De film laat prachtige beelden van de woestijn zien bij zonsondergang.

The film shows beautiful images of the desert at sunset.

Breakdown of De film laat prachtige beelden van de woestijn zien bij zonsondergang.

• de film: the film
• van: of
• prachtig: beautiful
• bij: at
• laten zien: to show
• de zonsondergang: the sunset
• de woestijn: the desert
• het beeld: the image

Questions & Answers about De film laat prachtige beelden van de woestijn zien bij zonsondergang.

Why does the sentence use the construction laten … zien instead of a single verb like “shows”?

Dutch often expresses “to show” with the causative combination laten (to let) plus an infinitive. In this case laat (3 sg. present of laten) + zien (to see) literally means “lets see,” i.e. “shows.” It’s a fixed, very common way to say “to show.”

Why is the infinitive zien placed at the end of the sentence rather than right after laat?

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).

Why is there no article before prachtige beelden, and why does prachtige take an -e ending?

1. Beelden is an indefinite plural noun here, so Dutch omits the article (no de or het).
2. Attributive adjectives preceding plural (and most singular) nouns in Dutch always get an -e ending. So prachtig becomes prachtige before beelden.

Why is the preposition van used in beelden van de woestijn instead of uit de or in de woestijn?

• 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.

Why does the sentence include bij zonsondergang to express “at sunset”?

Dutch uses bij + a noun to indicate “at” or “during” a particular moment or event. Hence bij zonsondergang = “at sunset.” You wouldn’t say op zonsondergang or in zonsondergang in Dutch.

Can I replace laat prachtige beelden van de woestijn zien with toont prachtige beelden van de woestijn?

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.

Where else can I place the time phrase bij zonsondergang? Can it appear at the beginning of the sentence?

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.

How should I render beelden in English? Is it “pictures,” “images,” “scenes,” or something else?

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.