Breakdown of Als ik te veel spullen meeneem, wordt mijn rugzak zwaar en lastig te dragen.
ik
I
en
and
mijn
my
als
if
te
too
veel
many
worden
to become
het spul
the stuff
de rugzak
the backpack
meenemen
to take
zwaar
heavy
lastig te dragen
difficult to carry
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Questions & Answers about Als ik te veel spullen meeneem, wordt mijn rugzak zwaar en lastig te dragen.
In the subordinate clause "Als ik te veel spullen meeneem," why is the separable verb "meenemen" not split into two parts?
In Dutch subordinate clauses introduced by words such as als, the finite verb (including separable verbs) is positioned at the end of the clause. That means the parts of the verb stay together as meeneem instead of being split as they often are in main clauses.
What does the phrase "te veel" mean, and how does it function in the sentence?
"Te veel" translates to "too many". It modifies spullen by indicating an excessive amount—implying that the number of things taken is more than what is manageable.
What does "spullen" refer to in this context?
"Spullen" is an informal term for "things" or "belongings". It encompasses the various items that might be carried around, which in this sentence contribute to the backpack becoming heavy and difficult to carry.
Why does the main clause begin with "wordt" instead of starting with the subject "mijn rugzak"?
When a subordinate clause (like the one beginning with als) comes before the main clause, Dutch often uses an inverted word order in the main clause. This means the finite verb "wordt" appears immediately at the start of the main clause, followed by its subject "mijn rugzak".
How do the adjectives "zwaar" and "lastig te dragen" work together to describe the backpack?
"Zwaar" means "heavy" and directly comments on the weight of the backpack, while "lastig te dragen" means "difficult to carry" and adds the idea that, aside from being heavy, the backpack is also awkward or troublesome to handle. Together, they portray a practical problem caused by overloading.
What role does the infinitive phrase "te dragen" play in the sentence?
The phrase "te dragen" serves as the complement to the adjective "lastig", explaining exactly what is difficult. It creates an adjective–infinitive construction that functions similarly to the English "to carry," clarifying that the backpack becomes hard to handle when it is overloaded.