Breakdown of De leraar onderstreept dat je niet alles uit je hoofd hoeft te leren, maar vooral moet begrijpen.
niet
not
maar
but
leren
to learn
dat
that
moeten
must
je
you
alles
everything
begrijpen
to understand
het hoofd
the head
uit
out of
je
your
onderstrepen
to underline
de leraar
the teacher
vooral
mainly
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Questions & Answers about De leraar onderstreept dat je niet alles uit je hoofd hoeft te leren, maar vooral moet begrijpen.
What does onderstreept mean in this sentence?
It means emphasizes. The teacher is stressing that understanding is more important than memorizing everything by heart.
What does the phrase uit je hoofd translate to in English?
It translates as by heart. In this context, it refers to learning something through rote memorization without necessarily understanding it.
Why is the conjunction dat used in the sentence?
Dat introduces a subordinate clause that specifies what the teacher is emphasizing. It functions similarly to the word that in English, linking the main idea with its explanation.
What is the difference between hoeft te leren and moet begrijpen in this context?
Hoeft te leren means does not need to learn (i.e., memorize) everything, suggesting that memorization isn’t required. In contrast, moet begrijpen means must understand, emphasizing that gaining comprehension is essential. The sentence contrasts these two approaches to learning.
Why is there a comma before maar vooral moet begrijpen?
The comma separates two contrasting parts of the sentence. In Dutch, placing a comma before maar (but) in such a compound sentence helps clearly indicate the shift in focus—from dismissing the need for memorizing everything to stressing the importance of understanding.
Why is the subject je omitted in the second part of the sentence (maar vooral moet begrijpen)?
Since je (you) is already established as the subject in the subordinate clause introduced by dat, it can be omitted in the second part for brevity. This omission is common in Dutch when the subject remains clear from the context.