Woordgroepwerkwoord of los werkwoord: kiezen naar register

Voorbeelden

1. We need to look into why the numbers dropped.

   We moeten uitzoeken waarom de cijfers daalden.

2. The committee will investigate the causes of the decline.

   De commissie zal de oorzaken van de daling onderzoeken.

3. They put the match off because of the snow.

   Ze stelden de wedstrijd uit vanwege de sneeuw.

4. The hearing has been postponed until further notice.

   De zitting is uitgesteld tot nader order.

Veelgemaakte fouten

• ✗Fout: In conclusion, the government should cut down on spending.

  ✓Goed: In conclusion, the government should reduce spending.

  Een conclusie in een betoog vraagt het losse werkwoord.

• ✗Fout: Hey, can you ascertain whether Tom’s coming tonight?

  ✓Goed: Hey, can you find out whether Tom’s coming tonight?

  In een gesprek is het woordgroepwerkwoord natuurlijk; ascertain klinkt stijf.

• ✗Fout: The board turned the offer.

  ✓Goed: The board turned the offer down.

  Een woordgroepwerkwoord heeft zijn partikel nodig.

Oefenvragen

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

1. 1Kies de juiste zin.

   Wat past in een formele brief?

   Telling a customer that a meeting is later.

   1. AWe have pushed the meeting back a bit, to 3 May.
   2. BThe meeting has been put off till 3 May, sorry.
   3. CWe are bumping the meeting to 3 May.
   4. DThe meeting has been postponed until 3 May.
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: D The meeting has been postponed until 3 May.

   Formeel: postponed.

2. 2Kies de juiste zin.

   Wat past in een informeel gesprek?

   Telling a friend you will check the times.

   1. AI will determine when it commences.
   2. BI’ll find out when it starts.
   3. CThe start time will be ascertained.
   4. DI shall ascertain the commencement time.
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: B I’ll find out when it starts.

   In een gesprek: het woordgroepwerkwoord find out.

3. 3Verander de zin.

   Maak het formeel.

   The company has cut down on its energy use.

   1. AThe company has reduction its energy use.
   2. BThe company has reduced its energy use.
   3. CThe company has cutted down its energy use.
   4. DThe company has cut its energy use down on.
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: B The company has reduced its energy use.

   cut down on → reduce.

4. 4Vul het gat in.

   The police are _____ the cause of the fire.

   1. Afinding
   2. Bputting up
   3. Cinvestigating
   4. Dlooking
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: C The police are investigating the cause of the fire.

   Het formele equivalent van looking into: investigating.

5. 5Kies de juiste zin.

   1. AShe turned down the job because the salary was too low.
   2. BShe down turned the job because the salary was too low.
   3. CShe turned down to the job because the salary was too low.
   4. DShe turned the job because the salary was too low down.
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: A She turned down the job because the salary was too low.

   turn down + zelfstandig naamwoord: het partikel kan ervoor staan.

6. 6Kies de juiste zin.

   Welke zin betekent hetzelfde?

   We can’t put up with this noise any longer.

   1. AWe can put this noise somewhere else.
   2. BWe will turn this noise up.
   3. CWe can no longer make this noise.
   4. DWe can no longer tolerate this noise.
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: D We can no longer tolerate this noise.

   put up with = verdragen.

7. 7Verander de zin.

   Zeg het zoals u het tegen een vriend zou zeggen.

   The concert has been cancelled.

   1. AThe concert’s been called off.
   2. BThe concert’s been called out.
   3. CThe concert’s been called up.
   4. DThe concert’s been cancelled off.
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: A The concert’s been called off.

   cancel → call off in de spreektaal.

8. 8Deze zin klopt niet. Kies de verbetering.

   The committee will look the complaint into.

   1. AThe committee will look into the complaint.
   2. BThe committee will into look the complaint.
   3. CThe committee will look the complaint in.
   4. DThe committee will look into it the complaint.
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: A The committee will look into the complaint.

   look into is onscheidbaar: het voorwerp komt na het partikel.

9. 9Zet de woorden in de juiste volgorde.

   The plan was rejected by the board

   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: The plan was rejected by the board.

   Formeel: reject in plaats van turn down.

10. 10Vul het gat in.

    U schrijft een rapport.

    Staff costs have _____ by eight per cent since 2023.

    1. Agone up with
    2. Bincreased
    3. Cwent up
    4. Dupped
    Toon antwoord

    Antwoord: B Staff costs have increased by eight per cent since 2023.

    Rapportstijl: increased by.