Ik denk dat iedereen soms iets nieuws wil proberen.

I think that everyone sometimes wants to try something new.

Breakdown of Ik denk dat iedereen soms iets nieuws wil proberen.

• ik: I
• nieuw: new
• dat: that
• willen: to want
• denken: to think
• soms: sometimes
• iedereen: everyone
• iets: something
• proberen: to try

Questions & Answers about Ik denk dat iedereen soms iets nieuws wil proberen.

What is the function of dat in the sentence?

In this sentence, dat functions as a subordinating conjunction equivalent to that in English. It introduces the clause explaining what the speaker thinks, connecting the main clause (Ik denk) with the subordinate clause (iedereen soms iets nieuws wil proberen).

Why does the sentence use the structure wil proberen instead of something like “wants to try” immediately after iedereen?

Dutch subordinate clauses, especially those introduced by conjunctions like dat, typically send non-finite verbs to the end. Here, wil (the modal verb meaning wants) appears before the main verb proberen (to try), both forming the verbal complex at the end of the clause. This reflects Dutch word order rules that differ from English.

How is the adjective nieuws formed, and why does it have an –s ending instead of an –e ending as in nieuwe?

When an adjective follows an indefinite pronoun like iets (something), it appears in a fixed, non‐inflected form. In this case, nieuw becomes nieuws as a result of that rule. Unlike adjectives used with a definite article (which usually take the –e ending), adjectives following indefinite pronouns retain this special form to indicate an unspecified object.

What role does soms play in the sentence, and why is it positioned where it is?

Soms means sometimes and acts as an adverb modifying the verb complex (wil proberen). Its placement after iedereen helps indicate that the desire to try something new is occasional rather than constant. In Dutch, the order of adverbs can be flexible, but placing soms there clearly relates it to the frequency of the action.

Is the use of dat mandatory in this sentence, or can it be omitted in informal contexts?

While conversational Dutch sometimes drops dat in very informal speech, including it is grammatically standard and clarifies the sentence structure—especially for learners. In a sentence like this, using dat ensures that it’s clear the clause following Ik denk is subordinate, mirroring the English I think that… structure.