past passive, is + participe

[logicgate]

I would like to translate, precisely, > This thought has not been thought through enough.
(This is a poetic text, and I would like to stay close to the original)

Is + participe seems to translate the past composite passive voice so that I would say

> Dit denken is niet voldoende doorgedacht.

However, when translating this back with a translator, it gives rather > This thought is not thought through enough.

How to translate without ambiguity the past passive voice in this case?

[LeSNT2]

I would translate it like "Deze gedachte is niet voldoende doordacht geweest." that's the closest I can get. The meaning of 'this thought' is a noun, in Dutch it would be 'deze gedachte'. The translation of 'has not been' would be 'is niet geweest'.

[logicgate]

Many thanks, but how would you translate then

> Het denken is niet voldoende gedacht.

I assume that one possible translation is still the past composite passive, > The thought has not been thought enough. or something similar.

How do you make the difference between present tense and past passive composite?

[BrutallyFrank]

I don't agree with the translation LeSNT2 offered you. I have a problem with the word 'gedachte'. Here it is presented as an equivalent of 'thought'. But from what I know of the English language, the word has a broader meaning to it than the word 'gedachte'. In Dutch you need a 'gedachte' to think something through. But the end result is more like a conclusion/idea, based on the previous thoughts. Just the word 'gedachte' doesn't cover that (imho).

I think that 'gedachtegang' is more accurate. It's like a train of thought (wikipedia: "The train of thought or track of thought refers to the interconnection in the sequence of ideas expressed during a connected discourse or thought, as well as the sequence itself, especially in discussion how this sequence leads from one idea to another.").

[LeSNT2]

Many thanks, but how would you translate then

> Het denken is niet voldoende gedacht.

I assume that one possible translation is still the past composite passive, > The thought has not been thought enough. or something similar.

How do you make the difference between present tense and past passive composite?

Your sentence doesn't mean anything to me. I'm not sure what you are trying to say. I'm also not familiar with the term 'past passive composite'. Hope someone else can help you!

I don't agree with the translation LeSNT2 offered you. I have a problem with the word 'gedachte'. Here it is presented as an equivalent of 'thought'. But from what I know of the English language, the word has a broader meaning to it than the word 'gedachte'. In Dutch you need a 'gedachte' to think something through. But the end result is more like a conclusion/idea, based on the previous thoughts. Just the word 'gedachte' doesn't cover that (imho).

I think that 'gedachtegang' is more accurate. It's like a train of thought (wikipedia: "The train of thought or track of thought refers to the interconnection in the sequence of ideas expressed during a connected discourse or thought, as well as the sequence itself, especially in discussion how this sequence leads from one idea to another.").

Very good addition, that's the beauty of a forum. I didn't thought ( ) of 'gedachtegang' but it's better!