Ik ben snel afgeleid als ik moe ben.

I am easily distracted when I am tired.

Breakdown of Ik ben snel afgeleid als ik moe ben.

• ik: I
• zijn: to be
• moe: tired
• snel: quickly
• als: when
• afgeleid: distracted

Questions & Answers about Ik ben snel afgeleid als ik moe ben.

What exactly is “afgeleid” here? Is it a verb, an adjective, or a past participle?

Afgeleid is the past participle of the separable verb afleiden (to distract, to derive).

In this sentence, though, it functions as an adjective, describing a state:

• Ik ben afgeleid = I am distracted (in a distracted state).

So:

• Verb: afleiden – “to distract”
• Past participle: afgeleid
• Used as adjective with zijn: ik ben afgeleid – “I am distracted”

Why does Dutch say “Ik ben snel afgeleid” instead of something like “I distract quickly”?

In Dutch, “ik ben snel afgeleid” literally means “I am quickly/easily distracted”, not “I distract quickly”.

Structure:

• ik – I
• ben – am
• snel – quickly
• afgeleid – distracted

So ben + afgeleid describes your state (you are distracted), and snel modifies how easily/quickly that state happens.

English uses the passive-like adjective “distracted” the same way:

• I am easily distracted
  Dutch mirrors this:
• Ik ben snel afgeleid

What is the difference between “snel afgeleid” and “makkelijk/gemakkelijk afgeleid”?

All can be translated as “easily distracted”, but there are nuances:

• snel afgeleid

  • Literally: “quickly distracted”
  • Focuses more on how fast it happens.
  • Common, very natural in speech.

• makkelijk afgeleid / gemakkelijk afgeleid

  • Literally: “easily distracted”
  • Focuses more on how little it takes to distract you.
  • Gemakkelijk is a bit more formal/standard than makkelijk.

In everyday speech, snel afgeleid is very typical and sounds completely natural.

Why is “als” used instead of “wanneer” in “als ik moe ben”?

Both als and wanneer can translate as “when”, but:

• als is the default for:

  • recurring situations
  • conditions
  • everyday, informal speech

• wanneer is:

  • more formal or neutral
  • used more for specific times (When will you arrive? = Wanneer kom je aan?)

Here, “als ik moe ben” means whenever / when(ever) I am tired (a repeating condition), so als is more natural.

You could say “Wanneer ik moe ben, ben ik snel afgeleid”, and it’s correct, but it sounds more formal/written and less colloquial.

Why is “ben” used twice in “Ik ben snel afgeleid als ik moe ben”? Is that okay?

Yes, it’s completely normal.

There are two clauses:

1. Ik ben snel afgeleid – main clause (I am easily distracted).
2. als ik moe ben – subordinate clause (when I am tired).

Each clause has its own verb:

• Main clause verb: ben (ik ben snel afgeleid)
• Subordinate clause verb: ben (ik moe ben)

So having ben twice is just like English:

• I *am easily distracted when I am tired.*

What word order rules are shown in “als ik moe ben”?

“als ik moe ben” is a subordinate clause introduced by als.

Typical pattern:

• [conjunction] + [subject] + ... + [finite verb at the end]

So:

• als – conjunction
• ik – subject
• moe – adjective (predicate)
• ben – finite verb at the end

That’s why it’s als ik moe ben, not als ik ben moe.

If you put the clause first, the whole sentence could be:

• Als ik moe ben, ben ik snel afgeleid.
  (Subclause: verb at end; main clause: verb in second position.)

Could I also say “Wanneer ik moe ben, ben ik snel afgeleid” or “Als ik moe ben, raak ik snel afgeleid”?

Yes, both are correct, with small nuance differences:

1. Wanneer ik moe ben, ben ik snel afgeleid.

   • Correct, a bit more formal/neutral.
   • Meaning: same as with als.

2. Als ik moe ben, raak ik snel afgeleid.

   • raak = “get / become”
   • Emphasizes the process of becoming distracted.
   • Closer to English “I get distracted quickly when I’m tired.”

Original:

• Ik ben snel afgeleid = focus on the state (I am, as a tendency, easily distracted).
• Ik raak snel afgeleid = focus on the moment it happens (I quickly become distracted).

What is the difference between “moe” and “vermoeid”?

Both relate to being tired, but they’re used differently:

• moe

  • Everyday, very common.
  • Broadly: tired, worn-out, sleepy.
  • Ik ben moe. – I’m tired.

• vermoeid

  • More formal, often sounds medical/technical or slightly heavier.
  • Often used in written language or in combinations:
    
    • vermoeide spieren – tired muscles
    • vermoeidheid – fatigue

In your sentence, “als ik moe ben” is the natural choice.
“Als ik vermoeid ben” is correct but sounds more formal or clinical.

Where does “snel” go in the sentence, and can I add other adverbs like “heel” or “erg”?

In the original sentence:

• Ik ben snel afgeleid
  
  • snel stands between ben and afgeleid, modifying afgeleid.

You can add intensifiers:

• Ik ben heel snel afgeleid als ik moe ben.
  = I am very easily distracted when I’m tired.

• Ik ben erg snel afgeleid als ik erg moe ben.

  • First erg modifies snel (very quickly/easily)
  • Second erg modifies moe (very tired)

Typical positions:

• After ben:
  
  • Ik ben [heel] snel afgeleid
• In the subordinate clause:
  
  • als ik (erg) moe ben

Is “afgeleid” related to a separable verb? How would I use “afleiden” in other sentences?

Yes. Afleiden is a separable verb:

• infinitive: afleiden
• present (separable):
  
  • Dat leidt me af. – That distracts me.
• perfect:
  
  • Dat heeft me afgeleid. – That has distracted me.

Other ways to talk about being distracted:

• Ik laat me snel afleiden.
  = I let myself be distracted easily.

• Ik word snel afgeleid.
  = I get / am being easily distracted (more like a passive or process).

In your sentence, ik ben snel afgeleid describes the resulting state: you end up distracted easily.