Learn Hardcore Dutch: Tom leest de vacature en vraagt of zijn opleiding voldoende is. - Tom reads the vacancy and asks whether his education is sufficient.

In job contexts, vacature means a job opening or vacancy, often the posted ad for the role. Near-synonyms: baan/functie (job/position). In Belgium, people also say job. It is not “vacation” (that’s vakantie).

Why is it de vacature and not het vacature?

Because vacature is a common-gender noun (a “de-word”), so you say de vacature.

Do I need a comma before en here?

No. Dutch typically doesn’t use a comma before en when simply linking two main clauses. The sentence is correct without a comma.

Why does is go to the end in ... of zijn opleiding voldoende is?

Of introduces a subordinate clause (an indirect yes/no question), and in subordinate clauses the finite verb goes to the end. Main clause: Zijn opleiding is voldoende. Subordinate: ... of zijn opleiding voldoende is.

Can I use als instead of of here?

No. Use of for “whether/if” in indirect yes/no questions. Als is for conditionals: Als het regent, blijf ik thuis.

Does of also mean “or”? How do I tell which one it is?

Yes, of can mean “or.” If it links alternatives in a main clause (normal word order), it’s “or”: Thee of koffie? If it introduces a subordinate clause with the verb at the end, it’s “whether/if”: Hij vraagt of je komt.

Why leest and vraagt? What are the base verbs?

The base verbs are lezen (to read) and vragen (to ask). Present tense:

ik lees / jij leest / hij leest / wij lezen
ik vraag / jij vraagt / hij vraagt / wij vragen

Is zijn here “his” or “to be”?

Here zijn is the possessive pronoun “his.” The verb “to be” is expressed by is in this sentence. Note that zijn can also be the infinitive “to be” in other contexts.

What does opleiding cover? Is it “education,” “degree,” or “training”?

Opleiding is the specific training or course of study that qualifies you (degree program, vocational training). It’s not the education system (onderwijs) and is more specific than general studie. In job ads it means your educational background/qualification.

What exactly is voldoende here?

It’s a predicative adjective meaning “sufficient/adequate.” Dutch also uses een voldoende as a noun for a passing grade. As a quantifier/adverb it means “enough” (e.g., voldoende tijd).

Can I use genoeg instead of voldoende?

Often yes: ... vraagt of zijn opleiding genoeg is sounds more informal. Voldoende is slightly more formal/precise, especially in assessments.

Could I say Zijn opleiding is voldoende instead?

Yes. That’s the main-clause version. When embedded after of, the verb goes to the end: ... of zijn opleiding voldoende is.

Does vraagt mean he asks someone, or could it mean he wonders?

Without an explicit object, vraagt usually implies he’s asking someone (understood from context). To mean “wonders,” Dutch prefers vraagt zich af: Tom ... vraagt zich af of ...

Sufficient for what? Should I add something like “for the job”?

You can make it explicit with voor:

... vraagt of zijn opleiding voldoende is voor de functie / voor deze baan / voor de eisen.

Any pronunciation tips for tricky parts?

leest has a long ee (like the vowel in English “day,” but shorter/tenser).
vraagt has the guttural Dutch g/ch sound; the final -gt is pronounced as a cluster.
In vacature, the u is the fronted Dutch vowel (like French “tu”), not English “oo.”

What prepositions go with vragen?

vragen of = ask whether: Hij vraagt of je komt.
vragen naar = ask about: Hij vraagt naar de eisen.
vragen om = ask for: Hij vraagt om meer informatie.

How would this look in the past tense?

Tom las de vacature en vroeg of zijn opleiding voldoende was. Note the past forms las (lezen), vroeg (vragen), and was (is).