Learn Hardcore Dutch: Na het wassen van het raam sluit zij de gordijnen weer, want het wordt koud. - After washing the window, she closes the curtains again, because it is getting cold.

This phrase uses a nominalized form of the verb “wassen” (washing) by turning it into the noun phrase “het wassen” (the washing). The construction “Na het wassen van het raam” means “after the washing of the window” or more naturally “after washing the window.” It sets up a temporal context for the main action that follows.

Why is the definite article het used before raam instead of de?

In Dutch, every noun has a gender. The noun “raam” (window) is a neuter noun, so it takes the definite article het rather than de, which is used with common gender nouns. This is an important aspect of Dutch grammar that differs from English.

What is the role of the word weer in this sentence?

The word weer translates to “again” in English. In the sentence, it indicates that the curtains are being closed once more, suggesting that they had been opened or moved prior to this action. It emphasizes the repetition or return to a previous state.

Why does the sentence use the word order “sluit zij” instead of placing the subject at the beginning (as in “zij sluit”)?

Dutch syntax often requires the finite verb to occupy the second position in a sentence—a principle known as the V2 word order. Since the sentence starts with the adverbial phrase “Na het wassen van het raam,” the verb “sluit” comes immediately after that phrase, causing the subject “zij” to follow the verb. This inversion is normal in Dutch when the sentence does not begin with the subject.

What function does the conjunction want serve, and how does it compare to using omdat?

The conjunction want means “because” in this context and is used to give a reason for the action in the first clause. Unlike omdat, which is a subordinating conjunction and forces a different word order in its clause, want is a coordinating conjunction. This means it connects two independent clauses without affecting the word order as dramatically. It’s a common, somewhat informal way to express causality in Dutch.

Why does the sentence use “het wordt koud” (“it is becoming cold”) instead of “het is koud” (“it is cold”)?

The phrase “het wordt koud” is used to indicate a change of state—specifically, that it is in the process of getting cold. If the sentence had used “het is koud,” it would simply state that it is currently cold. By using “wordt,” the sentence emphasizes that the temperature is dropping, which is the reason for closing the curtains.