Learn Hardcore Dutch: Behalve brood eet zij ook fruit. - Apart from bread, she also eats fruit.

Behalve is a preposition meaning apart from, besides or except for. Here it works like “in addition to bread,” indicating that she also eats fruit.

Why does the verb eet appear before the subject zij?

Dutch main clauses follow the V2 (verb-second) rule. When you begin with an element other than the subject (in this case Behalve brood), the finite verb must occupy the second slot, pushing the subject after it: eet zij.

Why is there no article before brood and fruit?

Here brood and fruit are used as generic, mass nouns (food in general). Mass nouns normally take no article in Dutch. Adding het would make them definite (the bread, the fruit) and refer to specific items instead of the general concept.

What role does ook play, and why is it placed before fruit?

Ook means also or too and marks fruit as an additional item she eats. In Dutch, ook typically comes directly before the word or phrase it modifies, hence eet zij ook fruit.

Can I replace behalve with naast in this sentence?

Yes. Naast also means besides or in addition to, so
Naast brood eet zij ook fruit
is perfectly fine. Note, however, that naast is purely additive, whereas behalve can also express exception (i.e. except for).

Why is there no comma after Behalve brood?

In Dutch, a short introductory phrase like Behalve brood doesn’t require a comma. Writers may insert one for clarity or emphasis, but it isn’t mandatory.

Why is the subject pronoun zij used here instead of the colloquial ze?

Both zij and ze mean she. Zij is the full or stressed form, often chosen in writing or to add emphasis. Ze is the unstressed, more informal variant.

Could I say Behalve het brood eet zij ook het fruit to specify particular items?

Absolutely. Adding het turns brood and fruit into definite nouns (the bread, the fruit), so you’d be referring to those specific items rather than bread or fruit in general.