Breakdown of De film laat prachtige beelden van de woestijn zien bij zonsondergang.
Questions & Answers about De film laat prachtige beelden van de woestijn zien bij zonsondergang.
Dutch main clauses follow the V2 rule: the finite verb (laat) must occupy the second position, and any additional verbs (here the infinitive zien) go to the very end of the clause. That’s why you get:
De film (1) – laat (2) – prachtige beelden van de woestijn (rest) – zien (last).
- Beelden is an indefinite plural noun here, so Dutch omits the article (no de or het).
- Attributive adjectives preceding plural (and most singular) nouns in Dutch always get an -e ending. So prachtig becomes prachtige before beelden.
- van in this context means “of” or “depicting”—beelden van de woestijn = “images of the desert.”
- uit de woestijn would suggest “originating out of the desert,” and in de woestijn would suggest “located in the desert,” neither of which matches the intended meaning.
Yes. Toont is the 3 sg. of tonen (“to show”).
De film toont prachtige beelden van de woestijn bij zonsondergang.
This is perfectly correct and slightly more formal/direct. Laten zien is more conversational.
Absolutely. You can front bij zonsondergang, but you must then keep the finite verb in second position:
“Bij zonsondergang laat de film prachtige beelden van de woestijn zien.”
Notice that laat stays in slot 2, and zien still goes to the end.
Beelden is flexible. Depending on context you can translate it as:
- “images” (general)
- “footage” (if referring to video)
- “scenes” (if referring to film clips)
- “shots” (in a cinematographic sense)
Choose the word that best fits what you’re describing in English.