Breakdown of De diepte van het meer lijkt eindeloos in de schemering.
in
in
het meer
the lake
lijken
to seem
van
of
de diepte
the depth
eindeloos
endless
de schemering
the dusk
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Questions & Answers about De diepte van het meer lijkt eindeloos in de schemering.
Why do we say de diepte van het meer instead of using an apostrophe-s like in English?
Dutch does not use the apostrophe-s for possession. Instead, it uses the preposition van (of). So de diepte van het meer literally means the depth of the lake. There is no construction like meer’s diepte in Dutch.
Why is diepte paired with de but meer with het?
Dutch nouns have two genders: common and neuter.
- diepte (depth) is common gender → takes de.
- meer (lake) is neuter gender → takes het.
What does lijkt mean, and do I need to add op after it?
The verb lijken means to seem.
- When you express an impression with an adjective, use lijkt + adjective, e.g. lijkt eindeloos.
- You only add op in comparisons or likenesses: Hij lijkt op zijn broer (He looks like his brother). Here, no op is needed.
Should the adjective eindeloos get an -e ending (as in eindeloze) to agree with de diepte?
No. Dutch distinguishes between:
- Attributive adjectives (before a noun with a definite article) → inflected: de eindeloze diepte.
- Predicative adjectives (after linking verbs like zijn, lijken) → uninflected: de diepte lijkt eindeloos.
Why is the preposition in used with de schemering? Could I use op or bij instead?
For general periods of the day or phases, Dutch uses in + definite article:
- in de ochtend, in de avond, in de schemering.
You can say bij schemering (at dusk), but op de schemering is not correct.
What’s the difference between eindeloos and oneindig? Can I swap them?
Both translate as “endless” or “infinite.”
- oneindig often has a more literal or mathematical sense.
- eindeloos feels more poetic or figurative.
In many contexts you can interchange them: de diepte lijkt oneindig or lijkt eindeloos.
Can I front the time phrase and say In de schemering lijkt de diepte van het meer eindeloos?
Yes. Dutch allows you to start a sentence with a time adverbial for emphasis. Both orders are correct:
- De diepte van het meer lijkt eindeloos in de schemering.
- In de schemering lijkt de diepte van het meer eindeloos.
How do you pronounce diepte, eindeloos, and schemering?
Approximate pronunciations:
- diepte: “DIP-tə” (IPA: /ˈdɪp.tə/)
- eindeloos: “AYN-də-lohs” (IPA: /ˈɛi̯n.də.loːs/)
- schemering: “SKHAY-mə-ring” (IPA: /ˈsxɛ.mə.rɪŋ/)
• ie as in English “see”
• ei as in English “say”
• sch = /sx/, a voiceless “k” plus a soft “h” (similar to Scottish “loch”)