Breakdown of Mijn voornemen is om elke dag tien minuten te mediteren.
zijn
to be
om
for
elke
every
de dag
the day
mijn
my
tien
ten
de minuut
the minute
het voornemen
the intention
mediteren
to meditate
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Questions & Answers about Mijn voornemen is om elke dag tien minuten te mediteren.
What does voornemen mean in this sentence?
Voor means “before” and nemen means “to take,” but together een voornemen is a noun meaning “an intention,” “a plan,” or “a resolution.” Here it refers to your decided goal: “My resolution is …”
Why is the construction om … te + infinitive used here?
The pattern om + infinitive with te expresses purpose or intention in Dutch. After Mijn voornemen is, you introduce the action you intend to perform: om elke dag tien minuten te mediteren “to meditate ten minutes every day.”
Could you use a finite clause with dat instead of om … te?
Yes. You can also say:
• Mijn voornemen is dat ik elke dag tien minuten mediteer.
Both versions are correct. The om … te version is more concise; the dat-clause is more explicit.
What’s the difference between elke dag and iedere dag?
They both mean “every day.”
- Elke dag is slightly more common in spoken Dutch.
- Iedere dag can sound a bit more formal or emphatic.
In practice, you can use them interchangeably.
Why is it tien minuten (plural) instead of tien minuut?
In Dutch, as in English, you use the plural form after any number greater than one. So it’s minuten after tien, twee, vijftig, etc.
Why is there a te before mediteren?
In an infinitive clause introduced by om, Dutch requires te before the infinitive verb. Without te, the clause wouldn’t be properly marked as an infinitive expressing purpose.
Are there alternative ways to express this same idea?
Yes. For example:
• Ik neem me voor om elke dag tien minuten te mediteren.
• Ik ben van plan elke dag tien minuten te mediteren.
• Mijn plan is elke dag tien minuten te mediteren.
Why is the infinitive mediteren spelled with a single t?
Dutch doubles a final consonant only if the root word is monosyllabic with a short vowel (e.g. pit → pitten). Mediteren has multiple syllables and a long vowel sound, so the t stays single.