Breakdown of Wanneer je hogerop woont in de bergen, kunnen de wegen door sneeuw beschadigd raken.
jij
you
in
in
wonen
to live
kunnen
can
wanneer
when
door
by
de weg
the road
de berg
the mountain
hogerop
higher up
de sneeuw
the snow
beschadigd raken
to get damaged
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Questions & Answers about Wanneer je hogerop woont in de bergen, kunnen de wegen door sneeuw beschadigd raken.
What does hogerop mean in this sentence?
Hogerop translates to "higher up" or "further up" in English. It indicates that someone lives at an elevated location within the mountains.
Why is there a comma after the clause "Wanneer je hogerop woont in de bergen"?
In Dutch, when a subordinate clause (introduced here by wanneer) comes at the beginning of a sentence, it is customary to separate it from the main clause with a comma. This helps clarify the sentence structure by marking the boundary between the condition and the main statement.
Why is the modal verb kunnen placed before the subject de wegen in the main clause?
When a sentence begins with a subordinate clause, the main clause follows with inversion according to Dutch word order rules. This means the finite verb—in this case, kunnen—comes first, followed by the subject de wegen, instead of the typical subject–verb order.
What does the compound verb beschadigd raken mean, and how is it used here?
Beschadigd raken is a compound verb that conveys a passive meaning; it roughly translates as "to become damaged" or "to get damaged". It indicates that the roads may suffer damage (without a directly mentioned agent) as a result of the snowy conditions.
How does the prepositional phrase door sneeuw function in this sentence?
Door sneeuw serves as an adverbial phrase that explains the cause of the potential damage. The preposition door means "by" or "due to," linking the damage directly to the effect of snow.
In the subordinate clause "Wanneer je hogerop woont in de bergen," why doesn't the verb woont go to the end of the clause?
Although Dutch subordinate clauses often push the finite verb to the end when multiple verbs are present, in a simple clause with only one main verb, it is acceptable—and often natural—for woont to follow the subject directly. Here, the simplicity of the clause means that strict SOV order isn’t required.