Word
De regisseur van de film legt uit hoe de acteurs moeten spelen.
Meaning
The director of the film explains how the actors should perform.
Part of speech
sentence
Pronunciation
Course
Lesson
Breakdown of De regisseur van de film legt uit hoe de acteurs moeten spelen.
spelen
to play
moeten
must
de film
the film
uitleggen
to explain
hoe
how
van
of
de regisseur
the director
de acteur
the actor
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Questions & Answers about De regisseur van de film legt uit hoe de acteurs moeten spelen.
What does the phrase "legt uit" mean in this sentence?
It comes from the separable verb "uitleggen," which means "to explain." Here, "legt uit" is the conjugated form for the subject "de regisseur" (the director), so it translates to "explains."
Why is "van de film" used after "de regisseur" instead of a possessive form like "the film’s director"?
In Dutch, possession or association is often expressed with the preposition "van," which means "of." Thus, "de regisseur van de film" literally translates to "the director of the film" rather than using a possessive form as in English.
What is the function of the subordinate clause "hoe de acteurs moeten spelen" in this sentence?
The clause "hoe de acteurs moeten spelen" provides additional information about what is being explained. Introduced by the word "hoe" (meaning "how"), it describes the manner or method in which the actors should play (or act), clarifying the director’s instructions.
Why does the modal verb "moeten" appear before "spelen" in the subordinate clause?
In Dutch, modal verbs like "moeten" (meaning "must" or "have to") precede the main verb. In the subordinate clause, this typical word order places "moeten" before the infinitive "spelen." This is similar to English, where the modal verb (must, can, etc.) comes before the action verb.
Why is the separable verb "uitleggen" split into "legt uit" in this sentence?
Many Dutch verbs are separable. When "uitleggen" is conjugated, the main part ("legt") stays in the second position of the sentence, and the separable particle ("uit") is positioned later, often at the end of the clause. This split, resulting in "legt uit," follows the Dutch rule for separable verbs, ensuring that the finite verb occupies the second slot in the main clause.
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