Breakdown of Mag ik je een knuffel geven, of vind je dat te persoonlijk?
ik
I
dat
that
je
you
te
too
of
or
vinden
to find
mogen
may
geven
to give
de knuffel
the hug
persoonlijk
personal
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Questions & Answers about Mag ik je een knuffel geven, of vind je dat te persoonlijk?
What does Mag ik mean in this sentence?
Mag ik translates to “may I” in English. It’s a modal construction used to ask for permission—in this case, asking if it’s acceptable to give you something.
What does the word knuffel mean?
Knuffel means “hug” or sometimes “cuddle” in English. It refers to an affectionate embrace or a friendly squeeze.
Why is there a comma before the conjunction of in this sentence?
The comma separates two clearly defined alternatives. The sentence first asks for permission to give a hug and then offers the alternative by asking if a hug might be considered too personal. In Dutch, of means “or,” helping to distinguish the two ideas.
What does te persoonlijk mean, and why is it used here?
Te persoonlijk translates to “too personal.” It is used to check if the proposed hug might be seen as overly intimate or intrusive, giving the listener a choice about the degree of personal contact they are comfortable with.
Why does the sentence use the structure vind je instead of je vindt?
In Dutch, when posing a direct question or a clause with a questioning tone, the subject and verb invert. Instead of the declarative je vindt (“you find”), the question form becomes vind je (“do you find”), which signals that a response is being solicited.
What is the function of the word dat in "vind je dat te persoonlijk?"
Dat is a demonstrative pronoun referring back to the previously mentioned action (giving a hug). It stands in for the whole idea, so the clause effectively asks, “Do you find that too personal?”