Breakdown of Mijn zus spreekt streng, want zij wil dat wij ons huiswerk afmaken.
zij
she
wij
we
spreken
to speak
dat
that
want
because
willen
to want
mijn
my
ons
our
het huiswerk
the homework
afmaken
to finish
de zus
the sister
streng
strict
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Questions & Answers about Mijn zus spreekt streng, want zij wil dat wij ons huiswerk afmaken.
What does "streng" mean in this sentence, and how does it affect the tone of the statement?
"Streng" translates to "stern" or "strict" in English. In this sentence, it describes the way my sister speaks—implying that she uses a firm, no-nonsense tone, which reinforces her authority in insisting that we finish our homework.
Why is the conjunction "want" used here, and how does its function differ from other conjunctions like "omdat"?
The word "want" means "because" or "for" and is used to connect two independent clauses with an explanation. Unlike "omdat," which is a subordinating conjunction (often sending the verb to the end of the clause), "want" is a coordinating conjunction that maintains the standard word order in the connected clause.
What is the role of the "dat" clause in this sentence, and why is the conjugated verb positioned at the end of that clause?
The "dat" clause explains what my sister wants—specifically, that we complete our homework. In Dutch subordinate clauses introduced by words like "dat," the conjugated verb (here, "afmaken") is placed at the end of the clause. This is a standard grammatical rule for subordinate clauses in Dutch.
How is the pronoun "ons" used in the sentence, and what does it represent?
The pronoun "ons" means "our" and is used to indicate possession. In this case, it refers to the homework belonging to the group that includes the speaker (expressed by "wij" in the subordinate clause). The choice of "ons" matches the grammatical gender and number of "huiswerk."
Why is "zij" used as the subject pronoun in the second clause, rather than another pronoun?
"Zij" is the correct pronoun for "my sister" in Dutch because it means "she" when referring to a singular female. Even though "mijn zus" (my sister) functions as the subject in the first clause, it is repeated in the second clause with "zij" to clearly indicate that the same person is acting, maintaining consistency and clarity.
What is the significance of the comma before "want", and how does it influence the sentence structure?
The comma before "want" separates the two independent clauses. This punctuation clarifies that the first clause—"Mijn zus spreekt streng"—presents a statement, while the second clause—"zij wil dat wij ons huiswerk afmaken"—provides the reason behind that statement. It helps the reader understand the connection between the strict tone of the speaker and the purpose of making sure the homework is completed.