Learn Hardcore Dutch: Wil je de rekening splitsen of zal ik hem helemaal betalen? - Do you want to split the bill, or shall I pay it all?

In Dutch, nouns using the definite article de are common‐gender nouns, which require the pronoun hem in the object position—even when referring to inanimate objects like "rekening" (bill). Although English would normally use it, Dutch distinguishes between de-words (using hem) and het-words (using het).

What role does the word of play in this sentence?

Of is a coordinating conjunction that means or in English. It connects the two alternatives: one in which you may choose to split the bill (Wil je de rekening splitsen) and another where the speaker offers to pay the entire bill (zal ik hem helemaal betalen?).

Why is there subject-verb inversion in the clause "zal ik hem helemaal betalen?"

Dutch questions require subject-verb inversion. In the clause "zal ik hem helemaal betalen?", the auxiliary verb zal (shall) comes before the subject ik (I) to form a properly structured yes-no question. This inversion is a standard grammatical rule in Dutch interrogative sentences.

What is the difference between wil je and zal ik in this context?

Wil je is the second-person form of willen (to want), which directly asks for your preference about splitting the bill. In contrast, zal ik employs the modal verb zullen in the first person, offering the alternative that the speaker can pay the bill entirely. The two phrases present distinct options: one driven by your choice, the other by the speaker’s initiative.

What does the word helemaal add to the phrase "hem helemaal betalen"?

Helemaal means completely or entirely. Its inclusion emphasizes that the speaker intends to pay the full bill with no part left out. This word clarifies that the offer is to cover the entire amount rather than just a portion of it.