Wij maken een verkleinwoord van een boek.

We make a diminutive of a book.

Breakdown of Wij maken een verkleinwoord van een boek.

• het boek: the book
• wij: we
• maken: to make
• van: of
• het verkleinwoord: the diminutive

Questions & Answers about Wij maken een verkleinwoord van een boek.

What does the word verkleinwoord mean, and why is it important in this sentence?

Verkleinwoord means diminutive—a grammatical form used in Dutch to denote a smaller or more affectionate version of a noun. In this sentence, it indicates that we are transforming the noun boek (book) into its diminutive form (for example, boekje, meaning “little book”).

What is the literal English translation of Wij maken een verkleinwoord van een boek?

A straightforward translation is "We are making a diminutive of a book." This shows that the speaker is describing the process of forming the diminutive (or smaller version) of the noun boek.

What roles do een and van play in this sentence?

The word een is an indefinite article, similar to "a" in English. It appears twice—once before verkleinwoord and once before boek—to indicate that we are talking about one diminutive and one book, respectively. The word van means "of" and is used to show the relationship between the diminutive and its original noun, indicating that the diminutive is derived from boek.

How does the word order of this Dutch sentence compare to English?

The sentence follows a similar structure to English:
• Wij (We) is the subject.
• maken (make) is the verb.
• een verkleinwoord (a diminutive) is the object.
• van een boek (of a book) is a prepositional phrase that clarifies the source or origin.
This subject-verb-object order, followed by a modifying phrase, closely mirrors the English sentence structure, making it easier for English speakers to understand.

Why are diminutives significant in Dutch, and what effect do they have?

Diminutives in Dutch are not only used to denote something small in size but also to convey affection or familiarity. By forming a diminutive, such as turning boek into boekje, the speaker can imply endearment or a sense of delicacy. This feature is common in everyday Dutch and adds nuance, color, and emotional undertones to the language.