Learn Hardcore Dutch: Zodra we alle opties hebben gezien, kunnen we samen beslissen welke het beste is. - Once we have seen all the options, we can decide together which one is best.

It translates to "as soon as". The word is used here to introduce a time condition, indicating that once all the options have been seen, the following action can occur.

How is the sentence structured in terms of clauses?

The sentence is divided into two parts: • The subordinate (dependent) clause: "Zodra we alle opties hebben gezien," sets up a condition. • The main (independent) clause: "kunnen we samen beslissen welke het beste is," states what happens once that condition is met. This division is typical in Dutch, where the subordinate clause often comes first and is followed by a comma.

What does "hebben gezien" represent grammatically?

"Hebben gezien" is the perfect tense form of the verb "zien" (to see). It is composed of the auxiliary verb "hebben" and the past participle "gezien", indicating that the action of seeing all the options is completed prior to the next action.

What role does the modal verb "kunnen" play in the sentence?

"Kunnen" means "can" or "are able to". In this context, it expresses the capability or possibility to do something—in this case, to decide together on the best option once all alternatives have been viewed.

How should we understand the phrase "samen beslissen"?

"Samen beslissen" translates to "decide together". The word "samen" means "together", stressing that the decision is a collaborative process among all involved parties.

How is the clause "welke het beste is" constructed and what does it modify?

This clause functions as a relative clause that specifies the decision criteria. "Welke" acts as a relative pronoun referring back to the options, and "het beste is" means "is the best". It explains which option is to be selected and is integrated into the main clause as additional information.

What differences in word order should an English speaker be aware of when comparing this Dutch sentence to its English equivalent?

One key difference is the positioning of the verb in subordinate clauses. In Dutch, when a clause is introduced by a conjunction like "zodra", the auxiliary verb and past participle ("hebben gezien") come toward the end of the clause. In contrast, English typically maintains a more fixed subject-verb-object order even in subordinate clauses. Additionally, while both languages use modal verbs similarly, Dutch allows for more flexibility in clause ordering.