Neem een moment om uw ademhaling te controleren, zodat u niet te snel gaat.

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Breakdown of Neem een moment om uw ademhaling te controleren, zodat u niet te snel gaat.

• gaan: to go
• om: for
• nemen: to take
• zodat: so that
• te: too
• controleren: to check
• snel: fast
• u: you
• het moment: the moment
• uw: your
• de ademhaling: the breathing

Questions & Answers about Neem een moment om uw ademhaling te controleren, zodat u niet te snel gaat.

What does Neem mean in this sentence, and why is it in the imperative form?

Neem is the imperative form of the verb nemen, which means "to take". In this sentence, it is used to give a direct command or instruction—telling the reader or listener to take a moment. This imperative structure is common in Dutch when issuing commands or suggestions.

How is the purpose expressed in the phrase om uw ademhaling te controleren?

The phrase om uw ademhaling te controleren translates to "to check your breathing." Here, om introduces an infinitive clause that indicates purpose. The structure om + (object) + te + (infinitive) is a typical way in Dutch to explain why something is done. Uw is the formal form of "your," and ademhaling means "breathing."

Why is the formal pronoun uw used instead of the informal je in this sentence?

Uw is the formal second-person possessive pronoun in Dutch and is used when addressing someone in a polite or formal manner. In contrast, je is the informal equivalent. The choice of uw in this sentence indicates that the instruction is meant to be courteous or is addressed in a formal context.

What does zodat mean, and what role does it play in the sentence?

Zodat means "so that" in English. It is a subordinating conjunction that introduces a clause explaining the purpose or the intended result of the previous action. In this sentence, it connects the idea of taking a moment to check your breathing with the intended outcome of ensuring you do not go too fast.

Why does the verb gaat appear at the end of the clause zodat u niet te snel gaat?

In Dutch subordinate clauses—especially those introduced by conjunctions like zodat—the conjugated verb is typically placed at the end of the clause. Here, gaat is the third-person singular present form of gaan (meaning "to go"), and its position at the end adheres to the standard Dutch sentence structure in subordinate clauses. This order emphasizes the result and maintains a clear, logical progression in the sentence.