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Breakdown of Als de regeling niet wordt nageleefd, kan de overheid boetes opleggen ter bescherming van die veiligheid.
niet
not
die
that
kunnen
can
als
if
van
of
de boete
the fine
de regeling
the regulation
de overheid
the government
opleggen
to impose
de bescherming
the protection
Questions & Answers about Als de regeling niet wordt nageleefd, kan de overheid boetes opleggen ter bescherming van die veiligheid.
How is the passive construction “wordt nageleefd” formed in this sentence?
“Wordt nageleefd” combines the auxiliary verb worden (here in its third-person singular form wordt) with the past participle nageleefd. This construction creates the present passive voice—much like “is followed” in English—which emphasizes that the regulation is the object being acted upon.
What role does the modal verb “kan” play here?
The verb kan is a modal verb that expresses possibility or capability, similar to can in English. In this context, it indicates that the government is able or authorized to impose fines if the regulation isn’t followed.
How does the phrase “ter bescherming van die veiligheid” work grammatically and what is its meaning?
The phrase ter bescherming van die veiligheid is a prepositional phrase expressing purpose. The word ter is a contraction often used in formal or legal contexts, meaning “for the protection of.” The phrase as a whole tells us that the fines are imposed for the purpose of protecting that safety. It is equivalent in meaning to “to protect that safety” or “for the protection of that safety.”
What does the word “regeling” mean in this sentence?
Regeling translates to regulation or arrangement. In this sentence, it refers to a set of rules or policies that must be followed.
How does the conjunction “als” function here, and how is it similar to the English “if”?
Als is used to introduce a conditional clause. It functions just like the English word if, setting up a condition—in this case, that the regulation is not adhered to—which then leads to a consequence, namely the possibility of fines.
Why is “die veiligheid” used instead of just “de veiligheid”?
The use of die veiligheid incorporates the demonstrative pronoun die, which helps to refer to a specific, previously mentioned or contextually implied notion of safety. It can add emphasis or clarity by pinpointing that particular safety that is being protected, rather than speaking about safety in a general sense.
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