Breakdown of Er zijn tegenwoordig mensen die graag reizen; soms is een vliegticket goedkoper dan een treinrit.
zijn
to be
er
there
een
a, an
graag
gladly
soms
sometimes
dan
than
de mens
the person
die
who
reizen
to travel
tegenwoordig
nowadays
het vliegticket
the plane ticket
goedkoop
cheap
de treinrit
the train ride
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Questions & Answers about Er zijn tegenwoordig mensen die graag reizen; soms is een vliegticket goedkoper dan een treinrit.
What does Er zijn mean in this sentence, and how is it used in Dutch grammar?
Er zijn translates to "there are" in English. It’s an existential construction used to indicate the existence of something—in this case, people who enjoy traveling. The word er serves as a placeholder, which is common in Dutch sentences that start by stating that something exists.
What does tegenwoordig mean here?
Tegenwoordig means "nowadays" or "these days." It situates the sentence in the present time, emphasizing that the statement reflects what is common or relevant in current times.
How does the relative clause die graag reizen function in this sentence?
The clause die graag reizen is a relative clause that describes mensen (people). The relative pronoun die refers back to mensen, and graag reizen means "who like to travel." Essentially, it provides additional information about which people the sentence is talking about.
What do vliegticket and treinrit mean?
Vliegticket means "airplane ticket" and treinrit means "train ride." The sentence uses these terms to compare transportation options in terms of cost.
Why is a semicolon used in this sentence instead of a period?
The semicolon is used to connect two related independent clauses. The first clause introduces the idea of people who enjoy traveling, while the second clause provides a contrasting piece of information—namely, that sometimes an airplane ticket can be cheaper than a train ride. The semicolon signals a close relationship between these two thoughts.
How is the comparative adjective goedkoper used in this context?
Goedkoper means "cheaper" and is the comparative form of goedkoop ("cheap"). In the sentence, it is used to compare the cost of an airplane ticket to that of a train ride, following the structure: "an airplane ticket is cheaper than a train ride."
Are there any notable points regarding articles and word order in een vliegticket and een treinrit?
Yes, both een vliegticket and een treinrit begin with the indefinite article een, which is equivalent to "a" in English. The word order is straightforward and mirrors English structure when comparing items—first stating the subject (a ticket) followed by the adjective (cheaper) and then the item of comparison (than a train ride). This similarity can help learners recognize familiar patterns between the two languages.