Learn Hardcore Dutch: Sommige mensen vinden het vervelend als de keuken naar knoflook ruikt. - Some people find it bothersome if the kitchen smells like garlic.

Sommige translates to "some" or "certain". It designates only a part of the whole group, indicating that not all people feel the same way.

Why is the pronoun het used in "vinden het vervelend"?

In Dutch, when stating an opinion about a situation using an adjective, the construction "vinden + het + adjective" is standard. The pronoun het serves as a placeholder referring to the condition described later (introduced by als), much like saying "find it ..." in English.

What role does als play in the sentence?

Als is a subordinating conjunction that introduces a dependent clause. Here, it connects the main clause with the condition "de keuken naar knoflook ruikt," specifying when some people find the situation unpleasant. It is similar in function to "if" or "when" in English.

How is the sentence structured in terms of main and subordinate clauses?

The sentence is divided into two parts: a main clause and a subordinate clause. The main clause, "Sommige mensen vinden het vervelend," follows the typical Dutch subject-verb-object order. The subordinate clause, "als de keuken naar knoflook ruikt," places the finite verb at the end, which is a normal word order feature in Dutch subordinate clauses.

How does the Dutch structure "vinden het vervelend" compare to similar expressions in English?

The structure is quite analogous. In English, one would say "find it unpleasant," where "it" acts as a placeholder for the situation being described. Both languages require this kind of construction to express opinions about a scenario, linking the verb to an adjective that describes the experience or condition.