Learn Hardcore Dutch: In drukke steden moeten we onszelf beschermen tegen lawaai, daarom draag ik soms oordopjes. - In busy cities, we must protect ourselves from noise, which is why I sometimes wear earplugs.

It means "in busy cities." Here, "drukke" is the form of "druk" (meaning busy) modified to agree with the noun "steden" (cities). In Dutch, adjectives placed before a noun must match the noun’s number and, in some cases, its gender.

Why is the modal verb "moeten" positioned before the subject "we"?

In Dutch, when a sentence begins with an adverbial phrase like "In drukke steden," the finite verb takes the second position. This is known as the V2 (verb-second) rule. As a result, the subject "we" follows the modal verb "moeten," producing the order: adverbial phrase – verb – subject.

How is the reflexive pronoun "onszelf" used in this sentence?

"Onszelf" means "ourselves." It is used because the subject "we" is performing the action of protecting on its own behalf. Dutch uses reflexive pronouns to indicate that the subject and the object of the action are the same, much like in English.

What role does "tegen" play in the phrase "beschermen tegen lawaai"?

The word "tegen" translates to "against." In this context, it shows what the protection is aimed at—in this case, "lawaai," which means noise. So, "beschermen tegen lawaai" means "to protect (ourselves) against noise."

What does "daarom" mean, and why is it used here?

"Daarom" means "that's why" or "therefore." It connects the idea of needing protection in busy cities with the personal response of wearing earplugs. It signals that the second clause is a consequence of the situation described in the first clause.

What are "oordopjes," and how are they used in the sentence?

"Oordopjes" translates to "earplugs." The speaker mentions that they sometimes wear earplugs as a way to protect themselves against noise. The adverb "soms" (meaning sometimes) indicates that this is not a constant action.