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Breakdown of De docent past het rooster aan.
het rooster
the timetable
de docent
the teacher
aanpassen
to adjust
Questions & Answers about De docent past het rooster aan.
Why is the verb aanpassen split into past and aan in this sentence?
In Dutch main clauses, separable verbs like aanpassen divide: the finite part (past) appears in the second position, and the separable prefix (aan) moves to the end of the clause. So you get De docent past het rooster aan rather than aanpast in one piece.
What tense and person is past here? It looks like the English word “past.”
Despite resembling English “past,” this past is the present-tense, third-person singular form of aanpassen (“he/she adjusts”). The Dutch past (imperfect) is paste (ik/hij paste).
Why does het rooster come between past and aan?
In a Dutch main clause the finite verb (past) must occupy the second slot, and the separable prefix (aan) goes to the very end. Any objects or adverbials naturally fill the space in between, so het rooster sits between past and aan.
Why is docent preceded by de but rooster by het?
Dutch nouns are either common gender (de-words) or neuter (het-words). Docent (teacher) is common, so it takes de docent. Rooster (schedule) is neuter, so it’s het rooster.
How would you make this sentence passive?
Use the present of worden plus the past participle of aanpassen. The past participle is aangepast.
Passive form: Het rooster wordt aangepast door de docent.
What’s the difference between aanpassen and wijzigen?
Both can mean “to change,” but:
- aanpassen emphasizes adjusting or fine-tuning something to fit new conditions (e.g. a schedule, settings).
- wijzigen is more general “to alter” or “amend” (e.g. a law, a plan).
How do I pronounce docent, past, and rooster?
- docent: [duh-SENT], stress on the second syllable.
- past (of aanpassen): [pɑst], a short “a” like in “father.”
- rooster: [ROH-stər], long “oo” as in “row,” then a soft “tər.”
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