Breakdown of Je hoeft geen ticket te kopen als het evenement gratis is.
zijn
to be
kopen
to buy
als
if
je
you
hoeven
to need
het ticket
the ticket
het evenement
the event
gratis
free
Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Dutch grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about Je hoeft geen ticket te kopen als het evenement gratis is.
What does the modal verb hoeft indicate in this sentence?
hoeft is a form of the verb hoeven, which—in negative constructions—expresses that something is not required. In this sentence, it means "don't have to", so Je hoeft geen ticket te kopen translates to "You don't have to buy a ticket."
Why is geen ticket used instead of just ticket?
In Dutch, geen is used to negate an indefinite noun. By saying geen ticket, the sentence emphasizes that there is no need to purchase any ticket at all. It functions similarly to saying "no ticket" or "not a ticket" in English.
What is the role of te kopen in the structure of the sentence?
te kopen is the infinitive form of to buy. In Dutch, when using modal verbs like hoeven, the main verb is placed in the infinitive with te. This construction tells us what action is not necessary—in this case, buying a ticket.
How does the conjunction als function in this sentence?
als means "if" and introduces a conditional clause. The clause als het evenement gratis is sets the condition under which buying a ticket is not required—that is, when the event is free.
Why does the finite verb is appear at the end of the clause als het evenement gratis is?
In Dutch subordinate clauses introduced by conjunctions like als, the finite verb typically appears at the end. That is why is (the present tense of zijn, meaning to be) comes last in the clause.
How would you translate the entire sentence into English while preserving its structure?
The sentence Je hoeft geen ticket te kopen als het evenement gratis is translates to "You don't have to buy a ticket if the event is free." This translation correctly reflects the modal meaning, the negation, and the conditional clause present in the Dutch sentence.