Soms voeg ik extra peper toe net voor het serveren, dan behoudt het gerecht meer aroma.

Sometimes I add extra pepper right before serving, then the dish retains more aroma.

Breakdown of Soms voeg ik extra peper toe net voor het serveren, dan behoudt het gerecht meer aroma.

• ik: I
• meer: more
• dan: then
• soms: sometimes
• voor: before
• toevoegen: to add
• het gerecht: the dish
• de peper: the pepper
• extra: extra
• behouden: to retain
• het aroma: the aroma

Questions & Answers about Soms voeg ik extra peper toe net voor het serveren, dan behoudt het gerecht meer aroma.

What does soms mean in this sentence?

It means sometimes. This word indicates that the action of adding extra pepper happens on occasion rather than every time.

Why is the verb split into voeg and toe instead of being written as one word?

This is an example of a separable verb in Dutch. In its infinitive form, the verb is toevoegen (to add), but when used in a sentence with a subject, the verb splits: voeg appears near the beginning, and the separable particle toe moves to the end of the clause.

How is the word order arranged in the clause Soms voeg ik extra peper toe?

In Dutch, when an adverb like soms starts a sentence, it takes the first position, followed by the verb (voeg), then the subject (ik), followed by the object (extra peper), and finally the separable particle (toe). This structure might differ from the typical English subject–verb–object order, which can be confusing at first.

What does the phrase net voor het serveren indicate?

It translates to just before serving. The phrase specifies the timing of when the extra pepper is added—immediately prior to serving—so that the dish retains more of its aroma.

What role do the comma and the word dan play in the sentence?

The comma separates two connected clauses. The first clause describes the action (adding extra pepper), while the second clause—introduced by dan (meaning then)—explains the result: the dish retains more aroma. This punctuation helps clarify the relationship between the timing of the action and its positive effect on the dish.

What does behoudt mean in this context?

Behoudt means retains or preserves. Here it implies that by adding the extra pepper at just the right time, the dish is able to keep more of its natural aroma.

Why might a cook choose to add extra pepper right before serving?

Adding extra pepper net voor het serveren (just before serving) is a culinary technique used to preserve the fresh aroma and flavor of the pepper. If added earlier, the pepper’s aroma might diminish during cooking. The sentence highlights that this timing helps the dish maintain more of its aroma.