……
Breakdown of Nadeel is dat wij niet altijd genoeg tijd hebben.
zijn
to be
hebben
to have
niet
not
wij
we
dat
that
de tijd
the time
genoeg
enough
altijd
always
het nadeel
the disadvantage
Questions & Answers about Nadeel is dat wij niet altijd genoeg tijd hebben.
What does nadeel mean in English?
Nadeel translates to disadvantage or drawback. It refers to something negative or a downside in a given situation.
Why does the sentence start with nadeel without an article, and could one also say het nadeel?
Both forms are acceptable. Using het nadeel—which means "the disadvantage"—is grammatically correct. However, omitting the article as in "Nadeel is dat..." can emphasize the general or abstract nature of the disadvantage. This stylistic choice is common in spoken Dutch.
What role does dat play in this sentence?
Dat functions as a subordinating conjunction. It introduces the subordinate clause "wij niet altijd genoeg tijd hebben," which explains what the disadvantage is. In English, dat is equivalent to "that."
Why is the verb hebben placed at the end of the clause "dat wij niet altijd genoeg tijd hebben"?
In Dutch subordinate clauses, it is a standard rule to position the finite verb at the very end. Here, after the subject (wij) and adverbial phrases (niet altijd genoeg tijd), the verb hebben concludes the clause, following Dutch syntax conventions.
How can the full sentence be translated into English?
A natural translation would be: "The disadvantage is that we do not always have enough time." This translation accurately reflects both the meaning and the grammatical structure of the original Dutch sentence.
More from this lesson
AI Language TutorTry it ↗
“What's the best way to learn Dutch grammar?”
Dutch grammar becomes intuitive with practice. Focus on understanding the core patterns first — how sentences are structured, how verbs change form, and how words relate to each other. Our course breaks these concepts into small lessons so you can build understanding step by step.
Sign up free — start using our AI language tutor
Start learning DutchMaster Dutch — from Nadeel is dat wij niet altijd genoeg tijd hebben to fluency
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods.
- ✓ Infinitely deep — unlimited vocabulary and grammar
- ✓ Fast-paced — build complex sentences from the start
- ✓ Unforgettable — efficient spaced repetition system
- ✓ AI tutor to answer your grammar questions