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Questions & Answers about Ik ben gemotiveerd.
What is the overall structure of the sentence "Ik ben gemotiveerd"?
The sentence follows a Subject–Verb–Predicate Adjective structure. Ik is the subject (meaning I), ben is the verb (the first-person singular of zijn, meaning am), and gemotiveerd is the predicate adjective (meaning motivated).
How is the verb "ben" formed, and why is it used here instead of another form?
Ben is the conjugated form of the verb zijn for the first-person singular in the present tense. It is used here to indicate that the subject (Ik, meaning I) is in a state of being, similar to the English am.
Why does the adjective "gemotiveerd" not change its form to match the subject?
In Dutch, adjectives used in the predicate position (after a linking verb like ben) do not take inflectional endings. Therefore, gemotiveerd remains unchanged regardless of any considerations of gender or number.
Under what circumstances would a Dutch adjective take an -e ending?
When an adjective is used in an attributive position—directly before a noun—it typically takes an -e ending to agree with the noun in gender and number. In "Ik ben gemotiveerd," the adjective is used predicatively, so no ending is needed.
Is "gemotiveerd" acting as an adjective or as a past participle in this sentence?
Here, gemotiveerd functions as a predicate adjective describing the subject's state. Although it resembles a past participle, its role in the sentence is purely adjectival rather than forming part of a compound verb tense.
How would you express the same idea in the past tense using a similar structure?
To express the idea in the past tense, you can change the verb. For example, "Ik was gemotiveerd" means I was motivated—here, was is the past tense of zijn.
How is "gemotiveerd" related to its English equivalent?
Gemotiveerd is a cognate of the English word motivated. They share the same Latin root, which makes it easier for English speakers to recognize and remember the meaning.
Can you give a basic guide on how to pronounce "gemotiveerd" for an English speaker?
Sure. In Dutch, gemotiveerd is pronounced roughly as khuh-moh-tee-VEERT, where the initial g is pronounced with a soft, guttural sound that may be unfamiliar to English speakers. Regional differences exist, but practicing the guttural g can help approximate the correct pronunciation.