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Questions & Answers about Wij nemen vandaag een besluit.
What does the sentence Wij nemen vandaag een besluit mean in English?
It translates to "We are making a decision today" (or "We are taking a decision today"). This breaks down as follows: Wij means we, nemen means take or make, vandaag means today, and een besluit means a decision.
How is the sentence structured in terms of Dutch word order?
The sentence follows a common Dutch word order pattern: it begins with the subject (Wij), followed by the finite verb (nemen), then the adverb of time (vandaag), and finally the indefinite object (een besluit). This ordering, where time adverbs typically follow the verb, is standard in Dutch.
Why is the expression een besluit nemen used instead of using a verb like beslissen?
While beslissen means "to decide", Dutch often uses the idiomatic expression "een besluit nemen" (literally, "to take a decision") especially in formal or official contexts. This is a fixed collocation in Dutch, much like the British English variant "to take a decision".
What role does vandaag play in the sentence, and why is it placed right after the verb?
Vandaag is an adverb of time meaning "today". In Dutch, placing the time adverb immediately after the finite verb is typical, as it clearly indicates when the action is taking place while preserving the subject–verb–object order.
What is the significance of the indefinite article een in een besluit?
The article een is the Dutch equivalent of "a" in English, signifying that the decision is not previously specified or known. It indicates an indefinite, general decision rather than referring to a specific, already identified decision.
Can the word order in this sentence be altered for emphasis—for instance, by placing vandaag at the beginning?
Yes, word order in Dutch can be flexible. For example, saying "Vandaag nemen wij een besluit" is also correct and places stronger emphasis on the timing. However, this structure uses inversion (placing the adverbial element first, which causes the verb to immediately follow) to maintain grammatical correctness.