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Questions & Answers about Elk boek is mooi.
What does elk mean in the sentence Elk boek is mooi?
In this context, elk means every or each. It indicates that the statement applies individually to every book.
Why is the verb is used in this sentence?
The verb is is the third-person singular form of zijn (to be). Since boek (book) is singular, elk boek is treated as a singular subject, which requires the use of is.
Why doesn’t the adjective mooi have an ending here?
In Dutch, adjectives take an ending (like -e) when they directly precede and modify a noun (for example, een mooi boek). However, when the adjective follows a linking verb such as is, it remains in its base form. That’s why we say Elk boek is mooi rather than adding an ending to mooi.
Is it necessary to include an article with boek when using elk?
No, it is not necessary. The word elk functions as a determiner here, effectively taking the place of an article. Therefore, elk boek translates to every book, and no additional article is required.
How does the word order in Elk boek is mooi compare to English sentence structure?
The structure of Elk boek is mooi follows the familiar subject-verb-predicate order, similar to English. Elk boek (subject) comes first, followed by is (verb), and finally mooi (predicate adjective). This similarity makes the sentence relatively easy for native English speakers to grasp.