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Breakdown of Als er een tegenslag optreedt, probeer ik altijd door te zetten, ook al voelt dat vreemd in het begin.
ik
I
in
in
dat
that
als
if
er
there
voelen
to feel
proberen
to try
altijd
always
de tegenslag
the setback
optreden
to occur
doorzetten
to persevere
vreemd
strange
het begin
the beginning
Questions & Answers about Als er een tegenslag optreedt, probeer ik altijd door te zetten, ook al voelt dat vreemd in het begin.
What does “tegenslag optreedt” mean in this sentence?
“Tegenslag” means a setback or a form of adversity, and “optreedt” means “occurs” or “happens.” Together, the phrase indicates that when a setback occurs, a particular response follows.
What is the meaning of “door te zetten” and how is it used here?
“Door te zetten” translates to “to persevere” or “to keep pushing on.” In this context, it means that the speaker always makes an effort to continue despite encountering setbacks.
Why does the sentence use the inverted word order in “probeer ik altijd door te zetten” instead of the more common subject-verb order?
When a sentence begins with a subordinate clause (in this case, “Als er een tegenslag optreedt”), Dutch grammar requires that the finite verb of the main clause occupies the second position. Thus, the sentence correctly places “probeer” before the subject “ik.”
How is the phrase “ook al” functioning in the sentence?
“Ook al” means “even though” or “although.” It introduces a contrasting element by acknowledging that while persisting might feel odd initially, the speaker still maintains the effort to persevere.
What does “in het begin” indicate in this sentence?
“In het begin” means “at the beginning” or “initially.” It points out that the action of persevering can feel strange or unfamiliar at first, but this initial feeling does not prevent the speaker from continuing to push through difficulties.
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