et Pointing Forward

Level 5

Et can point forward to a later clause: Et ass wichteg, datt s de dat verstees. The real subject is the datt clause; et just holds its place.

How It Works

1. Et holds the place
A whole clause can be the subject of a sentence. Instead of putting that long clause first, Luxembourgish puts et first and the clause at the end:

  • Et freet mech, datt Dir komm sidd. (I'm glad that you came.)
  • Et ass wichteg, datt s de dat verstees. (It's important that you understand this.)
  • Et deet mer leed, datt ech ze spéit sinn. (I'm sorry that I'm late.)

2. Which clauses

  • datt: Et nervt, datt alles esou deier ass.
  • ob or a question word: Et ass nach net kloer, ob hie kënnt.
  • ze + infinitive: Et ass net einfach, eng Wunneng ze fannen.

In all of these, the later clause keeps its verb at the end.

3. When the clause comes first
If you start with the clause itself, it fills the first place, and et disappears:

  • Datt Dir komm sidd, freet mech.

4. Other kinds of et
This et points to a clause. Compare et for weather (Et reent), where et refers to nothing, and et gëtt (there is). In cleft sentences, et points to one highlighted person or thing.

Examples (6)

  1. Et freet mech, datt Dir komm sidd.

    I'm glad that you came.

    Et stands for the datt clause at the end.

  2. Et ass wichteg, datt s de dat verstees.

    It's important that you understand this.

    After datt, du becomes s de.

  3. Et deet mer leed, datt ech ze spéit sinn.

    I'm sorry that I'm late.

  4. Et ass net einfach, eng Wunneng ze fannen.

    It isn't easy to find a flat.

    Here et points forward to a ze + infinitive phrase.

  5. Et ass nach net kloer, ob hie kënnt.

    It isn't clear yet whether he is coming.

  6. Datt Dir komm sidd, freet mech.

    That you came makes me glad.

    The clause comes first, so there is no et.

Common Mistakes

  • Keeping et when the clause comes first.

    Datt Dir komm sidd, freet et mech.
    Datt Dir komm sidd, freet mech.

    Et only holds the place for a clause that comes later. When the clause is already in first place, et is not needed.

  • Keeping the verb in second place in the later clause.

    Et ass wichteg, datt s de verstees dat.
    Et ass wichteg, datt s de dat verstees.

    The datt clause is a subordinate clause, so its verb goes to the end.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

et Pointing ForwardLevel 5

Learn This First

Before Et Pointing Forward, learn That: Datt and The Infinitive With Ze.

Words in This Pattern