Blijkbaar is de trein vertraagd.

Apparently the train is delayed.

Breakdown of Blijkbaar is de trein vertraagd.

• zijn: to be
• de trein: the train
• vertraagd: delayed
• blijkbaar: apparently

Questions & Answers about Blijkbaar is de trein vertraagd.

What is blijkbaar and how is it used here?

blijkbaar is an adverb meaning apparently or evidently. It indicates that the speaker has inferred something from evidence. In this sentence it modifies the whole clause, signaling that it seems the train has been delayed.

Why is the verb phrase is vertraagd used instead of vertraagt?

vertraagd is the past participle of vertragen (to delay), combined with the auxiliary zijn (to be). is vertraagd literally means has been delayed. vertraagt would be the present tense form “slows down” or “is slowing down,” which doesn’t convey that the train has been held up by something.

Why is the word order Blijkbaar is de trein vertraagd and not Blijkbaar de trein is vertraagd?

In Dutch main clauses the finite verb must occupy the second position. By fronting blijkbaar (first position), the auxiliary is moves to position two, pushing the subject de trein to third position.

Can I also say De trein is blijkbaar vertraagd?

Yes. De trein is blijkbaar vertraagd places blijkbaar after the verb in the mid-field. The meaning stays the same; the difference is a subtle shift in emphasis, since the clause doesn’t begin with the adverb.

Why is the auxiliary zijn used instead of worden for this passive construction?

Dutch has two passive-like constructions: • worden + past participle for an ongoing action (the train is being delayed)
• zijn + past participle for the resulting state (the train is delayed / has been delayed)
Here we use zijn + vertraagd to emphasize the completed result.

Is vertragen a separable verb? How can I tell?

No, vertragen is not separable; it behaves like a regular verb. Clues: • The past participle is vertraagd, not ver-ge-traagd
• There’s no detachable prefix in other tenses or constructions

What’s the difference between de trein is vertraagd and de vertraagde trein?

• de trein is vertraagd is a full clause meaning the train has been delayed
• de vertraagde trein is a noun phrase where vertraagde functions like an adjective: the delayed train

How would I express the same idea in simple past tense?

You could say: • Blijkbaar was de trein vertraagd (Apparently the train was delayed)
• Or use vertraging oplopen: Blijkbaar heeft de trein vertraging opgelopen (Apparently the train incurred a delay)

Could I use kennelijk instead of blijkbaar? Are they interchangeable?

Yes, kennelijk is a synonym meaning apparently or clearly. Kennelijk is de trein vertraagd works the same way.

How do I turn this into a question?

Invert the subject and verb: • Is de trein blijkbaar vertraagd? (Is the train apparently delayed?)
You could also front blijkbaar: Blijkbaar is de trein vertraagd? but that sounds more like expressing surprise than asking for confirmation.