De kiosk verkoopt water en brood.

the water

Breakdown of De kiosk verkoopt water en brood.

• het brood: the bread
• en: and
• verkopen: to sell
• de kiosk: the kiosk

Questions & Answers about De kiosk verkoopt water en brood.

Why is de kiosk using de instead of het, and how do I know which to pick?

Dutch nouns belong to two grammatical genders: common (take de) and neuter (take het). Unfortunately there aren’t fool-proof rules, so you’ll need to learn the article alongside each noun. Some tips:
• Many loanwords ending in -ie, -iek, -us, -ing are de words (e.g. de kiosk, de universiteit, de kantine).
• Use a reliable dictionary or flashcards that show de/ het with each noun.
• Over time, exposure and practice will help you develop a “feel” for the right article.

Why is the verb verkopen written as verkoopt here?

Dutch verbs in the present tense add -t for third-person singular (he/she/it):
• Ik verkoop (I sell) – no -t
• Jij verkoopt / Hij verkoopt (you/he sell(s)) – add -t
• Wij/Jullie/Zij verkopen (we/you/they sell) – back to the infinitive stem + en
Since de kiosk is a third-person singular subject, the correct form is verkoopt.

Why isn’t there an article before water and brood?

Both water and brood are treated as mass (uncountable) nouns when you talk about them in general. Mass nouns don’t take an indefinite article (een) in Dutch. You simply say:
• water (some water)
• brood (some bread)

Why are water and brood in the singular form even if the kiosk might sell many bottles or loaves?

In Dutch, uncountable items (liquids, bulk foods) remain in the singular to cover any quantity:
• water can mean a little or a lot of water
• brood can mean bread in general or several loaves
If you want to count specific units, you need a measure word or a countable variant (e.g. broodje for a roll).

How do I say a bottle of water or a loaf of bread in Dutch?

Combine een with a count noun or measure:
• a bottle of water → een fles water
• a loaf of bread → een brood
For individual rolls or sandwiches, use the diminutive:
• een broodje (a roll/sandwich)

How can I ask for some water or some bread (i.e. a non-specific amount)?

Often you just use the mass noun alone:
• Mag ik water? (Can I have some water?)
• Mag ik brood? (Can I have some bread?)
If you want to stress “some,” add wat:
• Mag ik wat water?
• Mag ik wat brood?

Why does verkoopt appear in the second position, and what is the general word order in Dutch main clauses?

Dutch is a V2-language: the finite verb must be the second element in a main clause. Here the order is:
[Subject] [Verb] [Object/Other elements]
De kiosk (subject) verkoopt (verb) water en brood (object)
If you move another element to the front, the verb remains second:
Vandaag (today) verkoopt de kiosk water en brood.

How do I turn the statement De kiosk verkoopt water en brood into a yes/no question?

Swap the subject and the finite verb so that the verb comes first:
Verkoopt de kiosk water en brood?