Ik gebruik hetzelfde notitieboek ook buiten etenstijd.

I use the same notebook even outside mealtime.

Breakdown of Ik gebruik hetzelfde notitieboek ook buiten etenstijd.

• ik: I
• ook: also
• gebruiken: to use
• buiten: outside
• hetzelfde: the same
• het notitieboek: the notebook
• de etenstijd: the mealtime

Questions & Answers about Ik gebruik hetzelfde notitieboek ook buiten etenstijd.

What does hetzelfde mean, and how is it different from dezelfde?

hetzelfde means “the same” and is used with neuter gender nouns (those taking het). dezelfde is its counterpart for common gender nouns (those taking de).

Why is it hetzelfde notitieboek and not dezelfde notitieboek?

Because notitieboek is a neuter noun (het notitieboek). Neuter nouns pair with hetzelfde, whereas common gender nouns (de-words) pair with dezelfde.

Where does the adverb ook go, and what does it modify here?

ook means “also/too” and normally sits just before the word or phrase it modifies. In Ik gebruik hetzelfde notitieboek ook buiten etenstijd, ook modifies buiten etenstijd, indicating that you use the notebook “also outside meal times” in addition to other times.

What does buiten etenstijd literally mean, and why is etenstijd in the singular?

buiten = “outside (of)”; etenstijd = “eating time” or “mealtime.” Together they mean “outside (of) mealtimes.” Even though there are multiple meals, Dutch often uses the singular collective noun etenstijd to refer to mealtime periods in general.

Why isn’t there an article before etenstijd (no de or het)?

In fixed adverbial expressions like buiten etenstijd, articles are commonly dropped. It’s similar to time phrases such as ’s ochtends (“in the morning”) instead of in de ochtend.

Why doesn’t Dutch use a continuous tense here (“I am using…”)?

Dutch usually employs the simple present for both habitual and ongoing actions. Ik gebruik can mean “I use” or “I am using.” To stress the ongoing nature you could say Ik ben het notitieboek aan het gebruiken, but in everyday speech the simple present suffices.

Could I move ook to the start of the sentence? How would that change the meaning?

Yes. Ook gebruik ik hetzelfde notitieboek buiten etenstijd shifts the emphasis: now you’re saying “Also, I use the same notebook outside meal times,” perhaps adding yourself to a group of people who do so. In the original position, ook emphasizes the “outside meal times” part.