Learn Hardcore Dutch: Wij verven de muren wit, omdat de oude verf was verkleurd. - We are painting the walls white because the old paint had discolored.

The sentence is composed of two parts: a main clause and a subordinate clause. The main clause is "Wij verven de muren wit" (meaning "We paint the walls white") and the subordinate clause is "omdat de oude verf was verkleurd" (meaning "because the old paint was discolored"). The subordinate clause explains the reason for the action described in the main clause.

What does the verb "verven" mean in this context, and how does it differ from "schilderen"?

In this sentence, "verven" means "to paint" in the sense of applying a new coat of paint to a surface. While "schilderen" can also mean to paint, it is more often used when referring to painting pictures or engaging in artistic painting. "Verven" is typically used for practical or household painting tasks, such as repainting walls.

How is the adjective "wit" functioning in the sentence?

The adjective "wit" serves as a resultative or predicative complement in the construction "de muren wit verven." It describes the new state of the walls after being painted. This is similar to the English sentence "paint the walls white," where "white" follows the object and indicates the resulting color.

What role does the subordinating conjunction "omdat" play, and how does it affect the word order of the subordinate clause?

"Omdat" means "because" and it introduces the subordinate clause that gives the reason for the main clause’s action. In Dutch, when a subordinate clause is introduced by a conjunction like "omdat," the finite verb is moved to the end of the clause. That’s why we see "was verkleurd" at the end, rather than in the second position, which is common in main clauses.

How is the passive construction formed in the phrase "de oude verf was verkleurd"?

The passive construction in this phrase is formed using the auxiliary verb "was" (the past tense of "zijn," meaning "to be") along with the past participle "verkleurd" (meaning "discolored"). This structure indicates that the old paint underwent a change in state—it became discolored—which is the reason given for repainting the walls.

What does the adjective "oude" modify in the sentence, and what is its significance?

The adjective "oude" means "old" and it modifies the noun "verf" (paint) to form the phrase "de oude verf." This signals that the paint which has discolored is old, implying that its age has contributed to its faded condition and is why a new coat of white paint is needed.