Breakdown of Dankzij onze reisverzekering kunnen we elke onverwachte tegenslag aankunnen.
wij
we
onze
our
elke
every
kunnen
can
onverwacht
unexpected
de tegenslag
the setback
aankunnen
to handle
de reisverzekering
the travel insurance
dankzij
thanks to
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Questions & Answers about Dankzij onze reisverzekering kunnen we elke onverwachte tegenslag aankunnen.
What does Dankzij mean and how is it used in Dutch?
Dankzij is a preposition meaning “thanks to.” You use it before a noun phrase to indicate the reason or cause of something. In this sentence, Dankzij onze reisverzekering (= “thanks to our travel insurance”) explains why you can handle unexpected setbacks.
Why does the finite verb kunnen appear right after Dankzij onze reisverzekering?
Dutch main clauses follow the V2‑rule: the finite verb must be in the second position. Even if you start with a prepositional phrase like Dankzij onze reisverzekering, the modal kunnen still occupies slot two.
Why is there a second aankunnen at the end of the sentence?
The first kunnen is the modal verb (“can”). The second word aankunnen is the full verb in the infinitive, a separable verb meaning “to cope with” or “to handle.” With modals, the main verb moves to the end in its infinitive form.
Why is aankunnen written as one word and not split into aan kunnen?
In the infinitive, separable verbs remain one word (aankunnen). You only split them in a finite clause without a modal: e.g. Ik kan het niet aan (“I can’t handle it”).
Why does the adjective onverwachte end in -e?
When an adjective precedes a singular common‑gender (de‑word) noun, or follows words like elke, you add -e. Hence onverwachte tegenslag (“unexpected setback”).
What is the function of elke here, and why is tegenslag singular?
Elke means “every” or “each.” It always takes a singular noun: elke tegenslag = “each setback.” If you wanted the plural you’d use alle tegenslagen (“all setbacks”).
Why do we say onze reisverzekering instead of ons reisverzekering?
Onze is used with de‑words (common gender) and plurals. Since verzekering is a de‑word, you pair it with onze: onze reisverzekering.
Can we change the word order of the sentence?
Yes. You can move the prepositional phrase or object, but the finite verb stays in second position and the infinitive cluster at the end. For example:
• We kunnen dankzij onze reisverzekering elke onverwachte tegenslag aankunnen.
The meaning remains the same.