Learn Hardcore Dutch: Ondertussen overweeg ik om te verhuizen, omdat ik een drukker stadsleven wil vermijden. - Meanwhile, I am considering moving, because I want to avoid a busier city life.

'Ondertussen' translates to "in the meantime" or "meanwhile." It sets the context by indicating that the speaker’s consideration of moving is happening concurrently with other events.

How does placing 'Ondertussen' at the beginning affect the sentence's word order?

In Dutch, starting a sentence with an adverb like 'Ondertussen' occupies the initial position and triggers the verb-second rule. This means the finite verb (overweeg) immediately follows in the second position, with the subject (ik) coming afterward.

Why is the infinitive phrase structured as "om te verhuizen"?

Dutch often uses the "om te" construction to form an infinitive clause. Here, "om te verhuizen" functions similarly to the English "to move," indicating the specific action the speaker is considering.

What role does "omdat" play in this sentence?

"Omdat" is a subordinating conjunction that means "because." It introduces a reason clause that explains why the speaker is contemplating a move—namely, to avoid a busier city life.

How does the subordinate clause "omdat ik een drukker stadsleven wil vermijden" adhere to Dutch word order rules?

In Dutch, subordinate clauses introduced by conjunctions like "omdat" typically have the conjugated verb at the end. In this case, the clause follows the order: subject (ik), object (een drukker stadsleven), and finally the verb phrase (wil vermijden).

What does "een drukker stadsleven" mean, and why is "drukker" used?

"Een drukker stadsleven" means "a busier city life." The adjective "drukker" is the comparative form of "druk" (busy), used here to indicate an increased degree of busyness—something the speaker wishes to avoid.