Learn Hardcore Dutch: Er is niet voldoende licht in de kamer, dus ik gebruik mijn zaklamp. - There is not enough light in the room, so I use my flashlight.

Er here is a dummy or expletive pronoun, equivalent to English there in “there is.” It doesn’t refer to a location but simply introduces the existence of something.

Why do we use is and not zijn in er is?

The verb agrees with licht, which is an uncountable (mass) noun treated as singular. Therefore you use is (singular), not zijn (plural).

Why is niet placed before voldoende, and could you say Er is onvoldoende licht?

To negate an adjective, Dutch places niet directly before it: niet voldoende (“not sufficient”). You can also say Er is onvoldoende licht, but that feels more formal or technical. You cannot say Er is geen voldoende licht, because geen negates the noun, not the adjective.

What’s the difference between voldoende and genoeg?

Both mean “enough,” but voldoende is slightly more formal or implies meeting a specific requirement (“sufficient”), while genoeg is more general and everyday (“enough”).

Why is there a comma before dus, and what role does dus play?

Dus is a coordinating conjunction meaning “so.” When linking two independent clauses, Dutch, like English, uses a comma before the conjunction:
Er is niet voldoende licht in de kamer, dus ik gebruik mijn zaklamp.

Can I move dus to the beginning of the second clause, as in “Dus gebruik ik mijn zaklamp”?

Yes. Placing dus at the start of a clause triggers inversion (verb–subject order). It becomes “Dus gebruik ik mijn zaklamp,” adding emphasis—similar to “So, I use my flashlight.”

Why is in de kamer placed after licht instead of earlier?

Dutch word order typically puts the subject (Er), finite verb (is), negation/adverb (niet voldoende), and object (licht) first, then location phrases like in de kamer at the end.

What does zaklamp literally mean, and are there synonyms?

Literally zaklamp is “pocket lamp.” It’s the standard Dutch word for flashlight. A less common synonym is zaklantaarn, but zaklamp is far more frequent.

Why use mijn zaklamp instead of de zaklamp?

Mijn signals possession (“my flashlight”). De zaklamp would mean “the flashlight,” implying a specific or previously mentioned flashlight, not necessarily yours.

Could I say Er is te weinig licht in de kamer instead?

Absolutely. Te weinig means “too little,” so Er is te weinig licht is a natural alternative meaning “there isn’t enough light.”