translates as with his work. The possessive pronoun zijn shows that the work belongs to the conciërge. In Dutch, possession is often indicated directly by placing a possessive pronoun before the noun, without any additional linking words.