Learn Hardcore Dutch: Het hotel moet de reservering nog bevestigen per e-mail. - The hotel still has to confirm the reservation by e-mail.

Moet is a modal verb expressing necessity or obligation—equivalent to English must. Here it indicates that the hotel is required to confirm the reservation. In contrast, zal (will) or gaat (going to) simply project a future action without that sense of obligation.

Why is bevestigen placed at the end of the sentence?

When you have a modal verb like moet, it occupies the V2 slot (the second position in a main clause). In Dutch, any additional infinitive (here bevestigen) moves to the end of the clause.

What is the function of nog in this sentence, and why is it positioned before bevestigen?

Nog means still or yet, indicating the action hasn’t happened yet. Time-adverbs like nog typically precede the verb they modify. Here it appears directly before the infinitive bevestigen to show that the confirmation is still pending.

Can we move nog to another position, for example before moet or after reservering?

Yes. You can say Het hotel moet nog de reservering bevestigen, placing nog earlier to highlight the time aspect. Keeping nog before the infinitive (bevestigen) is key; putting it at the very end would sound odd.

What does per e-mail mean, and is via e-mail equally acceptable?

Per e-mail means by email. It’s a common Dutch prepositional phrase. You can also say via e-mail, but per e-mail is more idiomatic in everyday and formal usage.

Why is there no article before e-mail after per?

With the preposition per, Dutch omits the article entirely. You simply use per + noun without de or het.

Why is it de reservering and not het reservering?

Reservering is a common-gender (de-word) in Dutch, so it takes de as its definite article. Neuter nouns take het, common nouns take de.

Why is hotel paired with het and not de?

Hotel is a neuter noun in Dutch, so it’s a het- word. Many building-type nouns (museum, restaurant, hotel) are neuter, hence het hotel.