Learn Hardcore Dutch: Ik zou weigeren om met de auto te gaan, juist omdat ik niet afhankelijk wil zijn van brandstof. - I would refuse to go by car, precisely because I do not want to be dependent on fuel.

Zou is the conditional form of zullen and is equivalent to “would” in English. Its use here indicates a hypothetical or non-committal stance, suggesting that the speaker would refuse under certain conditions rather than stating a definitive refusal.

Why does the sentence use the construction weigeren om met de auto te gaan with “om … te …”?

In Dutch, many verbs that take an infinitive require the om … te … construction. Here, weigeren (to refuse) is followed by om met de auto te gaan to express the action being refused—“to go by car.” This is similar to the English structure “to refuse to go by car.”

What does juist omdat mean, and how does it connect the parts of the sentence?

Juist omdat translates to “precisely because.” It is used to provide a specific reason for the action mentioned in the main clause. In this sentence, it clearly links the refusal to go by car with the reason of not wanting to be dependent on fuel, emphasizing that the latter is the exact cause for the decision.

What is the meaning and significance of niet afhankelijk wil zijn van brandstof?

The phrase niet afhankelijk wil zijn van brandstof means “do not want to be dependent on fuel.” It highlights the speaker’s desire to avoid reliance on fuel—likely for reasons related to costs, environmental concerns, or a general preference for independence from external resources.

Why is there a comma before juist omdat in this sentence?

In Dutch, it is common to place a comma before a subordinate clause that explains a reason or condition—here introduced by omdat (“because”). The comma helps to clearly separate the main statement from the explanatory clause, ensuring that the sentence’s structure and meaning are easily understood.