Learn Hardcore Dutch: De arts constateert dat regelmatige training je gezondheid verbetert. - The doctor observes that regular training improves your health.

Because this is a subordinate clause introduced by the conjunction dat. In Dutch subordinate clauses the finite verb goes to the end. The structure is Subject – Object – Verb, so you get dat regelmatige training je gezondheid verbetert.

Why is there no comma before dat?

In Dutch you generally do not put a comma before dat when it introduces a subordinate clause. Unlike in English (“The doctor observes, that…”), Dutch flows directly: De arts constateert dat… without a comma.

What exactly does constateert mean, and how do I pronounce it?

Constateren means “to establish,” “to note,” or “to observe (in a factual way).”
– constateert is the 3rd-person-singular present form.
– Pronunciation: /kɔn-ʃtaːˈteːr(ə)n/ → kon-sta-TEER-en, stress on the second syllable.

Can I use merken instead of constateren?

You could say De arts merkt dat…, but there’s a nuance:

merken = to notice (often sensory or subjective).
constateren = to establish or register a fact (more formal, objective).
So a doctor “merkt” something in passing, but “constateert” it as a medical fact.

Why is there no article like “een” before regelmatige training?

Here we speak about training in general (a generic statement). In Dutch you drop the indefinite article when talking about things in a general sense (much like English “Doctors say exercise is good” rather than “A doctor says an exercise…”).

Why does regelmatige end in -e? Wouldn’t it be regelmatig training?

Dutch adjective inflection rules say:
– Adjectives before a de-word (common noun) or before a noun with no article in the generic sense get an -e ending.
– training is a common noun, so it’s regelmatige training, not regelmatig training.

What’s the difference between je gezondheid and jouw gezondheid?

– je is the weak (unstressed) form of “your,” used in everyday speech.
– jouw is the strong (stressed) form, used when you really want to emphasize “your.”
Both mean “your health,” but je is more neutral and frequent.

Could I say gezondheid wordt beter instead of gezondheid verbetert?

Yes, you could:
– gezondheid verbetert = health improves (active).
– gezondheid wordt beter = health becomes better (using worden).
They’re interchangeable, though verbetert is a single verb and more direct.

Is it possible to omit dat and rewrite the sentence with a colon?

Yes. You could write:
De arts constateert: regelmatige training verbetert je gezondheid.
This is more stylistic (often in headlines or summaries), but grammatically correct.

How would I change the sentence if the doctor were speaking formally to a patient?

You would replace je with uw (formal “your”):
De arts constateert dat regelmatige training uw gezondheid verbetert.