……
Breakdown of Ik zou weigeren om met de auto te gaan, juist omdat ik niet afhankelijk wil zijn van brandstof.
ik
I
zijn
to be
niet
not
gaan
to go
met
with
om
for
willen
to want
omdat
because
de auto
the car
zouden
would
van
of
weigeren
to refuse
afhankelijk
dependent
juist
precisely
de brandstof
the fuel
Questions & Answers about Ik zou weigeren om met de auto te gaan, juist omdat ik niet afhankelijk wil zijn van brandstof.
How does zou function in this sentence?
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.
More from this lesson
AI Language TutorTry it ↗
“What's the best way to learn Dutch grammar?”
Dutch grammar becomes intuitive with practice. Focus on understanding the core patterns first — how sentences are structured, how verbs change form, and how words relate to each other. Our course breaks these concepts into small lessons so you can build understanding step by step.
Sign up free — start using our AI language tutor
Start learning DutchMaster Dutch — from Ik zou weigeren om met de auto te gaan, juist omdat ik niet afhankelijk wil zijn van brandstof to fluency
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods.
- ✓ Infinitely deep — unlimited vocabulary and grammar
- ✓ Fast-paced — build complex sentences from the start
- ✓ Unforgettable — efficient spaced repetition system
- ✓ AI tutor to answer your grammar questions