Fietsen in de regen kan lastig zijn.

Fietsen in de regen kan lastig zijn.
Cycling in the rain can be difficult.
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Questions & Answers about Fietsen in de regen kan lastig zijn.

What does Fietsen in de regen mean and how is fietsen functioning in this sentence?
Fietsen in de regen literally means “cycling in the rain.” Here, fietsen is the infinitive form of the verb fietsen (“to cycle”), but it’s nominalized—used like a noun (similar to the English gerund “cycling”).
Why is Fietsen capitalized here?
Because it’s the first word of the sentence. In Dutch (as in English), the first word is always capitalized, regardless of its grammatical role.
Why is there no article before fietsen (like het fietsen)?
When an infinitive is used in a general sense (talking about the activity as a whole), Dutch often drops the article. Both Fietsen is gezond and Het fietsen is gezond are correct, but the shorter form is more common for general statements.
Why is kan used instead of is, and why is it singular rather than plural?
  • Kan (“can”) expresses possibility: cycling in the rain might be difficult.
  • Is would state a definite fact: cycling in the rain is difficult.
  • It’s singular because the subject (fietsen, the activity) is treated as one concept. The plural form kunnen would be used only if the subject were actually plural (e.g. Fietsers kunnen…).
Why do kan, lastig, and zijn appear in this order?

Dutch word order with a modal in a main clause is:

  1. Subject or subject phrase
  2. Finite verb (the modal kan) in second position
  3. Complement (here the adjective lastig)
  4. Non-finite verb (the main verb zijn) at the end
Why is it in de regen and not in regen?
In Dutch, nouns like regen (“rain”) usually require a definite article after a preposition. The fixed phrase is in de regen (“in the rain”).
Could you also say Fietsen in de regen is lastig? What’s the difference?

Yes.

  • …kan lastig zijn → highlights that it may be difficult (possibility).
  • …is lastig → presents it as a general fact (definitive statement).
Could you front the prepositional phrase and say In de regen fietsen kan lastig zijn?
Yes. Dutch allows you to start with a time/place/manner phrase. Putting In de regen first shifts the emphasis onto the setting: “When cycling in the rain, it can be difficult.”
Is there a difference between lastig and moeilijk here?

They’re near-synonyms:

  • Lastig often suggests “troublesome” or “awkward.”
  • Moeilijk is more neutral, simply “hard.”
    You could say Fietsen in de regen kan moeilijk zijn without changing the core meaning.