Breakdown of Mijn broer wil graag helpen met de afwas, omdat hij het leuk vindt om samen te werken.
hij
he
met
with
het
it
om
for
willen
to want
mijn
my
omdat
because
graag
gladly
vinden
to find
helpen
to help
leuk
fun
de broer
the brother
samenwerken
to work together
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Questions & Answers about Mijn broer wil graag helpen met de afwas, omdat hij het leuk vindt om samen te werken.
What does "wil graag" mean, and why is it used instead of just "wil"?
In Dutch, "wil graag" combines the modal "wil" (wants) with "graag" (indicating pleasure or willingness) to express that someone is not only willing to do something but also looks forward to doing it. So, "Mijn broer wil graag helpen" translates to "My brother would like to help", conveying a sense of eagerness that a simple "wil" might not fully capture.
How does the subordinate clause introduced by "omdat" affect word order in this sentence?
When using "omdat" (which means because), Dutch grammar requires that the finite verb be placed at the end of the clause. In the sentence, "omdat hij het leuk vindt om samen te werken", the finite verb "vindt" appears at the end of the subordinate clause, reflecting the verb-final structure typical of clauses introduced by subordinating conjunctions.
What role does "het" play in the expression "hij het leuk vindt"?
In Dutch, the idiomatic expression "het leuk vinden" means to find it fun/nice. The pronoun "het" serves as a dummy or placeholder object, much like "it" in the English phrase "he finds it fun." Although it doesn’t have a direct meaning on its own, it is required to complete the construction properly.
Why is the "om ... te" construction used before "samen te werken", and what does it express?
The "om ... te" construction is a common way in Dutch to introduce an infinitive clause that explains purpose or intent. In "om samen te werken", "om" combined with the infinitive "te werken" (meaning to work) creates a phrase that translates to "to work together". This construction explains what the subject finds enjoyable.
What does "de afwas" mean, and why is the definite article "de" used here?
"De afwas" refers to the dishes or the task of washing up. In Dutch, nouns are typically preceded by a definite article, and "afwas" takes "de" as its article. This is similar to English, where we say "the dishes", specifying a particular set of dishes that need cleaning.
How do the two clauses in the sentence work together to convey a complete idea?
The sentence is divided into a main clause and a subordinate clause by a comma. The main clause, "Mijn broer wil graag helpen met de afwas," states the action—my brother wants to help with the dishes. The subordinate clause, "omdat hij het leuk vindt om samen te werken," provides the reason behind that action—because he finds it fun to work together. This clear separation helps learners understand the cause-and-effect relationship between the willingness to help and the enjoyment of collaboration.