Breakdown of De docent gebruikt actueel materiaal om de les levendig te maken.
om
for
gebruiken
to use
maken
to make
het materiaal
the material
de docent
the teacher
de les
the lesson
actueel
current
levendig
lively
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Questions & Answers about De docent gebruikt actueel materiaal om de les levendig te maken.
What does actueel materiaal mean in this sentence?
It literally means current or up-to-date material. The adjective actueel indicates that the resources are recent and relevant to what’s happening now.
Why is actueel not actuele before materiaal?
In Dutch, adjectives get an -e ending only in certain contexts. Here, materiaal is a singular neuter noun without a definite article, so the adjective stays in its base form: actueel materiaal. If you said het actuele materiaal (with the definite article het), you would add the -e.
What is the function of om de les levendig te maken?
This is a purpose clause introduced by om … te + infinitive. It explains why the teacher uses current material: to make the lesson lively.
Why is te maken placed at the end of that clause?
In Dutch, non-finite verb phrases (like infinitive clauses) go to the end. The structure is: • om + [object] + [complement] + te + [verb]. So te maken appears last in the purpose clause.
Why is gebruikt in second position, before actueel materiaal?
Dutch main clauses follow the V2 rule: the conjugated verb occupies the second position. Here:
- Subject: De docent
- Verb: gebruikt
- Rest of the clause: actueel materiaal…
Why do we say de les instead of just les?
Les can be countable (“a lesson”) or uncountable (“lesson time”). Using de les specifies that particular lesson the teacher is giving. Without de, it would sound more like a general idea of “teaching.”
Could you use zodat instead of om … te maken?
Yes, but the nuance changes slightly. With zodat you’d use a finite verb and focus more on the result:
“De docent gebruikt actueel materiaal zodat de les levendig wordt.”
Here, wordt is the finite verb in the subordinate clause. Both express purpose, but om … te is more concise for direct goals.
What nuance does levendig add to de les?
Levendig means “lively,” “vibrant,” or “engaging.” It suggests the lesson feels animated—perhaps through active discussions, multimedia, or fresh examples—rather than dull or monotonous.