When learning a new language, it’s important to understand the different types of sentences and how they are structured. In Dutch, exclamatory sentences are used to express strong emotions, surprise, or excitement. These sentences are characterized by their unique word order and the use of exclamation marks. In this guide, we will provide a brief and accurate introduction to Dutch exclamatory sentences, including their structure, examples, and some important points to keep in mind.
Structure of Exclamatory Sentences:
Dutch exclamatory sentences typically follow a specific word order that sets them apart from declarative or interrogative sentences. The basic structure of an exclamatory sentence in Dutch is as follows:
Subject – Verb – Object – Complement
For example:
Wat een mooie bloemen! (What beautiful flowers!)
Wat een heerlijk weer! (What lovely weather!)
Wat een fantastisch idee! (What a fantastic idea!)
Use of “Wat” and “Hoe”:
In exclamatory sentences, the words “wat” and “hoe” are commonly used to express surprise or wonder. “Wat” is equivalent to “what” in English, while “hoe” can be translated as “how.” These words are placed at the beginning of the sentence to emphasize the exclamation.
Examples:
Wat ben jij slim! (How smart you are!)
Wat een goede prestatie! (What a great achievement!)
Hoe mooi is deze stad! (How beautiful this city is!)
Intensifiers:
To further emphasize the exclamatory nature of a sentence, Dutch often uses intensifiers such as “heel” (very) or “zo” (so). These words are placed before the adjective or adverb to strengthen the emotion being expressed.
Examples:
Wat een heel grote verrassing! (What a very big surprise!)
Zo’n geweldige voorstelling! (Such an amazing performance!)
Wat een prachtig uitzicht! (What a stunning view!)
Word Order Variation:
In some cases, the word order in exclamatory sentences can vary to emphasize different elements of the sentence. It is common to place the complement or object at the beginning of the sentence for added emphasis.
Examples:
Die film heb ik echt fantastisch gevonden! (That movie I found truly fantastic!)
Deze stad wil ik absoluut bezoeken! (This city I absolutely want to visit!)
Die taart smaakt werkelijk verrukkelijk! (That cake tastes truly delicious!)
Exclamation Marks:
Exclamatory sentences in Dutch are typically punctuated with an exclamation mark at the end to indicate the strong emotion or surprise being expressed. The use of an exclamation mark adds emphasis and distinguishes exclamatory sentences from other types.
Example:
Wat een geweldige prestatie! (What an amazing achievement!)
Ik ben zo blij! (I am so happy!)
Wat een verrassing! (What a surprise!)
It’s important to note that the intensity of the emotion being expressed can vary in exclamatory sentences. The use of specific adjectives, adverbs, or intensifiers can help convey the level of surprise, excitement, or awe.
In conclusion, Dutch exclamatory sentences are used to express strong emotions, surprise, or excitement. They have a distinct word order and often begin with “wat” or “hoe” to indicate surprise or wonder. Intensifiers and variations in word order are used to emphasize the exclamation. Exclamatory sentences are punctuated with an exclamation mark to add emphasis. By understanding the structure and examples provided in this guide, beginners can start using exclamatory sentences in Dutch to express their emotions effectively.
Quick quiz
Exercise 1:
Choose the correct word order for the given exclamatory sentence:
Wat mooie schilderijen!
A) Wat mooie schilderijen!
B) Mooie wat schilderijen!
C) Schilderijen mooie wat!
Answer: A) Wat mooie schilderijen!
Explanation: In Dutch, the correct word order for an exclamatory sentence is Subject – Verb – Object – Complement. Therefore, option A is the correct choice. The sentence translates to “What beautiful paintings!”
Exercise 2:
Select the appropriate intensifier for the given exclamatory sentence:
_ warme chocolademelk!
A) Zo
B) Heel
C) Hoe
Answer: B) Heel
Explanation: The correct intensifier to use in this context is “heel,” which means “very” in English. The sentence translates to “Very hot chocolate milk!”
Exercise 3:
Choose the correct exclamation word for the following sentence:
_ goed gedaan!
A) Wat
B) Hoe
C) Zo
Answer: A) Wat
Explanation: The exclamation word “wat” is used to express surprise or wonder. The sentence translates to “What a good job!”
Exercise 4:
Select the appropriate word order for the given exclamatory sentence:
Die taart smaakt _ verrukkelijk!
A) zo
B) heel
C) werkelijk
Answer: C) werkelijk
Explanation: The correct word order is “Complement – Subject – Verb – Adverb.” The sentence translates to “That cake tastes truly delicious!”
Exercise 5:
Choose the correct punctuation for the following exclamatory sentence:
Wat een mooie dag __
A) .
B) !
C) ?
Answer: B) !
Explanation: Exclamatory sentences are punctuated with an exclamation mark (!) to indicate strong emotion or surprise. The sentence translates to “What a beautiful day!”
Exercise 6:
Identify the correct translation for the given exclamatory sentence:
Hoe indrukwekkend!
A) How impressive!
B) What an impressive!
C) So impressive!
Answer: A) How impressive!
Explanation: The sentence translates to “How impressive!” and emphasizes surprise or admiration.
Exercise 7:
Choose the correct intensifier for the following exclamatory sentence:
Zo’n _ uitzicht!
A) heel
B) wat
C) zo
Answer: C) zo
Explanation: The intensifier “zo” is used to intensify the emotion being expressed. The sentence translates to “Such a stunning view!”
Exercise 8:
Identify the correct word order for the given exclamatory sentence:
Wat een geweldige presentatie ik heb gezien!
A) Wat een geweldige presentatie ik heb gezien!
B) Ik heb gezien wat een geweldige presentatie!
C) Ik heb gezien een geweldige presentatie wat!
Answer: B) Ik heb gezien wat een geweldige presentatie!
Explanation: The correct word order for an exclamatory sentence is Subject – Verb – Object – Complement. The sentence translates to “I have seen what a great presentation!”
Exercise 9:
Choose the appropriate exclamation word for the following sentence:
_ prachtige bloemen!
A) Wat
B) Zo
C) Hoe
Answer: A) Wat
Explanation: The exclamation word “wat” is used to express surprise or wonder. The sentence translates to “What beautiful flowers!”
Exercise 10:
Select the correct punctuation for the given exclamatory sentence:
Ik ben zo blij __
A) ?
B) !
C) .
Answer: B) !
Explanation: Exclamatory sentences are punctuated with an exclamation mark (!) to indicate strong emotion or surprise. The sentence translates to “I am so happy!”
Originally posted 2023-07-19 17:24:20.