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Questions & Answers about Ik vermijd lawaai.
What does the verb vermijd mean in this sentence?
Vermijd is the first-person singular present form of the verb vermijden, which translates to "to avoid" in English. So, the sentence means that the speaker avoids noise.
Why is there no article before lawaai?
In Dutch, lawaai is typically treated as an uncountable noun when referring to noise in general. Similar to saying "I avoid noise" in English, no article is required because it refers to noise in a general, abstract sense rather than a specific instance of noise.
What is the grammatical structure of the sentence "Ik vermijd lawaai"?
The sentence follows the standard Dutch word order for a simple declarative sentence: subject (Ik) – verb (vermijd) – object (lawaai). This is directly comparable to the typical English structure "I avoid noise".
Which tense is used in vermijd?
The verb vermijd is in the present simple tense. This tense is used to express habitual actions or general truths—in this case, indicating that the speaker generally makes the effort to avoid noise.
How does lawaai differ from other Dutch words like geluid?
While geluid simply means "sound" and can be neutral or even positive in some contexts, lawaai specifically refers to disruptive or unwanted noise. The choice of lawaai in this sentence highlights that the speaker is avoiding noise that is likely bothersome or chaotic.
Could you add emphasis to the sentence by modifying its structure?
Yes, you can add emphasis by inserting adverbs or additional context. For example, "Ik vermijd altijd lawaai" translates to "I always avoid noise," underscoring the habitual nature of the action. Despite additions, the fundamental subject–verb–object order remains the same.
Is the word order in "Ik vermijd lawaai" similar to standard English sentence order?
Absolutely. Both Dutch and English generally use the subject–verb–object order in declarative sentences, which makes this sentence relatively easy to understand for an English speaker transitioning to Dutch.