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Questions & Answers about Ik heb allergie voor stof.
What does Ik heb allergie voor stof mean in English?
It translates to "I have an allergy to dust." This sentence tells you that the speaker suffers from an allergy, specifically to dust.
Why is the noun allergie used instead of an adjective?
Dutch offers two common ways to express an allergic condition. In "Ik heb allergie voor stof," the speaker uses the noun allergie with the verb hebben (to have). Alternatively, you could say "Ik ben allergisch voor stof," using the adjective allergisch with the verb zijn (to be). Both forms are correct; they simply mirror different grammatical constructions.
Why is the preposition voor used in this sentence?
In Dutch, the pairing allergie voor is the standard way to indicate the substance an allergy is directed at. Here, voor means "to" or "for," linking the allergy with its trigger—stof (dust).
Is it acceptable to include an article before allergie?
Yes, you might also encounter "Ik heb een allergie voor stof," where an indefinite article is used. However, omitting the article, as in the sentence given, is also very common and treats allergie as an abstract condition rather than a specific, countable instance.
Are there alternative ways to express this idea in Dutch?
Absolutely. Besides "Ik heb allergie voor stof," you can say "Ik ben allergisch voor stof." The first construction employs a noun with hebben (to have), while the second uses an adjective with zijn (to be). Both constructions clearly express that the speaker is allergic to dust.