Modal particle: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 22:56, 27 July 2019

Revision as of 23:03, 27 July 2019

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This combination is used to make an order '''stronger''', and than '''transforming''' that order into a '''weaker''' request:

Luister '''dan nu''' (this moment + now: indicating impatience) '''toch maar''' (incentive + weakener: indicating transition) '''eens even''' (only this time + a short time: indicating politeness) het raam dicht.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hulshof |first1=H. |title=Forum der Letteren. Jaargang 1987 · dbnl |url=https://www.dbnl.org/tekst/_for004198701_01/_for004198701_01_0036.php |website=DBNL |publisher=dbnl |accessdate=27 July 2019 |language=nl}}</ref> ("Just close the window, will you?")

However, replacing the "order weakener" '''maar''' by the order enhancer '''gewoon''' (indicating normal, acceptable behavior), changes the complete mood of the sentence, now indicating utter frustration with someone who is failing to do something very simple:

**''Luister '''dan nou toch gewoon eens even'''!'' ("Listen now just regularly once for a while", meaning: "For once, can you just simply listen for a minute?")