Breakdown of Het plan is enigszins gewijzigd, maar de doelen blijven hetzelfde.
zijn
to be
maar
but
het plan
the plan
het doel
the goal
blijven
to remain
hetzelfde
the same
enigszins
somewhat
gewijzigd
modified
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Questions & Answers about Het plan is enigszins gewijzigd, maar de doelen blijven hetzelfde.
What does the word "enigszins" mean here?
It means "somewhat," "slightly," or "to some extent." It’s a bit more formal/neutral than casual options like "een beetje" or "wat."
Can I replace "enigszins" with something more informal?
Yes. Good alternatives include:
- "een beetje" (most common)
- "wat"
- "licht" or "lichtjes" (slightly more formal/literary) Example: "Het plan is een beetje gewijzigd, maar de doelen blijven hetzelfde."
Is "Het plan is enigszins gewijzigd" passive?
Yes, effectively. "Wijzigen" is normally transitive ("I change something"). "Het plan is gewijzigd" leaves the agent unspecified, like "The plan has been changed." If you want the agent, add "door": "Het plan is enigszins gewijzigd door het team."
Why "is gewijzigd" and not "heeft gewijzigd"?
In the active voice you’d use "hebben": "We hebben het plan gewijzigd." In the passive/resultative construction you use "zijn": "Het plan is gewijzigd." So "is gewijzigd" corresponds to English "has been changed."
Why is there a comma before "maar"?
"Maar" (but) links two main clauses. A comma before "maar" is common and correct because it separates the clauses. In short sentences it’s often optional; both versions are fine:
- With comma: "…, maar …" (used here)
- Without comma: "… maar …"
Where should "enigszins" go in the sentence?
Most natural is between the auxiliary and the participle: "is enigszins gewijzigd." Other placements:
- Fronted for emphasis (marked): "Enigszins is het plan gewijzigd…"
- After the participle is unnatural: "is gewijzigd enigszins" sounds off. So: keep it before "gewijzigd."
Could I say "veranderd" instead of "gewijzigd"?
Often yes:
- "Het plan is enigszins veranderd" = has changed somewhat (general change).
- "Het plan is enigszins gewijzigd" = has been modified/altered (more deliberate, formal/administrative). Use "wijzigen" for planned edits; "veranderen" is broader.
What’s the difference between "hetzelfde" and "dezelfde" here?
- "dezelfde" is used directly before a noun: "dezelfde doelen" (the same goals).
- As a predicate after "blijven/zijn," both can appear but nuance differs:
- "De doelen blijven dezelfde" = they remain the exact same ones (identity).
- "De doelen blijven hetzelfde" = they remain the same in nature/content (unchanged in essence). Both are idiomatic; "hetzelfde" after "blijven" is very common to express "unchanged."
Why is it "blijven" and not "blijft"?
Agreement: "doelen" is plural, so the verb is plural "blijven." Singular would be "Het doel blijft hetzelfde."
What does "blijven" do in this sentence?
Here "blijven" is a linking verb meaning "to remain," followed by a predicate ("hetzelfde"). It doesn’t mean "to keep doing" an action here.
Could I say "De doelen blijven gelijk"?
Yes. "… blijven gelijk" is a common alternative meaning "remain the same." You could also say "De doelen blijven ongewijzigd."
Is "doelen" the only plural of "doel"?
"Doelen" is the normal plural. You may also see "doeleinden" (more formal/older) in legal or official contexts. Here, "doelen" is perfect.
Why does "gewijzigd" end in -d, not -t?
Because the past tense is "wijzigde" (with -d), the participle takes -d: "gewijzigd." In other words, "wijzigen" is a -d verb (not a -t verb). Active example: "Ik heb het plan gewijzigd."
Is the tense here describing a current result?
Yes. "Het plan is enigszins gewijzigd" = present perfect with a current result: it has (now) been changed somewhat. A narrative past would be "Het plan werd enigszins gewijzigd" (was changed), focusing on a past event rather than the present state.
Can I add who changed the plan?
Yes: "Het plan is enigszins gewijzigd door het management." In the active voice: "Het management heeft het plan enigszins gewijzigd."
Any pitfalls with spelling?
- "hetzelfde" is one word (not "het zelfde").
- "enigszins" is one word.
- "gewijzigd" uses "ij" (not "y"). All three are very common learner errors.
How do I pronounce the tricky words?
- "enigszins": roughly "AY-niks-zins" (the g/s cluster sounds like a harsh h + s; many speakers devoice the z).
- "gewijzigd": roughly "ghuh-WAY-zikht" (Dutch g = harsh h; final "gd" sounds like "kht"/"xt" to many ears).
- "hetzelfde": "het-ZELF-duh."
- "doelen": "DOO-luhn." These are approximations; regional accents vary.
Is "maar" the only way to say "but" here?
"Maar" is the default. For a slightly more formal contrast you might see "echter" in second position: "Het plan is enigszins gewijzigd; de doelen blijven echter hetzelfde."