Breakdown of Onze boer verkoopt vers brood op de markt.
het brood
the bread
onze
our
verkopen
to sell
vers
fresh
de markt
the market
op
at
de boer
the farmer
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Questions & Answers about Onze boer verkoopt vers brood op de markt.
Why is onze used for our instead of ons?
Boer is a common‐gender noun (a de-word), so the possessive pronoun takes onze. Ons is used only before het-words (neuter nouns).
Why doesn’t vers get an –e ending here?
Adjectives take –e when the noun is definite or when it’s a common-gender/plural noun with no article. Here brood is singular neuter and indefinite (no article), so the adjective stays in its base form vers. If it were definite you’d say het verse brood.
Why is there no article before vers brood?
Dutch often omits the article for general or indefinite references to mass nouns like bread. You’re talking about fresh bread in general, not a specific loaf, so no article is needed.
What gender is boer and how can I tell?
Boer is a common-gender (de-word) noun. You can tell because the definite article is de (de boer), not het (het boer would be incorrect).
Why does the verb appear as verkoopt with a –t?
In the present tense, the third-person singular (he/she/it) form adds –t. So you have ik verkoop, jij verkoopt (informal), and hij/zij/het verkoopt.
Why do we say op de markt instead of in de markt?
Op is used for open or public spaces such as markets, squares or beaches. In is used for enclosed spaces (e.g., in de winkel, in het huis).
What is the typical word order in this sentence?
Dutch main clauses follow S-V-O order:
Subject (onze boer) → finite Verb (verkoopt) → Object (vers brood) → Adverbial phrase (op de markt).
Can I move op de markt to the front for emphasis?
Yes. You can front the locative phrase for emphasis:
Op de markt verkoopt onze boer vers brood.
Why isn’t vers placed after brood like in English (“bread fresh”)?
In Dutch attributive adjectives always precede the noun. If you want a predicative adjective (after a verb) you’d say: Het brood is vers.
How would I say the fresh bread if I want to make it definite?
Use the definite article for neuter singular plus the –e adjective ending: het verse brood.