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Questions & Answers about De koffie is gratis.
What is the translation of "De koffie is gratis." in English?
It means "The coffee is free." This is a direct translation showing that the coffee comes without charge.
Why is the definite article de used instead of het?
In Dutch, every noun is assigned either de (common gender) or het (neuter). Koffie is one of the nouns that takes de, so it translates to "the coffee" in English. For learners, it’s important to memorize the article that goes with each noun since it isn’t always predictable.
How is the word order in this sentence similar to or different from English?
The word order in De koffie is gratis. is very similar to English. It follows the Subject-Verb-Complement structure: De koffie (subject) + is (verb) + gratis (complement), which parallels "The coffee is free." in English.
What role does gratis play in this sentence, and why does it not change form?
Gratis functions as a predicative adjective; it describes the state of the subject after the linking verb is. In Dutch, when adjectives are used predicatively (after the verb), they remain in their base form without any additional endings, unlike when they are used attributively before a noun.
What is the origin and conjugation of the verb is?
Is is the third person singular form of the Dutch verb zijn, which means "to be." It functions as the linking verb in the sentence, much like "is" in English, connecting the subject with its description.
How do you pronounce gratis in Dutch compared to English?
In Dutch, gratis is typically pronounced with a guttural g sound—almost like KHRAH-tis—which is different from the smoother English "græ-tis" or "gray-tis." Listening to native speakers can be really helpful for mastering the nuances of Dutch pronunciation.
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