Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Dutch grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about Wij splitsen het werk.
What does each word in Wij splitsen het werk. represent?
Wij is the subject meaning “we.” Splitsen is the verb meaning “split” or “divide,” and it is conjugated for a plural subject. Het is the neuter definite article “the,” and werk is the object meaning “work.” The sentence follows a subject–verb–object (SVO) structure, similar to English.
How is the verb splitsen conjugated for wij in this sentence?
In Dutch, when the subject is wij (we), the verb takes the plural form. For regular verbs like splitsen, the form remains the same as the infinitive in the wij form. So, splitsen is correctly used with wij to mean “we split.”
Why is the article het used before werk instead of de?
Dutch nouns are gendered. Werk is a neuter noun, and neuter nouns take the definite article het. In contrast, masculine or feminine nouns use de. Thus, het is the correct article for werk.
Is the word order in Wij splitsen het werk. similar to that of its English equivalent?
Yes, the word order in the Dutch sentence is very similar to English. Both follow the subject–verb–object (SVO) order. In English, this sentence translates directly to “We split the work,” which helps learners recognize the familiar structure.
Could another verb be used in place of splitsen and what might be the nuance?
Yes, another common Dutch verb for dividing work is verdelen, which also means “to distribute” or “divide.” While splitsen emphasizes breaking something into parts, verdelen often carries the nuance of distributing tasks among people. The choice depends on the context and the speaker’s intended meaning.