Onlangs merkte ik opeens dat de klok andersom hing.

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Breakdown of Onlangs merkte ik opeens dat de klok andersom hing.

• dat: that
• merken: to notice
• hangen: to hang

Questions & Answers about Onlangs merkte ik opeens dat de klok andersom hing.

Why is the finite verb merkte in second position after Onlangs?

Dutch main clauses follow the V2 rule: the finite verb comes in the second position. If you front an element like the time adverb Onlangs (“recently”), the verb must still be second:

• Onlangs merkte ik …
• Ik merkte onlangs … Both are correct; the first puts extra emphasis on the time frame.

Why does hing come at the end of the clause?

Because dat introduces a subordinate (embedded) clause, and in Dutch all finite verbs go to the end of such clauses. Compare:

• Main clause: De klok hing andersom.
• Subclause: … dat de klok andersom hing.

What is dat doing here? Is it a pronoun?

Here dat is a subordinating conjunction (a complementizer) meaning “that,” introducing the content of what was noticed. It is not a demonstrative pronoun. You cannot replace it with die in this use.

Why is there no comma before dat?

Standard Dutch does not require (and typically avoids) a comma before dat that introduces a content clause. A comma may sometimes be used in long, complex sentences for readability, but it’s not needed here.

What exactly does mean, and are there synonyms?