Breakdown of De verzekering dekt de kosten waarvoor we eerder bang waren.
zijn
to be
wij
we
voor
for
de verzekering
the insurance
dekken
to cover
eerder
before
bang
afraid
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Questions & Answers about De verzekering dekt de kosten waarvoor we eerder bang waren.
What does dekt mean here?
dekt is the third-person singular present tense of the verb dekken, which means “to cover.” In this sentence it means “covers.”
Why is dekt placed immediately after de verzekering?
Dutch main clauses follow the V2 (verb-second) rule: the finite verb must occupy the second position, right after the first element (here De verzekering).
What is waarvoor, and why do we use it?
waarvoor is a compound of waar (“where/which”) + voor (“for”). It functions as a prepositional relative pronoun meaning “for which,” introducing the clause that specifies de kosten.
Why does the verb waren appear at the end of the clause waarvoor we eerder bang waren?
Because it’s a subordinate (relative) clause. In Dutch subordinate clauses the finite verb typically moves to the end.
Why do we say bang voor iets instead of just bang iets?
The adjective bang (“afraid”) normally takes the preposition voor to indicate what one is afraid of. You always say bang voor + object.
Could we replace waarvoor with die … voor?
Yes – you can say de kosten die we eerder bang voor waren. In that version die is the relative pronoun and voor goes to the end. waarvoor is a bit more formal and keeps the preposition up front.
What does eerder add to the meaning?
eerder means “earlier” or “previously.” It indicates that the fear of those costs was in the past, before the insurance covered them.
Why is we used instead of wij in the relative clause?
In subordinate clauses and in unstressed positions Dutch often uses the short form we rather than the full pronoun wij.
What exactly does verzekering refer to here?
verzekering means “insurance” or “insurance policy.” It refers to the contract or policy that will cover the costs.