Learn Hardcore Dutch: Goede samenwerking maakt zware taken lichter. - Good cooperation makes heavy tasks easier.

In Dutch, attributive adjectives (those placed directly before a noun) normally take an -e ending when the noun is a de-word or when you use a definite article. Here samenwerking is a de-word, so even without an article you add -e, giving goede samenwerking. (By contrast, with a het-word in an indefinite context you often leave off the -e, e.g. een goed idee.)

Why is there no article before goede samenwerking?

Dutch often omits the article when making a general statement about a concept. In English you say “Good cooperation makes…,” without the. If you wanted to refer to a specific cooperation you would use de, as in de goede samenwerking die wij hebben.

What part of speech is maakt, and why is it used here?

maakt is the third-person singular present tense of maken (“to make”). In this sentence it works as a causative verb: it expresses that goede samenwerking “causes” zware taken to become lichter (lighter).

Why is zware taken plural and without an article?

When you speak about items in general in the plural, Dutch omits the article—just like English “Heavy tasks are easier.” Here you’re talking about all heavy tasks in general, so you say zware taken rather than de zware taken or the singular zware taak.

Why is lichter used instead of licht, and why not lichtere?

lichter is the comparative form of licht (“light”), so it means “more light” or “lighter.”
It’s used predicatively here (after maken), so you keep the base comparative lichter without adding -e.
If you wanted an attributive comparative (before a noun), you would say lichtere taken (“lighter tasks”).

What is the word order in this sentence?

Dutch main clauses typically follow S-V-O-(OC) order when there’s an object complement (OC). Here it is:
S = Goede samenwerking
V = maakt
O = zware taken
OC = lichter
So you get “Goede samenwerking (S) maakt (V) zware taken (O) lichter (OC).”

Could you use a different verb instead of maken … lichter?

Yes. A common alternative is verlichten, which means “to lighten” or “to relieve.” That gives you:
Goede samenwerking verlicht zware taken.
Both sentences mean the same, but verlichten is a single‐verb construction and a bit more formal.

How do you form comparatives in Dutch?

Generally you add -er to the adjective root:
• licht → lichter
• zwaar → zwaarder
• snel → sneller
Predicative comparatives (used after verbs like zijn, maken, blijven) stay in this form. If you use the comparative before a noun (attributively), you add -e: lichtere taken, zwaardere gewicht.