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Als ik elke dag oefen, zal ik vast slagen voor de toets.

Als ik elke dag oefen, zal ik vast slagen voor de toets.
If I practice every day, I will surely pass the test.
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Questions & Answers about Als ik elke dag oefen, zal ik vast slagen voor de toets.

Why is the verb oefen at the end of the clause Als ik elke dag oefen?

In Dutch, when you have a subordinate clause (a clause introduced by words like als, omdat, dat, wanneer, terwijl etc.), the finite verb (the conjugated verb) usually goes to the end of that clause.

  • Als ik elke dag oefen
    • Als = subordinator (if/when)
    • ik = subject (I)
    • elke dag = time expression (every day)
    • oefen = finite verb (practise) → goes to the end

So the pattern is:

  • Als + subject + other information + verb (conjugated)

Compare:

  • Ik oefen elke dag. (main clause: verb in second position)
  • Als ik elke dag oefen, ... (subordinate clause: verb at the end)
Why do we use the present tense oefen if the result is in the future (zal slagen)?

Dutch often uses the present tense in subordinate clauses that refer to the future, especially with als (if/when).

  • Als ik elke dag oefen, zal ik vast slagen voor de toets.
    Literally: If I practise every day, I will surely pass the test.

So:

  • Subordinate clause (als ik elke dag oefen) → present tense often used for a future condition.
  • Main clause (zal ik vast slagen) → future with zal.

You could use zal oefenen, but that sounds heavier and is usually unnecessary. Native speakers prefer the present tense in the als-clause in this type of conditional.

What is the role of zal? Could I just say ik slaag?

Zal is the auxiliary that forms the future tense (like will in English):

  • Ik zal slagen = I will pass.

If you said:

  • Als ik elke dag oefen, slaag ik vast voor de toets.

this is still grammatically correct. The meaning is very close, but there are subtle differences:

  • Zal slagen focuses more clearly on a future event.
  • Basic present slaag ik can sound a bit more general, like a rule or prediction.

In everyday speech, both versions are possible; zal slagen is a bit more explicitly future-oriented and fits very well with a specific upcoming test.

What exactly does vast mean here? It doesn’t seem to mean “fixed”.

You’re right: vast usually means fixed / solid / firm as an adjective:

  • een vaste baan = a permanent job
  • het zit vast = it is stuck

In this sentence, though, vast is an adverb meaning something like:

  • definitely
  • surely
  • for sure
  • I’m pretty certain (that)…

So:

  • Ik zal vast slagen voor de toets.
    ≈ I will definitely / surely pass the test.

Spoken nuance: vast can sound like a confident prediction, often slightly less absolute than zeker (certainly), depending on tone.

Where does vast usually go in the sentence? Could I say ik zal slagen vast?

Vast is an adverb modifying the verb phrase (zal slagen), and in Dutch, adverbs like this typically appear in the “middle field” of the clause, after the finite verb and before the main verb or the rest of the sentence.

Correct placements:

  • Ik zal vast slagen voor de toets.
  • Ik zal vast voor de toets slagen. (less natural, but possible)

Incorrect:

  • *Ik zal slagen vast voor de toets.

So a good default rule for sentences like this:

  • Subject + zal
    • vast
      • infinitive (slagen) + rest.
What’s the difference between als and wanneer here? Could I say Wanneer ik elke dag oefen?

You can say:

  • Wanneer ik elke dag oefen, zal ik vast slagen voor de toets.

It is grammatically correct. The difference is mostly in frequency and feel:

  • Als is the most common word for both:

    • if (conditional): Als ik tijd heb, kom ik.
    • when (in some contexts): Als ik thuiskom, eet ik eerst iets.

  • Wanneer is often a bit more formal or used in questions:

    • Wanneer kom je? = When are you coming?
    • In written language, wanneer can sound slightly more formal or literary in some contexts.

In everyday speech, people almost always use als in a sentence like this.

Why is it elke dag and not elke dagen?

In Dutch, with words like elke / iedere / geen / deze / die / wat / veel / weinig in front, the noun often stays singular, even if the meaning is plural:

  • elke dag = every day
  • elke maand = every month
  • iedere student = every student

You don’t say elke dagen; that would be incorrect. The idea is similar to English:

  • We say every day, not every days.
What is the difference between elke dag and iedere dag?

Elke dag and iedere dag are practically synonyms and both are very common:

  • elke dag = every day
  • iedere dag = every day

Subtle differences:

  • Elke is slightly more neutral and maybe more frequent in everyday speech.
  • Iedere can sometimes sound just a little more emphatic or formal, depending on context.

But in this sentence, you can freely choose:

  • Als ik elke dag oefen, …
  • Als ik iedere dag oefen, …

Both are natural.

Why is it voor de toets and not something like in de toets?

Prepositions in Dutch and English don’t always match 1–1. For tests/exams, Dutch typically uses voor:

  • slagen voor een toets / examen = to pass a test / exam
  • zakken voor een toets / examen = to fail a test / exam

So:

  • Ik zal slagen voor de toets. = I will pass the test.

Using in here (slagen in de toets) is wrong in standard Dutch.

What is the difference between toets and examen?

Both are types of tests, but they’re used in different contexts:

  • toets

    • often a smaller test, like a quiz or class test at school
    • more informal and frequent
    • e.g. woordjestoets, wiskundetoets

  • examen

    • usually a big, formal exam, often at the end of a course or program
    • e.g. eindexamen, rijexamen (driving test)

In many school situations, toets is the normal word for a regular test.

Why is it de toets and not het toets?

Every Dutch noun has a grammatical gender, either de-word (common gender) or het-word (neuter). Unfortunately, you usually just have to learn this with each noun.

  • de toets (test) → de-word
  • het huis (house) → het-word

That’s why the correct phrase is:

  • voor de toets and not *voor het toets.
How are oefenen and slagen conjugated for ik?

The infinitives are:

  • oefenen = to practise
  • slagen = to pass / to succeed

For ik (I):

  • ik oefen (present)
    • infinitive oefenen → drop -en → oefen
  • ik slaag (present)
    • infinitive slagen → drop -en → slaag
    • in the sentence, you see it as the infinitive again: slagen after zal

Full examples:

  • Ik oefen elke dag. = I practise every day.
  • Ik zal slagen voor de toets. = I will pass the test.
Could I also use a conditional with zou: Als ik elke dag zou oefenen, zou ik vast slagen? What’s the difference?

Yes, you can say:

  • Als ik elke dag zou oefenen, zou ik vast slagen voor de toets.

This is a more hypothetical or less realistic version, similar to English:

  • If I practised every day, I would probably pass the test.

Comparison:

  1. Als ik elke dag oefen, zal ik vast slagen …

    • Sounds like a realistic plan or expectation.
    • Closer to: If I practise every day, I will pass…

  2. Als ik elke dag zou oefenen, zou ik vast slagen …

    • Suggests you don’t actually do this (or it’s unlikely).
    • More hypothetical: If I were to practise every day, I would pass…
How do you pronounce als, oefen, and toets?

Approximate English-based hints:

  • als

    • a like a in father but shorter
    • ls like English ls in else
    • Whole word a bit like “ahls”.

  • oefen

    • oe sounds like oo in food
    • f like English f
    • en like un in button (reduced, not a full en)
    • Roughly: “OO-fun”, with the OO like in food.

  • toets

    • toe with oe = oo in food
    • ts like in cats
    • So: “toots” (like English toots, but with a short, crisp ts at the end).