Die berg is niet heel hoog, maar we moeten toch opletten op het steile pad.

That mountain is not very high, but we still have to pay attention on the steep path.

Breakdown of Die berg is niet heel hoog, maar we moeten toch opletten op het steile pad.

• zijn: to be
• niet: not
• maar: but
• wij: we
• heel: very
• die: that
• moeten: must
• op: on
• toch: still
• de berg: the mountain
• hoog: high
• opletten: to pay attention
• steil: steep
• het pad: the path

Questions & Answers about Die berg is niet heel hoog, maar we moeten toch opletten op het steile pad.

What does die berg mean, and why is die used instead of de or dat?

Die berg translates to that mountain. In Dutch, berg is a common gender noun that normally goes with the article de. When using a demonstrative adjective, however, you use die for common gender nouns (meaning masculine or feminine), while dat is reserved for neuter nouns.

How does the phrase niet heel hoog function in this sentence?

The phrase niet heel hoog means not very high. Here, heel is used to intensify the adjective high (similar to very high), but with niet placed before it, the intensity is negated. This construction indicates that the mountain isn’t extremely high, despite the caution needed later on.

What is the purpose of the word toch in the second clause?

Toch functions as an adverb meaning still or nevertheless. It introduces a contrast: even though the mountain is not very high, there is still a need to take extra care on the steep path. It adds nuance by highlighting that a seemingly safe situation still carries a risk.

Why is the verb opletten paired with the preposition op?

In Dutch, opletten is one of those verbs that always pairs with the preposition op to specify what you are being careful about. Opletten op literally means to pay attention to or to watch out for. In this sentence, it tells you that you need to be cautious about the steep path.

Why does the adjective steil change to steile in het steile pad?

When adjectives are used before a noun that is preceded by a definite article (in this case, het), they adopt an -e ending. Since pad (path) is being used with the definite article het, the adjective steil becomes steile to correctly agree with the noun.

How is the word order structured in the second clause involving the modal verb moeten?

The second clause, "maar we moeten toch opletten op het steile pad," follows typical Dutch main clause word order. The subject we comes first, followed by the finite modal verb moeten in the second position. The adverb toch appears next, and the main verb opletten (which is the complement of moeten) comes later, followed by its prepositional phrase op het steile pad. This modal construction, where the finite verb is second and the main (infinitive) verb appears towards the end, is very common in Dutch.