Learn Hardcore Dutch: Om twaalf uur roept de docent dat het etenstijd is. - At twelve o’clock the teacher calls out that it is mealtime.

In Dutch you use om for specific clock times (e.g. om 8 uur, om 12.30). Op is used for days, dates or parts of the day (e.g. op maandag, op 5 mei, op de ochtend).

Why is the verb roept in second position when the sentence starts with Om twaalf uur?

Dutch main clauses follow the V2‐rule (verb-second). Whatever element comes first (subject, time, place, object), the finite verb stays in slot two. Here Om twaalf uur is slot one, roept slot two.

Why do we add dat after roept de docent?

Because this is indirect speech. In Dutch a subordinate clause introduced by speech verbs needs dat (or of for yes/no). Without dat you’d have a fragmented sentence.

Why does the verb is come at the end in dat het etenstijd is?

Subordinate clauses in Dutch typically use verb-final word order, so the finite verb (is) goes to the end.

What’s the difference between roeper and zeggen (i.e. roept vs zegt)?

Roepen implies calling out or shouting so people hear you, while zeggen is simply “to say.” Here roept de docent suggests he loudly announces it.

Can we rephrase this sentence using direct speech?

Yes. For example:
Om twaalf uur roept de docent: Het is etenstijd!

Can we move Om twaalf uur to a different place in the sentence?

Absolutely. You can say De docent roept om twaalf uur dat het etenstijd is. You still maintain V2 by making roept the second element overall.

Why is there a de before docent?

De docent refers to a specific teacher known to the speaker and listener. If you meant “a teacher,” you’d say een docent.

Why is etenstijd written as one word?

In Dutch compound nouns are written together. Eten (eating) + tijd (time) become the single noun etenstijd.