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Deze les behandelt de vaste zinsvolgorde met een voorzetselgroep, bijvoorbeeld 'op het werk', en belangrijke woorden zoals 'onderwerp', 'persoonsvorm' en 'lijdend voorwerp'. Leer hoe je een tweede werkwoord correct achteraan plaatst voor duidelijke communicatie.
  1. Sometimes there is a second verb in the sentence. This verb usually comes at the end of the sentence.
  2. A prepositional phrase is a part of a sentence that begins with a preposition.
  3. A prepositional phrase can stand before or after the second verb.
Plaats (Place)Voorbeeld (Example)Toelichting (Explanation)
1e plaatsPietOnderwerp (Subject)
2e plaatsheeftPersoonsvorm (finite verb)
3e plaatseen banaanLijdend voorwerp (Direct object)
4e plaatsgegeten2e werkwoord (second verb)
5e plaatsop het werk.Voorzetselgroep (prepositional phrase)

Exercise 1: Voorzetselgroep

Instruction: Fill in the correct word.

Show translation Show answers

aan de balie, gecontroleerd, op de luchthaven, in de cockpit, gevolgd, veiligheidsgordel

1.
Wij hebben de instructies van de stewardess ...
(We followed the instructions of the flight attendant)
2.
Ik toon mijn identiteitskaart ....
(I show my identity card at the counter.)
3.
Hij checkt in ....
(He checks in at the airport.)
4.
Zij draagt haar ... in het vliegtuig.
(She is wearing her seatbelt on the plane.)
5.
De piloot blijft ... tijdens de turbulentie.
(The pilot stays in the cockpit during the turbulence.)
6.
De stewardess heeft de veiligheidsgordel ... voor de start.
(The flight attendant checked the seatbelt before the start.)

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct sentence with the proper general sentence structure according to the fixed order: subject + finite verb + time + direct object + place.

1.
Incorrect order: the finite verb (controleert) must directly follow the subject; here it is too far back.
Incorrect word order: the finite verb is not in the second position; the subject must directly follow the finite verb.
2.
The finite verb must come directly after the subject; here it is too far back.
In a regular declarative sentence, the finite verb may not precede the subject.
3.
Time must be in the third position; here it incorrectly precedes the finite verb and subject.
Time must come after the finite verb and before the direct object; here the time is too late in the sentence.
4.
Time must come directly after the finite verb and before the direct object.
Time must be in third position, after subject and finite verb, not before the subject.

Understanding the Dutch Prepositional Group (Voorzetselgroep)

This lesson focuses on the Dutch concept of the voorzetselgroep, often translated as the "prepositional group." It's a key part of Dutch sentence structure that provides extra details about place, direction, or other relationships in a sentence.

What is a Voorzetselgroep?

A voorzetselgroep is a phrase that starts with a preposition, such as op straat (on the street), bij de bakker (at the baker's), or in de klas (in the classroom). It provides additional information related to location or direction.

Sentence Position and Structure

In Dutch sentences, the prepositional group typically comes at the end, often after the second verb if there is one. For example, in the sentence "Piet heeft een banaan gegeten op het werk" (Piet has eaten a banana at work), op het werk is the voorzetselgroep adding place information.

Basic Sentence Word Order Guide

Dutch main clauses commonly follow this order:

  • 1st position: Subject (e.g., Piet)
  • 2nd position: Finite verb or personal verb form (e.g., heeft)
  • 3rd position: Direct object (e.g., een banaan)
  • 4th position: Second verb if any (e.g., gegeten)
  • 5th position: Prepositional group (e.g., op het werk)

Examples of Prepositional Groups

  • op straat — on the street
  • bij de bakker — at the baker's
  • in de klas — in the classroom

Notes on Dutch Sentence Construction Compared to English

Dutch word order can be quite different from English. While English usually keeps verbs together and tends to have a consistent order, Dutch often places the second verb (in a compound verb) at the end of the clause. Also, the prepositional group often comes at the very end, which may feel unusual to English speakers.

For example, in English you might say: "Piet has eaten a banana at work." In Dutch: "Piet heeft een banaan gegeten op het werk," where gegeten (eaten) appears before the place phrase op het werk.

Useful Dutch Words and Phrases

  • onderwerp — subject
  • persoonsvorm — finite verb / personal verb form
  • lijdend voorwerp — direct object
  • tweede werkwoord — second verb
  • voorzetselgroep — prepositional group

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Kato De Paepe

Business and languages

KdG University of Applied Sciences and Arts Antwerp

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Last Updated:

Monday, 01/09/2025 06:19