Learn Hardcore Dutch: Mijn allergie is vooral erg in de lente, wanneer alles in bloei staat. - My allergy is especially bad in the spring, when everything is in bloom.

Vooral means “especially” or “mostly.” In this sentence, it is used to emphasize that the allergy is notably severe during spring. It comes before erg to enhance the description, indicating that the severity is particularly true in that season.

What is the role of erg in the sentence?

Erg functions as an intensifier meaning “very” or “severe.” When paired with vooral, it stresses the extent of the allergy’s impact in spring. Essentially, erg describes the degree of the allergy.

How should I interpret the phrase in de lente?

The phrase in de lente translates directly to “in the spring.” Here, in is a preposition and de lente is the noun phrase referring to the spring season, with de serving as the definite article for the noun.

What does the clause wanneer alles in bloei staat add to the sentence?

Wanneer alles in bloei staat is a subordinate clause introduced by wanneer (meaning “when”). It provides additional information by specifying that the allergy is especially severe at the time when everything is in bloom, i.e., during springtime.

What is the meaning and usage of the expression in bloei staat?

The expression in bloei staat literally means “is in bloom.” It is used idiomatically to describe the state when plants or flowers are blossoming. In the context of the sentence, it reinforces the idea that spring is the season when nature is blooming, which is linked to the increase in allergy symptoms.

Why is the simple present form is used in this sentence?

The verb is is the third-person singular present of zijn (“to be”) and is used to link the subject (Mijn allergie) to its state. Much like in English, this construction (“My allergy is…”) expresses a current or habitual condition, making it a natural choice to describe the allergy’s behavior over time.