Learn Hardcore Dutch: Het kan opvallen dat sommige mensen sneller promotie krijgen, maar ze zijn vaak gewoon heel gemotiveerd. - It can stand out that some people get promoted faster, but they are often simply very motivated.

In this context, opvallen means “to stand out” or “to be noticeable.” It implies that it might be observed that some people get promoted faster than others.

Why does the sentence start with Het, and what function does it serve?

Het acts as a dummy or impersonal subject in this sentence, much like “it” in English phrases such as “it is raining” or “it can be noticed.” It doesn’t refer to a specific thing but helps to form a complete sentence.

What is the role of dat in the sentence?

Dat is a subordinating conjunction equivalent to “that” in English. It introduces the subordinate clause "sommige mensen sneller promotie krijgen," which provides further information about what might be noticed.

How is the phrase sneller promotie krijgen structured, and what does it mean?

The phrase sneller promotie krijgen translates to “to get promoted faster.” Here, sneller is an adverb meaning “faster,” and promotie krijgen is a fixed expression meaning “to receive a promotion” or “to be promoted.”

Why is the pronoun ze used in the second clause instead of repeating sommige mensen?

Ze is used as a pronoun to refer back to sommige mensen, avoiding unnecessary repetition. This is a common practice in both Dutch and English to keep the sentence concise.

What nuance does gewoon add in the phrase "ze zijn vaak gewoon heel gemotiveerd"?

Gewoon can be translated as “just” or “simply.” In this context, it emphasizes that their high motivation is the straightforward, unembellished reason behind their fast promotion, in contrast to any more complicated explanations.

How are the two parts of the sentence connected, and what does the conjunction maar indicate?

The sentence is divided into two clauses. The first part makes the observation that some people get promoted faster, while the second part explains that these individuals are often simply very motivated. The conjunction maar (meaning “but”) connects these clauses to contrast the initial noticeable difference with the simple underlying explanation.