Learn Hardcore Dutch: Dat document bevat alle regels. - That document contains all the rules.

Here dat is a demonstrative determiner (English “that”) modifying document (“that document”). It is not a relative pronoun, because a relative pronoun dat would introduce a clause and the verb for that clause would go to the end, e.g. Het document dat ik lees bevat alle regels.

Why is the verb bevat placed directly after dat document instead of later in the sentence?

Dutch follows the V2 (verb‐second) rule in main clauses: the finite verb must occupy the second position. Whatever you put first (here dat document) counts as the first slot, so bevat must come immediately after.

Why does bevat end with -t?

Since dat document is a third‐person singular subject, the present‐tense form of bevatten (“to contain”) takes -t for hij/zij/het. Hence het document bevat.

Why isn’t there an article like het or de before document?

A demonstrative determiner such as dat already specifies which document you mean, so you don’t add a definite article. Saying het document would mean “the document,” but dat document means “that document.”

Could you say het document bevat alle regels instead?

Yes, that is grammatically correct, but the nuance changes: het document = “the document,” while dat document = “that document” (pointing out a specific one). Both refer to a single document, but with slightly different emphasis.

What is the difference between al and alle? Why must it be alle regels?

Alle is the determiner “all” used with plural nouns (alle regels = “all rules”). Al without -le is an adverb meaning “already” or appears in fixed phrases like al het water (“all the water”), but you never say al regels for “all rules.”

Why is regels in the plural form? Could we say “Dat document bevat regel”?

Because alle (“all”) refers to multiple items, it requires a plural noun. Regel is singular (“a rule”), so you must use regels (“rules”) to match all rules.

Could you omit dat and simply say document bevat alle regels?

In a regular Dutch sentence you need a determiner before a singular noun (a/an, the, that). So document bevat alle regels is ungrammatical in full writing or speech. You would use dat document, het document or een document. Dropping the article or determiner happens only in headlines or very informal notes.