Tom geeft instructie in koken.

Tom gives instruction in cooking.

Breakdown of Tom geeft instructie in koken.

• Tom: Tom
• in: in
• het koken: the cooking
• geven: to give
• de instructie: the instruction

Questions & Answers about Tom geeft instructie in koken.

What does the verb geeft mean in this context?

Geeft is the third-person singular present form of the verb geven, which means to give. In the sentence, it indicates that Tom provides or delivers something, namely instruction.

Why is instructie used without an article, even though in English one might say “an instruction”?

In Dutch, especially with abstract nouns or in fixed expressions, it’s common to omit the article. Instructie geven is a standard collocation meaning “to give instruction” or “to instruct,” and the absence of an article signals that we’re referring to instruction in a general sense.

What role does the preposition in play in the phrase in koken?

The preposition in indicates the area or field to which the instruction is related. In in koken, it means concerning cooking or within the realm of cooking. It tells us that cooking is the subject matter of the instruction Tom is giving.

Is koken here functioning as a verb or a noun, and why is it used in its infinitive form?

Although koken is a verb meaning “to cook,” in this construction it serves as a nominal concept—cooking as a subject matter. Dutch often uses the verb in its infinitive form (without any article) when referring to an activity in general terms.

Does the sentence mean that Tom is formally teaching cooking classes, or could it also refer to less formal instruction?

The sentence simply states that Tom gives instruction in cooking. Without additional context, it can refer to either a formal teaching scenario (like a cooking class) or a more informal setting where Tom provides cooking advice or tips. The structure is neutral regarding the formality of the instruction.