Learn Hardcore Dutch: Jij kunt dit examen zeker aankunnen, want zelfs moeilijke vragen kunnen meevallen als je goed bent voorbereid. - You can definitely handle this exam, because even difficult questions can be better than expected if you are well prepared.

In Dutch, verbs are conjugated according to their subject. With jij (the informal singular “you”), kunnen becomes kunt. For example, you have ik kan, jij kunt, hij/zij/het kan. The extra t in kunt correctly marks the second-person singular form.

What does the separable verb aankunnen mean, and why is it written as one word at the end?

Aankunnen means “to be able to handle” or “to manage.” When used with a modal verb like kunnen, the full infinitive (here, aankunnen) is placed at the end of the clause as a single, united word rather than being split apart. This is typical in Dutch when a modal verb accompanies another verb.

What is the role of the word zelfs in this sentence?

Zelfs translates as “even” in English. It serves to emphasize that the statement applies not only generally but also in potentially challenging cases—in this sentence, it highlights that even difficult questions may turn out to be easier than expected if you are well prepared.

How does the verb meevallen function here, and what does it imply?

Meevallen literally means “to fall along with” but is used idiomatically to indicate that something is not as difficult or as bad as expected. In the sentence, it implies that even difficult questions can be manageable under the right conditions (i.e., when you are well prepared). The modal construction kunnen meevallen reinforces this encouraging perspective.

What purpose does the conjunction want serve in this sentence?

The word want functions like “because” in English. It introduces the clause that explains why you can confidently handle the exam. In this case, want connects the main assertion (“you can definitely handle this exam”) with the reason that even difficult questions might be easier than they seem if you are well prepared.

How does the subordinate clause als je goed bent voorbereid affect the sentence’s structure?

The clause als je goed bent voorbereid means “if you are well prepared.” In Dutch, subordinate clauses introduced by words like als typically place the finite verb (bent) at the end. This clause sets a condition for the main statement, explaining that the ease of handling difficult questions depends on proper preparation, and its placement at the end follows standard Dutch word order rules.