Q: What does tijdens mean, and are there alternatives?

Tijdens means ‘during’. It governs a noun phrase (tijdens + de/een + noun). Alternatives: - bij storm – idiomatic for ‘in stormy weather’ (“Bij storm kan de lamp omvallen.”) - in de storm – literally ‘in the storm’, less common but possible. - gedurende de storm – more formal register.

Question 1

Why is it kapotte lamp and not kapot lamp?

Accepted Answer

In Dutch, adjectives preceding a noun take an -e ending when the noun is accompanied by a definite article (de or het) or a demonstrative (e.g. deze, die). The base adjective is kapot (‘broken’), but with de you say de kapotte lamp. If you had an indefinite article with a neuter noun (a het-word), you’d say een kapot huis (no -e).

Question 2

What kind of verb is omvallen, and how do I use it?

Accepted Answer

Omvallen is a separable verb: om (prefix) + vallen (‘to fall’). Together they mean ‘to topple over’. In main clauses you split it when conjugating:  
• Ik val om. (I topple over.)  
• De lamp kan omvallen. (The lamp can topple over.)  
With a modal like kan, you keep omvallen intact at the end.

Question 3

Why does the sentence use kan omvallen and not omvallen kan?

Accepted Answer

Dutch main clauses follow the V2 rule: the finite verb (here kan) must be the second constituent in the sentence. All non-finite verbs (infinitives, participles) go to the end. So after the subject de kapotte lamp, you place kan, and omvallen goes to the very end.

Question 4

What does tijdens mean, and are there alternatives?

Accepted Answer

Tijdens means ‘during’. It governs a noun phrase (​tijdens + de/een + noun). Alternatives:  
- bij storm – idiomatic for ‘in stormy weather’ (“Bij storm kan de lamp omvallen.”)  
- in de storm – literally ‘in the storm’, less common but possible.  
- gedurende de storm – more formal register.

Question 5

What nuance does kan add, and could I use zullen instead?

Accepted Answer

Kan expresses possibility (‘might, can’). Zullen expresses future or stronger prediction (‘will, shall’).  
- De kapotte lamp kan omvallen… → The broken lamp may topple over…  
- De kapotte lamp zal omvallen… → The broken lamp will topple over… (more certain or future-focused)

Question 6

How would I say this in the plural?

Accepted Answer

Make the noun plural and adjust the verb:  
De kapotte lampen kunnen omvallen tijdens de storm.  
Or if you speak generally:  
Kapotte lampen kunnen omvallen tijdens een storm.

Question 7

Why is there a double t in kapotte?

Accepted Answer

Dutch spelling rules require a doubled consonant after a short, stressed vowel to keep that vowel short. In kapotte, the o is short, so you write tt. If the vowel were long, you’d use a single consonant.

Question 8

How do I make this a subordinate clause, for example “I think that the broken lamp can fall over during the storm”?

Accepted Answer

Introduce a conjunction like dat and move the finite verb to the end (verb-final):  
Ik denk dat de kapotte lamp tijdens de storm kan omvallen.  
In subordinate clauses, all verbs cluster at the end, with the finite modal before the infinitive.

Question 9

Why is it de storm and not een storm in tijdens de storm?

Accepted Answer

Using de storm refers to a specific storm the speaker and listener both know about. If you speak of any storm in general, use een:  
Tijdens een storm kan een kapotte lamp omvallen.

De kapotte lamp kan omvallen tijdens de storm.

Breakdown of De kapotte lamp kan omvallen tijdens de storm.

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