Zinnen die als zelfstandig naamwoord werken: that, whether en wh-

Voorbeelden

1. What you need is a long holiday.

   Wat je nodig hebt, is een lange vakantie.

2. Whether the plan succeeds depends on the funding.

   Of het plan slaagt, hangt af van de financiering.

3. Despite the fact that it rained, the festival was a success.

   Ondanks het feit dat het regende, was het festival een succes.

4. How the thieves got in remains a mystery.

   Hoe de dieven binnenkwamen, blijft een raadsel.

Veelgemaakte fouten

• ✗Fout: If we go depends on the weather.

  ✓Goed: Whether we go depends on the weather.

  Aan het begin van een zin: whether, niet if.

• ✗Fout: I’m worried about that he is late.

  ✓Goed: I’m worried about the fact that he is late.

  Na een voorzetsel: the fact that.

• ✗Fout: I don’t know where does she live.

  ✓Goed: I don’t know where she lives.

  Een ingebedde vraag heeft de gewone woordvolgorde.

Oefenvragen

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

1. 1Kies de juiste zin.

   1. AWhether we can afford it is another matter.
   2. BIf we can afford it is another matter.
   3. CThat whether we can afford it is another matter.
   4. DWhether can we afford it is another matter.
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: A Whether we can afford it is another matter.

   Een whether-zin als onderwerp.

2. 2Vul het gat in.

   It all depends on _____ the bank agrees to the loan.

   1. Aif
   2. Bwhether
   3. Cthat
   4. Dwhat
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: B It all depends on whether the bank agrees to the loan.

   Na een voorzetsel: whether, niet if.

3. 3Kies de juiste zin.

   Wat is het onderwerp van de zin?

   What worries me is the cost.

   1. Ame
   2. BWhat worries me
   3. Cthe cost
   4. Dworries
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: B What worries me

   De hele what-zin is het onderwerp.

4. 4Deze zin klopt niet. Kies de verbetering.

   He was annoyed about that nobody had told him.

   1. AHe was annoyed about that nobody told him it.
   2. BHe was annoyed about nobody had told him.
   3. CHe was annoyed of that nobody had told him.
   4. DHe was annoyed that nobody had told him.
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: D He was annoyed that nobody had told him.

   Laat het voorzetsel weg vóór een that-zin (of gebruik the fact that).

5. 5Verander de zin.

   Begin met de wh-zin.

   Nobody knows how the fire started.

   1. AHow started the fire is still unknown.
   2. BHow did the fire start is still unknown.
   3. CThat how the fire started is unknown.
   4. DHow the fire started is still unknown.
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: D How the fire started is still unknown.

   wh-zin als onderwerp, gewone woordvolgorde.

6. 6Zet de woorden in de juiste volgorde.

   Despite the fact that it was late nobody left

   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: Despite the fact that it was late nobody left.

   despite the fact that + bijzin.

7. 7Kies de juiste zin.

   1. ACan you tell me what time opens the museum?
   2. BCan you tell me that what time the museum opens?
   3. CCan you tell me what time the museum opens?
   4. DCan you tell me what time does the museum open?
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: C Can you tell me what time the museum opens?

   Ingebedde vraag: gewone woordvolgorde.

8. 8Kies de juiste zin.

   Welke zin betekent hetzelfde?

   That the minister knew about the problem is now clear.

   1. AIt is now clear that the minister knew about the problem.
   2. BThe problem is now clear to the minister.
   3. CThe minister now knows clearly about the problem.
   4. DIt is not clear whether the minister knew.
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: A It is now clear that the minister knew about the problem.

   Een that-onderwerp kan met it naar achteren.

9. 9Vul het gat in.

   U schrijft een formele klachtenbrief.

   I am concerned about _____ no one has replied to my emails.

   1. Athe fact that
   2. Bthat
   3. Cwhat
   4. Dwhether that
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: A I am concerned about the fact that no one has replied to my emails.

   Na about: the fact that + bijzin.

10. 10Verander de zin.

    Maak het formeel met the fact that.

    Although she had no experience, she got the job.

    1. ADespite of the fact she had no experience, she got the job.
    2. BDespite that she had no experience, she got the job.
    3. CDespite the fact she had no experience it, she got the job.
    4. DDespite the fact that she had no experience, she got the job.
    Toon antwoord

    Antwoord: D Despite the fact that she had no experience, she got the job.

    despite the fact that + bijzin.