Voorbij it en what: all, the thing en the reason

Voorbeelden

1. All I want is a quiet evening at home.

   Het enige wat ik wil, is een rustige avond thuis.

2. What we did was ring every hotel in the town.

   Wat we deden, was elk hotel in de stad bellen.

3. It was not until the next morning that we noticed the damage.

   Pas de volgende ochtend merkten we de schade op.

4. The reason I am calling is that your order has been delayed.

   De reden dat ik bel, is dat uw bestelling vertraging heeft.

Veelgemaakte fouten

• ✗Fout: All what I need is a coffee.

  ✓Goed: All I need is a coffee.

  All vervangt what; gebruik ze niet allebei.

• ✗Fout: The reason is because the train was late.

  ✓Goed: The reason is that the train was late.

  Formeel Engels verkiest the reason is that.

• ✗Fout: It was until midnight that she called.

  ✓Goed: It was not until midnight that she called.

  Een late tijd benadrukken vraagt not until.

Oefenvragen

Probeer elke vraag eerst zelf en open dan „Toon antwoord” voor de oplossing en de reden.

1. 1Verander de zin.

   Leg de nadruk op de handeling met what … do.

   We rang every hotel in town.

   1. AWhat we did was ring every hotel in town.
   2. BWhat we did was we rang every hotel in town.
   3. CWhat did we was ring every hotel in town.
   4. DWhat we rang was every hotel in town did.
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: A What we did was ring every hotel in town.

   What … did was + kale infinitief.

2. 2Kies de juiste zin.

   1. AAll I need it is a few more days.
   2. BAll I need is a few more days.
   3. CAll that I need are a few more days is.
   4. DAll what I need is a few more days.
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: B All I need is a few more days.

   All + bijzin + is: het enige.

3. 3Kies de juiste zin.

   Welke zin betekent hetzelfde?

   The last thing I need right now is another meeting.

   1. AThe last meeting was the one I needed.
   2. BI really do not want another meeting now.
   3. CAnother meeting is the final thing on my list.
   4. DI need one more meeting before I leave.
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: B I really do not want another meeting now.

   The last thing I need = iets wat ik echt niet wil.

4. 4Vul het gat in.

   It was not _____ I read the letter again that I understood it.

   1. Auntil
   2. Bbefore
   3. Csince
   4. Dafter
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: A It was not until I read the letter again that I understood it.

   It was not until … that: het begrip kwam pas laat.

5. 5Deze zin klopt niet. Kies de verbetering.

   The reason I left is because the pay was terrible.

   1. AThe reason I left is why the pay was terrible.
   2. BThe reason I left is that the pay was terrible.
   3. CThe reason why I left is for the pay was terrible.
   4. DThe reason I left was the pay which was terrible it.
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: B The reason I left is that the pay was terrible.

   Formeel: the reason … is that.

6. 6Zet de woorden in de juiste volgorde.

   What happened was that the server crashed

   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: What happened was that the server crashed.

   What happened was leidt de uitleg in.

7. 7Kies de juiste zin.

   Wat benadrukt de spreker?

   It was Sarah, not Tom, who organised the party.

   1. AWhere the party was held
   2. BWhen the party took place
   3. CWhy the party was organised
   4. DWho organised the party
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: D Who organised the party

   De it-cleft legt de nadruk op de persoon.

8. 8Verander de zin.

   Leg de nadruk op de tijd.

   She only called after midnight.

   1. AIt was after midnight not until she called.
   2. BIt was not until after midnight that she called.
   3. CIt was not until midnight she called that.
   4. DIt was only midnight that she called after.
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: B It was not until after midnight that she called.

   It was not until … that + bijzin.

9. 9Kies de juiste zin.

   1. AThing is it, I’ve already promised to help my sister.
   2. BThe thing is, I’ve already promised to help my sister.
   3. CThe thing it is, I’ve already promised to help my sister.
   4. DThe thing is that, I’ve already promised to help my sister is.
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: B The thing is, I’ve already promised to help my sister.

   The thing is leidt in gesprekken het eigenlijke probleem in.

10. 10Vul het gat in.

    U legt een probleem uit aan uw manager.

    _____ worries me is the lack of time for testing.

    1. AThat
    2. BIt
    3. CWhich
    4. DWhat
    Toon antwoord

    Antwoord: D What worries me is the lack of time for testing.

    Een what-cleft: What + bijzin + is …