Mijn broer werkt in een fabriek, maar hij wil graag een andere baan zoeken.

Word
Mijn broer werkt in een fabriek, maar hij wil graag een andere baan zoeken.
Meaning
My brother works in a factory, but he would like to look for a different job.
Part of speech
sentence
Pronunciation
Lesson
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Questions & Answers about Mijn broer werkt in een fabriek, maar hij wil graag een andere baan zoeken.

What does "werkt" mean in this sentence?
Werkt is the third person singular present form of the verb werken (to work), meaning "works" in English.
What is the role of "graag" in the phrase "hij wil graag een andere baan zoeken"?
Graag is an adverb that adds the nuance of willingness or desire. It conveys that he "would like" or is keen to perform the action, intensifying his wish to search for a different job.
How does the word "maar" function in this sentence?
Maar is a coordinating conjunction that means "but." It connects two independent clauses, contrasting the fact that his brother works in a factory with his desire to look for another job.
Why is the main verb "zoeken" placed at the end of the clause in "hij wil graag een andere baan zoeken"?
In Dutch, when a modal verb like "wil" is used with an infinitive, the main verb (infinitive form) is typically positioned at the end of the clause. This is a common structural rule in Dutch sentence construction.
What do the instances of "een" in "in een fabriek" and "een andere baan" signify?
Een is the indefinite article in Dutch, equivalent to "a" or "an" in English. It indicates that the noun mentioned is non-specific—referring to any factory or any job, rather than a particular one.
What is emphasized by the adjective "andere" in "een andere baan"?
Andere means "other" or "different." It emphasizes that the job his brother wants to search for should be different from his current position, highlighting his desire for change.
Why is there a comma before "maar" in the sentence?
The comma is used to separate two independent clauses that are connected by the conjunction "maar." This punctuation rule, common in Dutch as well as in English, helps to clarify that each clause expresses a complete thought.

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