Breakdown of De liftsnelheid is te langzaam.
zijn
to be
te
too
de liftsnelheid
the elevator speed
langzaam
slow
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Questions & Answers about De liftsnelheid is te langzaam.
Why is de used as the article with liftsnelheid?
In Dutch, the gender (common vs. neuter) of a compound noun follows its head — the rightmost element. Here the head is snelheid (a “de”-word), so liftsnelheid also takes de.
How is liftsnelheid formed?
It’s a compound noun combining lift (elevator) + snelheid (speed). Dutch typically writes such compounds as one word: liftsnelheid = “elevator speed.”
What does te mean in te langzaam, and why is it used?
te means “too” (i.e. excessively). Placed before an adjective or adverb, it indicates that something exceeds an acceptable degree:
- te langzaam = “too slow.”
Why doesn’t langzaam get an -e ending here?
After a linking verb like is, the adjective is in predicative position and remains uninflected (no -e). If it were attributive (before a noun with a definite article), it would take an -e, e.g. de langzame lift.
Can I say erg langzaam instead of te langzaam? What’s the difference?
- erg langzaam = “very slow” (high degree, but not necessarily problematic)
- te langzaam = “too slow” (implies it’s insufficient or causing trouble)
Could I use traag instead of langzaam here?
Yes. Both traag and langzaam mean “slow.” traag often emphasizes the pace, langzaam can sound a bit more formal, but in this context they’re interchangeable.
How would I ask this as a question in Dutch?
Invert subject and verb:
Is de liftsnelheid te langzaam?
How else could I express “the speed of the elevator” without a compound?
Use a prepositional phrase:
De snelheid van de lift is te langzaam.
How do I pronounce liftsnelheid?
Three syllables, primary stress on the first: LIFT-snel-heid. In IPA: [ˈlɪft.snɛl.ɦɛit].