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Breakdown of Ik kijk zoveel televisie, dat ik de tijd vergeet.
ik
I
dat
that
vergeten
to forget
kijken
to watch
de tijd
the time
de televisie
the television
zoveel
so much
Questions & Answers about Ik kijk zoveel televisie, dat ik de tijd vergeet.
What does the phrase "zoveel televisie" mean in this context?
"Zoveel televisie" translates to "so much television". In this sentence, "zoveel" emphasizes a large or overwhelming amount of television watching that leads to a consequence (forgetting time).
Why is there a comma before "dat" in the sentence?
The comma is used to separate the main clause from the result (subordinate) clause. In Dutch, when a clause expressing a consequence follows a main clause—especially one that emphasizes degree or intensity—a comma helps clarify that the latter part, starting with "dat", is a consequence of the former.
What role does "dat" play in the sentence structure?
In this sentence, "dat" functions as a subordinating conjunction. It introduces the result clause ("ik de tijd vergeet"), linking the cause (watching so much television) with its effect (forgetting time). This is similar to the English "that" in the construction "so ... that...".
How is the Dutch structure "zoveel ... dat" similar to the English "so ... that" construction?
The structure "zoveel ... dat" in Dutch directly mirrors the English "so ... that" construction. It describes a situation of extreme degree (watching so much television) that naturally leads to a specific consequence (forgetting time). Both languages use this pattern to indicate that one thing is so extreme that it results in another.
What does the verb "kijken" mean, and why is it used with "televisie" in this sentence?
The verb "kijken" means "to watch" or "to look". In the context of this sentence, it specifically means "to watch television." It is the common verb used in Dutch when referring to viewing TV, making it the appropriate choice for expressing the action.
Why is the verb "vergeet" in the present tense in the result clause?
The verb "vergeet" is in the present tense to indicate a general or habitual result of the main action. It signifies that as a consequence of watching so much television, the speaker tends to forget the time—a consistent effect rather than a one-off occurrence.
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