Breakdown of Ik poets mijn tanden twee keer per dag om ze gezond te houden.
ik
I
om
for
de dag
the day
mijn
my
houden
to keep
de keer
the time
ze
them
twee
two
gezond
healthy
poetsen
to brush
de tand
the tooth
per
per
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Questions & Answers about Ik poets mijn tanden twee keer per dag om ze gezond te houden.
What does the Dutch sentence "Ik poets mijn tanden twee keer per dag om ze gezond te houden" mean in English?
It means "I brush my teeth twice a day to keep them healthy." The sentence outlines a daily routine and explains the purpose behind the action.
How is the verb "poets" used in this sentence, and what does it tell us about subject-verb agreement in Dutch?
The word "poets" is the first-person singular present tense form of the verb "poetsen" (to brush). This form directly follows the subject "ik" (I), showing that Dutch, much like English, adjusts the verb to agree with its subject in the present tense.
What is the role of the phrase "twee keer per dag" in the sentence, and how is it constructed?
The phrase "twee keer per dag" translates to "twice a day." It is made up of "twee keer" (two times) and "per dag" (per day), acting as an adverbial phrase to indicate how often the action of brushing occurs.
Can you explain the structure "om ze gezond te houden" and why the "om ... te" construction is used here?
Certainly! The construction "om ... te" is used to express purpose or intent. In this sentence, "om ze gezond te houden" means "to keep them healthy." Here, "te houden" is the infinitive form of "houden" (to keep), and "ze" is a pronoun referring back to "tanden" (teeth). Together, they indicate that brushing is done with the intention of maintaining healthy teeth.
Why is the pronoun "ze" used in the sentence, and what does it refer to?
The pronoun "ze" replaces the plural noun "tanden" (teeth) to avoid repetition. In Dutch, just as in English, a pronoun is used to refer back to a previously mentioned plural noun. Here, "ze" clearly refers to "my teeth."
Could you break down the overall sentence structure and explain the function of each part?
Absolutely. The sentence can be divided into the following parts:
• "Ik poets" – The subject and verb, meaning "I brush."
• "mijn tanden" – The object, meaning "my teeth."
• "twee keer per dag" – A time/frequency adverbial phrase, indicating "twice a day."
• "om ze gezond te houden" – A purpose clause using the "om ... te" construction, meaning "to keep them healthy."
Each component works together to provide a complete picture of the action, its frequency, and its intended result.