Breakdown of Als je besluiteloos bent over wat je wilt bestellen, vraag dan gerust advies aan de ober.
zijn
to be
willen
to want
over
about
bestellen
to order
als
if
je
you
dan
then
wat
what
aan
to
vragen
to ask
het advies
the advice
besluiteloos
indecisive
de ober
the waiter
Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Dutch grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about Als je besluiteloos bent over wat je wilt bestellen, vraag dan gerust advies aan de ober.
What role does the clause “Als je besluiteloos bent over wat je wilt bestellen” play in the sentence?
This clause is a conditional (if-clause) that sets the context for the advice that follows. It describes the situation—being indecisive about what to order—that triggers the suggestion given in the main clause.
How is the imperative “vraag dan gerust advies aan de ober” structured, and what does it imply about the sentence’s subject?
The imperative “vraag dan gerust advies aan de ober” serves as a direct instruction. The verb “vraag” (ask) is in the imperative mood, which naturally omits the subject (you). Modifiers like “dan” (then) and “gerust” (feel free) enhance the command, while “advies aan de ober” specifies what to ask and from whom.
Why is there a comma after the first clause, and is this common in Dutch sentence structure?
A comma is placed after the subordinate (conditional) clause to clearly separate it from the imperative main clause. This punctuation usage is common in Dutch—as in English—when the dependent clause precedes the main clause, helping to ensure the sentence’s structure and meaning are clear.
What function does the word “dan” serve in the main clause of the sentence?
“Dan” functions similarly to “then” in English. It links the condition described in the first clause to the action in the main clause, subtly suggesting that once you recognize you are indecisive, you should then follow the advice by asking the waiter.
How does this sentence illustrate the word order typical for Dutch imperatives?
In the imperative “vraag dan gerust advies aan de ober,” the verb “vraag” appears first, as is standard in Dutch commands. Following the verb, adverbs (“dan” and “gerust”) and the object plus prepositional phrase (“advies aan de ober”) are arranged in a natural sequence. This pattern shows that, while Dutch imperatives drop the explicit subject, they maintain a clear order for modifiers and complements to ensure the instruction is properly conveyed.