Breakdown of Wij zoeken de oplossing zodat wij samen beter kunnen leren.
wij
we
leren
to learn
samen
together
beter
better
zodat
so that
kunnen
can
zoeken
to search
de oplossing
the solution
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Questions & Answers about Wij zoeken de oplossing zodat wij samen beter kunnen leren.
Why is the subject wij repeated in both parts of the sentence?
In Dutch, each clause typically has its own subject—even if they refer to the same group. In this sentence, the main clause “Wij zoeken de oplossing” and the subordinate clause “zodat wij samen beter kunnen leren” each include wij to clearly indicate who is performing the actions. This repetition helps avoid ambiguity and follows standard Dutch structure.
What does the word zodat mean, and how is it used here?
Zodat means “so that” and functions as a subordinating conjunction. It introduces a clause that explains the purpose or expected result of the main action—in this case, explaining why “we are looking for the solution.”
What is the rule governing the placement of verbs in the subordinate clause “zodat wij samen beter kunnen leren”?
In Dutch subordinate clauses, the finite (or conjugated) verb and any modal or auxiliary verbs are placed at the very end of the clause. Here, the modal verb kunnen (can) and the main verb leren (learn) form a verb cluster that appears at the end, in accordance with the verb-last rule typical for subordinate clauses.
Why is the definite article de used with oplossing instead of het?
In Dutch, nouns have a grammatical gender. Oplossing is a common gender noun, which takes the definite article de. Only neuter nouns receive the article het; therefore, de oplossing is correct.
Where does the adverb samen (together) belong in the sentence, and why is it placed there?
In the subordinate clause, samen comes immediately after the subject wij. Dutch typically places adverbs of manner (like samen) right after the subject and before the verb cluster. This order helps maintain clarity about who is acting together and how the action is performed.
Should a comma be placed before zodat in this sentence?
Traditionally, a comma is often used before a subordinate clause introduced by a conjunction such as zodat. However, modern Dutch punctuation rules allow for flexibility—if the subordinate clause is short and closely related to the main clause, the comma may be omitted. In this sentence, leaving out the comma is acceptable.