Learn Hardcore Dutch: Het is verstandig om water te drinken als je dorstig bent. - It is wise to drink water when you are thirsty.

The het is a dummy subject or anticipatory pronoun. Dutch often starts impersonal statements with het to fill the subject slot, just like “it” in “It is wise to drink water.” There’s no concrete “het” being referred to.

Why do we use om water te drinken instead of something like dat je water drinkt?

To express “to do something” in Dutch you use om + infinitive … te (similar to English to + verb). You can’t use dat here because dat introduces a finite clause, not an infinitive phrase.

Why is there te before drinken?

In Dutch, after om the infinitive verb must be preceded by te. This marks that drinken remains in its infinitive form within the sentence.

Why is there no article before water?

Water is an uncountable noun when you talk about it in general. Just like in English you say “drink water,” in Dutch you simply say “water” without het or een.

Why is als je dorstig bent placed at the end of the sentence?

Als je dorstig bent is a subordinate clause, and in Dutch subordinate clauses the conjugated verb (bent) goes to the end. You could also put it first, but then you invert the main clause:
Als je dorstig bent, is het verstandig om water te drinken.

Can we use wanneer instead of als here?

Both can mean “when,” but wanneer is more formal or used for one specific moment. Als is preferred for general or repeated conditions, like “if/when you are thirsty.”

Why use is verstandig instead of moet?

Is verstandig literally means “is sensible” and offers mild advice. Moet means “must” and expresses a stronger obligation.

What does verstandig mean in English?

Verstandig translates to sensible, wise, or prudent. It describes an action that is a good idea.

Why do we use je instead of jij in als je dorstig bent?

In subordinate clauses Dutch prefers the unstressed pronoun je. You’d use jij only for emphasis or in main clauses.