Breakdown of Onlangs kregen we een brief over de belasting.
wij
we
over
about
een
a, an
de brief
the letter
krijgen
to receive
onlangs
recently
de belasting
the tax
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Questions & Answers about Onlangs kregen we een brief over de belasting.
Why does the verb come before the subject after Onlangs?
Dutch main clauses are verb-second (V2). If something other than the subject starts the sentence (here, the adverb Onlangs), the finite verb comes second and the subject follows it: Onlangs kregen we een brief .... Onlangs we kregen ... is incorrect.
Can I put onlangs somewhere else?
Yes. We kregen onlangs een brief over de belasting is equally correct. Starting with Onlangs puts extra focus on the time frame; mid-sentence placement sounds a bit more neutral.
Why simple past kregen and not present perfect hebben gekregen?
Both are possible:
- Onlangs kregen we … (simple past)
- Onlangs hebben we … gekregen (present perfect) In everyday spoken Dutch, the present perfect is very common for completed past events, so you’ll often hear hebben gekregen. The simple past is frequent in narratives and written style. The meaning here is essentially the same.
How do you conjugate krijgen?
- Present: ik krijg, jij/je krijgt, hij/zij krijgt; wij/jullie/zij krijgen
- Simple past: ik/hij/zij kreeg; wij/jullie/zij kregen
- Past participle: gekregen (used with hebben)
What’s the difference between we and wij?
We is the unstressed form. Wij is stressed/emphatic, highlighting contrast or focus: Wij kregen … = it was us (not someone else).
Why een brief and not de brief?
Een brief introduces an unspecified letter. De brief refers to a specific letter already known in the context: We kregen de brief gisteren (the letter you and your listener know about).
What does over de belasting mean, and how does it differ from van de Belastingdienst?
- over de belasting = about taxes/taxation (topic)
- van de Belastingdienst = from the Dutch Tax and Customs Administration (sender) You can combine them: We kregen een brief van de Belastingdienst over de belasting.
Why singular de belasting and not plural de belastingen?
Dutch often uses the singular for a general system or concept: de belasting = taxation in general. belastingen refers to multiple specific taxes (income tax, property tax, etc.). Both are possible depending on meaning: een brief over belastingen = about multiple types of taxes.
Do I need an article here, or could I say over belasting?
Use over de belasting for the general concept of taxation. Bare over belasting is unusual here and tends to be read as “about load/strain.” Without an article, belasting typically means load/burden rather than taxes.
Should there be a comma after Onlangs?
No. Dutch normally doesn’t put a comma after a short fronted adverbial: Onlangs kregen we … (no comma).
What happens to word order in a subordinate clause?
The finite verb goes to the end:
- … dat we onlangs een brief over de belasting kregen.
- … dat we onlangs een brief over de belasting hebben gekregen.
How do I negate this: with niet or geen?
Use geen to negate an indefinite noun: Onlangs kregen we geen brief over de belasting. Use niet to negate a definite noun or the clause: Onlangs kregen we de brief niet.
Could I use ontvangen instead of krijgen?
Yes. Ontvangen is more formal: Onlangs hebben we een brief over de belasting ontvangen. In everyday speech, krijgen is more common.
Why kregen with -en? What would the singular be?
Kregen is the plural simple past (subject we). The singular simple past is kreeg: Onlangs kreeg ik/hij/zij een brief ….
Why not Ons kregen?
Because ons is the object form. The subject form is we/wij. Only We/Wij kregen … is correct.