Breakdown of Met die studentenkorting bespaar ik elke dag een beetje geld.
ik
I
die
that
met
with
elke
every
de dag
the day
het geld
the money
een beetje
a bit
besparen
to save
de studentenkorting
the student discount
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Questions & Answers about Met die studentenkorting bespaar ik elke dag een beetje geld.
Why does the sentence start with Met die studentenkorting instead of the subject ik?
Dutch is a V2 (verb-second) language. In a main clause the finite verb must occupy the second position. By placing the prepositional phrase Met die studentenkorting first, the verb bespaar moves into the second slot and the subject ik follows it.
What does die in die studentenkorting mean, and why not de or deze?
die is a demonstrative determiner meaning “that.” You use die because studentenkorting is a de-word (common gender) and you refer to a specific discount already known in the context.
- de studentenkorting = “the student discount” (neutral article)
- deze studentenkorting = “this student discount” (implying closeness)
- die studentenkorting = “that student discount” (pointing to something previously mentioned)
Why is it bespaar ik and not bespaart ik?
In the present tense, the first-person singular (ik) form of Dutch verbs drops the -t ending. The full conjugation of besparen is:
- ik bespaar
- jij/u bespaart
- hij/zij bespaart
- wij/jullie/zij besparen
Why does elke dag (every day) come before een beetje geld (a bit of money)?
Dutch typically orders adverbials according to Time–Manner–Place (TMP). Here:
- elke dag = time, so it comes first
- een beetje geld = direct object
If you had a manner or place phrase, it would slot between time and object or after the object, depending on emphasis.
Can I replace een beetje geld with wat geld, and what’s the difference?
Yes. Both mean “some money,” but with a nuance:
- een beetje geld = “a little bit of money,” emphasizing a small amount
- wat geld = “some money,” more neutral about quantity
Is besparen a separable verb? How do I form its past participle?
besparen is inseparable (the prefix be- never detaches). The past participle is bespaard. Example: Ik heb heel wat geld bespaard.
Could I use dankzij instead of met here?
Yes. Dankzij means “thanks to” and also introduces a cause:
Dankzij die studentenkorting bespaar ik elke dag een beetje geld.
It’s a bit more formal or explicit than met, which simply means “with.”