Wij bestuderen de resultaten van ons onderzoek.

We study the results of our research.

Breakdown of Wij bestuderen de resultaten van ons onderzoek.

• wij: we
• ons: our
• het onderzoek: the research
• het resultaat: the result
• van: of
• bestuderen: to study

Questions & Answers about Wij bestuderen de resultaten van ons onderzoek.

Why do we sometimes say wij instead of we, and what’s the difference in use?

In Dutch, both we and wij mean “we,” but: • wij is used when you want extra emphasis or to contrast (“Wij gaan, maar jij blijft”).
• we is the unstressed, more common subject pronoun in casual speech.
Neither changes the basic meaning; choose wij for emphasis or formality.

What does bestuderen mean exactly, and how does it differ from studeren and onderzoeken?

• bestuderen = to examine something in detail (e.g. data, texts).
• studeren = to study as a student at a school or university.
• onderzoeken = to investigate or research, often to discover something new.
So in Wij bestuderen de resultaten… you analyse the results; Wij onderzoeken… means you carry out the research itself.

Is bestuderen a separable verb?

No. The prefix be- in bestuderen is inseparable. You never split it: • Present: Ik bestudeer
• Past: Ik bestudeerde
Compare a separable verb like aanbellen → Ik bel aan.

Why is it de resultaten? How do I know to use de and that it’s plural?

• resultaat is a het-word in singular (“het resultaat”).
• The plural is resultaten, and all plural nouns take de (“de resultaten”).
So: singular = het resultaat, plural = de resultaten.

Why do we say ons onderzoek instead of onze onderzoek?

Dutch has two forms of “our”: • ons for singular het-words (neuter): het onderzoek → ons onderzoek.
• onze for singular de-words and all plurals: de resultaten → onze resultaten.

What is the role of van in de resultaten van ons onderzoek?

van marks possession or origin (“of” in English).
So de resultaten van ons onderzoek literally means “the results of our research.”
Dutch usually prefers van + possessor instead of an English ’s-ending.

Could we say onze onderzoeksresultaten instead? How do compounds work here?

Yes. Dutch often forms compounds: • onze onderzoeksresultaten = “our research results.”
Here onderzoeks- attaches directly to resultaten, and you still use onze because resultaten is a de-word.

Can I start with De resultaten van ons onderzoek instead of Wij? What happens to the word order?

Yes. Dutch main clauses follow the V2 (verb-second) rule. If you front De resultaten van ons onderzoek, you invert subject and verb: • De resultaten van ons onderzoek bestuderen wij.
The finite verb bestuderen remains in the second position.