Zij kan mij ook bellen als ze hulp nodig heeft bij het koken.

She can also call me if she needs help with cooking.

Breakdown of Zij kan mij ook bellen als ze hulp nodig heeft bij het koken.

• zij: she
• hebben: to have
• ook: also
• kunnen: can
• als: if
• mij: me
• het koken: the cooking
• bellen: to call
• ze: she
• de hulp: the help
• nodig: needed

Questions & Answers about Zij kan mij ook bellen als ze hulp nodig heeft bij het koken.

What does Zij mean in this sentence?

Zij is a subject pronoun that translates as "she" in English. Although it can also mean "they" in plural contexts, here it clearly refers to one individual.

What is the function of the modal verb kan in the sentence?

Kan translates to "can" in English and expresses ability or possibility. It indicates that she is capable of performing the action mentioned.

What does mij mean, and why is it placed before the verb?

Mij means "me" and is the object pronoun in this sentence. In Dutch, object pronouns typically come before the main verb, which is why it appears right after the subject and modal verb.

What role does the word ook play in the sentence?

Ook means "also" or "too." It adds the idea that, in addition to other possibilities, she can call me. Essentially, it emphasizes that calling me is one of several potential actions.

How is the subordinate clause als ze hulp nodig heeft bij het koken structured, and what does it mean?

This clause means "if she needs help with cooking." It starts with als ("if"), followed by the subject ze, and then the construction hulp nodig heeft ("needs help"). The phrase bij het koken specifies the area in which help is needed, namely cooking.

Why is the verb heeft placed at the end of the subordinate clause?

In Dutch subordinate clauses, the finite verb is typically moved to the end of the clause. That’s why heeft (the equivalent of "has" in this context) appears at the very end.

What does the phrase bij het koken indicate in the sentence?

Bij het koken literally translates as "with the cooking." It functions as an adverbial phrase, specifying the context—namely the cooking process—in which help might be needed.

Why does the sentence use both Zij and ze to refer to the subject?

Both Zij and ze refer to the same person. Zij is the full or stressed form, often used in main clauses, while ze is the unstressed or reduced form commonly used in subordinate clauses. This variation is typical in Dutch.