Dat klinkt logisch.

That sounds logical.

Breakdown of Dat klinkt logisch.

• dat: that
• klinken: to sound
• logisch: logical

Questions & Answers about Dat klinkt logisch.

What does each word do grammatically in the sentence?

• Dat = that (demonstrative pronoun). It’s the subject, referring to something just mentioned.
• klinkt = sounds (3rd person singular present of klinken “to sound”). It’s a linking verb here.
• logisch = logical (adjective used predicatively). It’s the subject complement.

Why is it klinkt and not klinken?

Dutch present-tense verbs take -t in the 3rd person singular:

• ik klink
• jij/je klinkt (in inversion: klink jij?)
• hij/zij/het/dit/dat klinkt
• wij/jullie/zij klinken

Why is it logisch and not logische?

Adjectives are uninflected (no -e) in predicative position (after a linking verb like zijn, lijken, klinken):

• De keuze is logisch.
• Dat klinkt logisch. They take -e attributively (before a noun):
• een logische keuze

Can I say Het klinkt logisch or Dit klinkt logisch instead of Dat klinkt logisch?

Yes, but there’s nuance:

• Dat points to “that (thing/idea) we were just talking about” and is the default when referring back.
• Dit = “this,” often for something just introduced or very immediate.
• Het = “it,” neutral/generic reference to a situation or fact. All are grammatical; choose based on how specifically and how “near/far” you want to point.

What’s the difference between Dat klinkt logisch and Dat is logisch?

• Dat klinkt logisch = “That sounds logical” (a hedge based on how it comes across; polite/cautious).
• Dat is logisch = “That is logical” (a stronger assertion that it actually is logical).

Can I drop the subject and just say Klinkt logisch?

Yes, in casual speech and writing (messages, chats) people often say Klinkt logisch. In careful or formal writing, keep the subject: Dat klinkt logisch.

How do I turn it into a question?

Invert subject and verb:

• Yes/no: Klinkt dat logisch?
• With a wh-word: Waarom klinkt dat logisch? / Voor wie klinkt dat logisch?

How do I negate it?

Place niet before the predicative adjective:

• Dat klinkt niet logisch. You can intensify the negation:
• Dat klinkt helemaal niet logisch.
• Dat klinkt niet echt logisch.

How can I soften or intensify the statement?

Common modifiers:

• Softer: best (wel), redelijk, tamelijk, vrij → Dat klinkt best wel logisch.
• Stronger: heel, erg, ontzettend, super → Dat klinkt heel logisch.
• Cautious: op zich → Dat klinkt op zich logisch (maar…).

How do I pronounce it?

• Dat: short “a” (like the vowel in British “cot”), final clear t.
• klinkt: i like in “bin”; the nk is “ngk”; pronounce the final t.
• logisch: long oo (“looo”); the g is a throaty fricative (like the “ch” in German “Bach”); the ending -isch is pronounced just -is (not “-ish”). So roughly: “LOO-ghis.” Note: In Flanders the g/ch is softer than in the Netherlands.

What exactly does dat refer to here? Can it refer to a whole idea?

Yes. Dat often points to an entire preceding statement, plan, or explanation:

• “We could leave earlier to avoid traffic.” — Dat klinkt logisch. If you refer to multiple things, use the plural demonstrative:
• Die klinken logisch. (“Those [ideas] sound logical.”)

Where can I put phrases like voor mij (“to me”)?

Both are fine; choose for emphasis/flow:

• Voor mij klinkt dat logisch. (emphasis on “for me”)
• Dat klinkt voor mij logisch. You’ll also hear: Dat klinkt logisch voor mij. All are acceptable.

Why do I sometimes see a double dat, as in Ik denk dat dat logisch klinkt?

The first dat is a conjunction (“that”) introducing a subordinate clause; the second dat is the demonstrative pronoun (“that”):

• Ik denk dat (conjunction) dat (pronoun) logisch klinkt. You can avoid the repetition with het: Ik denk dat het logisch klinkt, but dat is more deictic (“that thing we discussed”).

How do I say this in other tenses?

• Past: Dat klonk logisch.
• Future: Dat zal logisch klinken.
• Conditional: Dat zou logisch klinken.
• Present perfect (less common/natural here): Dat heeft logisch geklonken (often replaced by the simple past: Dat klonk logisch).

What are common alternatives to logisch with klinken?

• Positive: goed, plausibel, verstandig, geloofwaardig, redelijk
• Negative: onlogisch, raar/gek, onwaarschijnlijk Examples: Dat klinkt plausibel. / Dat klinkt raar.