Breakdown of Omdat het kruispunt erg druk is, moet je goed uitkijken voordat je rechtsaf gaat.
zijn
to be
moeten
must
je
you
voordat
before
omdat
because
erg
very
druk
busy
het kruispunt
the intersection
uitkijken
to watch out
rechtsafgaan
to turn right
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Questions & Answers about Omdat het kruispunt erg druk is, moet je goed uitkijken voordat je rechtsaf gaat.
What does omdat mean, and why is it used at the start of the sentence?
Omdat means because. It’s a subordinating conjunction that introduces a reason or cause, which in turn affects the placement of the verb in the following main clause.
What does kruispunt refer to in this sentence?
Kruispunt translates to intersection in English. It describes a place where roads or streets cross, emphasizing the context of busy traffic.
Why is the modal verb moet placed before the subject je instead of after?
Because the sentence begins with a subordinate clause, standard Dutch word order in the main clause changes. The introductory subordinate clause forces an inversion, making moet come before je instead of the usual subject-verb order.
How is the verb uitkijken used in this sentence, and what does it mean?
Uitkijken means to look out or to be cautious. In the context of the sentence, it emphasizes the need to pay close attention to one’s surroundings due to the busy intersection.
What is the purpose of the adverb goed in the phrase goed uitkijken?
Goed means well or carefully, and it serves to intensify the action of uitkijken. It implies that one should be extra vigilant when navigating the busy intersection.
Why is rechtsaf written as one word, and what does it mean?
Rechtsaf is a compound word that means to turn right. In Dutch, words related to directions are often compounded to convey a single idea, making the meaning clear and concise.
What role does voordat play in this sentence?
Voordat is a subordinating conjunction meaning before. It introduces a clause that indicates the timing—specifically, that one must look out before turning right.
Why does the verb gaat appear at the end of the clause introduced by voordat?
In Dutch subordinate clauses, the finite verb typically moves to the end of the clause. That’s why in the clause voordat je rechtsaf gaat, the verb gaat is positioned at the very end.