Breakdown of Zij leest het liefst ’s ochtends als het stil is.
zijn
to be
zij
she
lezen
to read
het
it
als
when
stil
quiet
het liefst
preferably
’s ochtends
in the morning
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Questions & Answers about Zij leest het liefst ’s ochtends als het stil is.
What does the phrase "het liefst" mean, and how does it relate to "graag" and "liever"?
- "graag" = like to (do something): Ik lees graag.
- "liever" = rather/prefer (comparative): Ik lees liever ’s avonds.
- "het liefst" = most prefer/like best (superlative): Ik lees het liefst ’s ochtends. "Het liefst" expresses the strongest preference.
Why is there a "het" in "het liefst"? Is it the pronoun "it"?
No. The "het" is the neuter article used to form a superlative adverb: "het liefst" = the superlative of "graag." It’s a fixed expression and does not refer to "it." Compare:
- Adverb: Ik lees het liefst. (I most prefer to read.)
- Adjective: het liefste kind (the dearest child). Here you see "liefste" as an adjective before a noun.
Can "het liefst" and "’s ochtends" switch places? Which order is more natural?
Both orders are fine and common:
- Zij leest het liefst ’s ochtends.
- Zij leest ’s ochtends het liefst. Dutch often follows Time–Manner–Place, so "’s ochtends het liefst" is very natural. "Het liefst ’s ochtends" slightly foregrounds the preference itself. The meaning is the same.
Why is the verb "is" at the end of "als het stil is"?
"Als" introduces a subordinate clause. In Dutch subordinate clauses, the finite verb goes to the end:
- … als het stil is. This is the standard word order after conjunctions like "als," "omdat," "terwijl," "dat," etc. Main clauses have verb-second order; subordinate clauses have the verb at the end.
Do I need a comma before "als het stil is"?
It’s optional. Many writers omit the comma in short, clear sentences. You can add a comma for readability in longer sentences:
- Zij leest het liefst ’s ochtends(,) als het stil is. Both are acceptable.
Can I use "wanneer" instead of "als" here? What about "toen"?
- "wanneer" can replace "als" in this habitual/time sense: … wanneer het stil is. It sounds a bit more formal or neutral.
- "toen" is for a single event in the past: Toen het stil was, las zij…
What exactly is "’s ochtends," and how do I write it correctly?
- It’s a fixed time expression meaning "in the morning," from an old genitive form (historically "des ochtends").
- Spelling: apostrophe + s + space + lowercase s: ’s ochtends.
- No hyphen.
- At the start of a sentence, you capitalize the next word: ’s Ochtends lees ik…
- The apostrophe can be straight (') or curly (’); typographically, curly is preferred.
What’s the difference between "’s ochtends," "’s morgens," and "in de ochtend"?
- "’s ochtends" and "’s morgens" both mean "in the morning" and are interchangeable in everyday Dutch.
- "in de ochtend" is fully spelled out and a bit more neutral/formal. Related set: ’s middags (afternoon), ’s avonds (evening), ’s nachts (at night).
Why "Zij" and not "Ze"? Are both correct?
Both are correct:
- "zij" is the stressed form and is also what you naturally get at the start of a sentence.
- "ze" is the unstressed, more colloquial form and is extremely common: Ze leest het liefst…
Does "lezen" need an object? There’s nothing after "leest."
No. "Lezen" can be intransitive when the object is general/understood:
- Zij leest. (She reads.) You can add an object if you want to specify: Zij leest het liefst romans.
What’s the nuance of "stil" here? How is it different from "rustig" or "stilte"?
- "stil" = quiet/silent (adjective): Het is stil. (It’s quiet.)
- "rustig" = calm/tranquil; can also mean quiet but with a calmer, less absolute feel: Het is rustig.
- "stilte" = silence (noun): de stilte. You could say "als er stilte is," but "als het stil is" is more idiomatic.
Can I start the sentence with "Het liefst"? What happens to the word order?
Yes. In main clauses, the finite verb must be second, so you invert:
- Het liefst leest zij ’s ochtends als het stil is. Likewise, you can front other elements:
- ’s Ochtends leest zij het liefst als het stil is.
Could I move "’s ochtends" into the "als"-clause?
Yes:
- Zij leest het liefst als het ’s ochtends stil is. This ties "quiet" specifically to the morning. The original sentence suggests her preferred reading time is the morning, with the added condition that it be quiet—practically very similar.
Why is it "leest" and not "lees"? Quick reminder of the present tense?
Verb agrees with the subject:
- ik lees
- jij/je leest
- u leest
- hij/zij/het leest
- wij/jullie/zij lezen Here the subject is "zij" (she), so "leest."
Can I drop the subject pronoun in Dutch (like in Spanish/Italian)?
No. Dutch is not a pro-drop language. You need the subject pronoun:
- Zij leest … (not just "Leest …" except in imperatives or special stylistic cases).
Are there synonyms for "het liefst" I could use?
Yes:
- bij voorkeur: Zij leest bij voorkeur ’s ochtends…
- het allerliefst (stronger/more emphatic): Zij leest het allerliefst ’s ochtends…
- het meest: Zij leest het meest ’s ochtends… (works but is less idiomatic with activities than "het liefst".)
How do you pronounce "’s ochtends"?
The "’s" is just an /s/ sound attached to the next word. "ochtends" starts with the guttural Dutch "ch" . Roughly: "s OKH-tens" (with the Dutch ch as in "acht").