Breakdown of Soms is het handiger om contant te betalen als de betaalautomaat niet werkt.
zijn
to be
niet
not
het
it
om
for
werken
to work
als
if
soms
sometimes
betalen
to pay
handig
convenient
contant
in cash
de betaalautomaat
the payment machine
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Questions & Answers about Soms is het handiger om contant te betalen als de betaalautomaat niet werkt.
What does soms mean in English?
Soms translates as “sometimes.” It indicates that the situation described occurs on certain occasions, not every time.
What does handiger mean, and how is it formed?
Handiger is the comparative form of the adjective handig, which means “convenient” or “useful.” When comparing, it becomes “handier” or “more convenient,” suggesting that paying cash is a better option in the given situation.
How does the phrase om contant te betalen function within the sentence?
The construction om … te is a common Dutch pattern used to express purpose or intention. In this instance, contant te betalen means “to pay in cash.” Combined, om contant te betalen indicates the method of payment being recommended when the automated machine isn’t working.
What does als de betaalautomaat niet werkt mean in English?
This part of the sentence translates as “when the payment machine doesn’t work” or “if the payment machine isn’t working.” The conjunctive word als is used to introduce a condition under which paying in cash becomes the more convenient option.
Can you break down the compound word betaalautomaat?
Yes. Betaalautomaat is a compound word made up of betaal (from betalen, meaning “to pay”) and automaat (meaning “machine” or “automated device”). Together, they refer to a “payment machine” or “automated payment terminal.”
Why is the sentence word order arranged as "Soms is het handiger..." instead of "Het is soms handiger..."?
In Dutch, when an adverb like soms is placed at the beginning of a sentence, it triggers an inversion of the subject and the verb. That’s why the verb is comes immediately after soms, resulting in “Soms is het handiger…” rather than the more expected subject-first order.