Breakdown of Neem die omleiding als de hoofdstraat is beschadigd, anders loop je kans op lange files.
zijn
to be
die
that
nemen
to take
als
if
je
you
lang
long
op
on
anders
otherwise
de omleiding
the detour
de hoofdstraat
the main road
beschadigd
damaged
de kans
the chance
de file
the traffic jam
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Questions & Answers about Neem die omleiding als de hoofdstraat is beschadigd, anders loop je kans op lange files.
What does Neem die mean in this sentence?
Neem is the imperative form of the verb nemen, which means to take. In this context, Neem die omleiding tells you to take that detour. The word die is a demonstrative pronoun used to refer specifically to that detour.
How should I interpret the clause "als de hoofdstraat is beschadigd"?
The clause "als de hoofdstraat is beschadigd" means "if the main street is damaged." Here, als functions like "if" in English, introducing a conditional statement. The sentence structure follows the standard subordinate clause order in Dutch, where the subject ("de hoofdstraat") is directly followed by the auxiliary verb ("is") and then the adjective ("beschadigd").
What does "anders loop je kans op lange files" mean, and what is the significance of the word files?
The phrase "anders loop je kans op lange files" translates to "otherwise, you run the risk of long traffic jams." The word files in Dutch refers to traffic jams rather than documents or records, which might be the English association. This part of the sentence warns that if you don't take the suggested detour, you might experience significant delays because of heavy traffic.
Could you explain the expression "loop je kans" in terms of its structure and idiomatic meaning?
Certainly! "Loop je kans" literally means "you walk your chance," but idiomatically it conveys the meaning "you run the risk" of something happening. The phrase uses the verb lopen (to walk) in a way that is common in Dutch to indicate that you might face a certain outcome—in this case, encountering long traffic jams.
What overall advice is being given in this sentence regarding travel?
The sentence advises that if the main street happens to be damaged, you should take the detour. Failing to do so means you could run the risk of getting caught in long traffic jams. Essentially, it’s a precautionary suggestion to avoid potential delays by choosing an alternate route when the main street is compromised.