Als toeschouwer bij een sportwedstrijd kun je soms een omleiding tegenkomen als de weg is afgesloten voor het verkeer.

Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Dutch grammar and vocabulary.

Start learning Dutch now

Questions & Answers about Als toeschouwer bij een sportwedstrijd kun je soms een omleiding tegenkomen als de weg is afgesloten voor het verkeer.

What does the Dutch word als mean in this sentence, considering it appears twice?
In the sentence, als is used in two different ways. In "Als toeschouwer" it means "as", indicating the role or state of being a spectator. Later, in "als de weg is afgesloten voor het verkeer", it means "if", introducing a condition. The context after each usage clarifies its intended meaning.
What is the meaning of toeschouwer?
Toeschouwer translates to "spectator". It refers to someone who is watching the event, in this case, a sport event.
What does tegenkomen mean here?
Tegenkomen means "to come across" or "to encounter". In this context, it suggests that as a spectator you might occasionally find or run into a detour.
How should I understand the word omleiding in this sentence?
Omleiding means "detour". It refers to the alternative route you might have to take when your regular route is blocked, as is indicated by the condition later in the sentence.
Can you explain the construction and meaning of the phrase is afgesloten voor het verkeer?
Certainly. "Is afgesloten" is a passive construction, essentially meaning "is closed off" or "has been closed". When combined with "voor het verkeer" (meaning "for traffic"), it tells us that the road is not accessible to vehicles.
What is the role of the prepositional phrase bij een sportwedstrijd?
The phrase "bij een sportwedstrijd" acts as an adverbial phrase that sets the scene. It means "at a sports event" and specifies the context in which the situation (encountering a detour) might occur.
How can I tell which meaning of als is intended in each instance in the sentence?

The meaning of als depends entirely on what follows: • In "Als toeschouwer", it describes your role, so it means "as". • In "als de weg is afgesloten voor het verkeer", it introduces a condition, so it means "if". Pay attention to whether als is followed by a noun phrase that describes a state or identity, or by a clause that presents a condition.

What does the modal phrase kun je soms suggest in terms of occurrence?
The phrase "kun je soms" combines the modal verb "kun je" (meaning "you can") with "soms" (meaning "sometimes"). This construction implies that encountering a detour isn’t guaranteed; it’s something that might happen occasionally, depending on the circumstances.