Breakdown of Als de schilder klaar is, wast hij de borstel goed uit.
zijn
to be
hij
he
klaar
ready
als
when
goed
well
de schilder
the painter
de borstel
the brush
uitwassen
to wash out
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Questions & Answers about Als de schilder klaar is, wast hij de borstel goed uit.
Why is the verb is placed at the end of Als de schilder klaar is?
In Dutch, any clause introduced by a subordinating conjunction (here als) is a subordinate clause, and in subordinate clauses the finite verb must go to the end. That’s why is comes after klaar rather than right after the subject.
Why does the main clause start with wast instead of the subject hij?
Because the sentence begins with a subordinate clause, the following main clause uses inversion: the finite verb (wast) comes first, then the subject (hij). If you began the sentence with the main clause, you would say Hij wast… instead.
What kind of word is klaar in klaar is? Is it a verb?
Klaar is an adjective meaning “ready” or “finished.” Here it forms a predicative complement with the verb zijn (is klaar = “is finished”). It’s not a verb on its own.
Why is wast separated from uit in wast … uit?
The original verb is uitwassen (“to wash out”). In Dutch separable verbs, the prefix (uit) detaches and goes to the end of the main clause. So hij wast uit becomes hij wast … uit when you insert an object and adverb.
Why is the adverb goed placed just before uit: goed uit?
With a separable verb, any adverbs (like goed) go between the verb stem (wast) and the detached prefix (uit). So you get wast goed uit, not goed wast uit or wast uit goed.
What’s the difference between wassen and uitwassen? Could you just say “wast hij de borstel goed”?
- wassen means simply “to wash.”
- uitwassen means “to rinse out” or “wash out thoroughly,” especially to remove residue (here: paint).
If you said wast hij de borstel goed, you’d still be washing it, but uitwassen emphasizes getting the paint out of the bristles completely.
What role does als play here? Does it mean “when” or “if”?
The conjunction als can mean both “when” (temporal) and “if” (conditional). In this context it’s temporal (“when the painter is finished…”) because the action clearly happens at that point in time, not hypothetically.
Why is there a comma after klaar is?
The comma separates the subordinate clause (Als de schilder klaar is) from the main clause (wast hij…). In Dutch it’s standard (and recommended) to mark that break with a comma.
Could you use wanneer instead of als in this sentence?
Yes, you could say Wanneer de schilder klaar is, wast hij de borstel goed uit, and it still means “When the painter is finished…” The difference is subtle:
- als is more common in everyday speech for events or conditions.
- wanneer is slightly more formal or explicit about timing.