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Questions & Answers about Het eten smaakt verschrikkelijk.
Why do we use smaakt (with a -t) instead of is here?
In Dutch, smaken is the verb “to taste,” so you say Het eten smaakt … just like English “The food tastes …”. You add -t because for the third-person singular (he/she/it), Dutch verbs ending in -en drop -en and usually take -t. Using is would mean “The food is terrible,” not “tastes terrible.”
Why doesn’t verschikkelijk take an -e ending even though it describes eten?
Because verschikkelijk here is a predicative adjective (it follows a linking verb). Predicative adjectives in Dutch remain in their base form. Only attributive adjectives (those placed directly before a noun) get -e, for example een verschrikkelijk gerecht (“a terrible dish”).
Why is there het before eten? Can I just say Eten smaakt verschrikkelijk?
When talking about food in general or a specific meal, Dutch normally uses the definite article. Het eten means “the food” as a whole concept. Omitting het (“Eten smaakt…”) sounds incomplete or awkward in Dutch.
Can I also say Het eten is verschrikkelijk instead of smaakt verschrikkelijk?
Yes.
- Het eten is verschrikkelijk focuses on the food itself (“The food is terrible”).
- Het eten smaakt verschrikkelijk specifically comments on how it tastes (“The food tastes terrible”).
Is verschikkelijk the same as slecht? What’s the difference?
Slecht means “bad” or “poor.” Verschrikkelijk is stronger, equivalent to “terrible,” “awful,” or “horrible.” Use slecht for a milder critique, verschikkelijk when you really dislike the taste.
Why is verschikkelijk placed at the end of the sentence?
Dutch uses the V2 (verb-second) word order. The finite verb smaakt must occupy the second position (after the subject het eten). All complements—objects, adverbs, predicative adjectives—follow the verb, so verschikkelijk comes at the end.
Are there synonyms for verschikkelijk to say “tastes terrible”?
Yes. A few common alternatives:
• vreselijk – “horrible/awful”
• afschuwelijk – “dreadful”
• walgelijk – “disgusting” (very strong, implies revulsion)