Breakdown of De student is een brief aan het typen.
zijn
to be
een
a/an
de student
the student
de brief
the letter
aan
on / at (attached to, edge)
typen
to type
Questions & Answers about De student is een brief aan het typen.
How does the is ... aan het typen structure work?
Why is een brief in the middle of the sentence instead of at the end?
In Dutch, the object (een brief) usually comes before the aan het part. Unlike English, where you keep the verb parts together ('is typing a letter'), Dutch splits the verb structure and wraps it around the object: 'is a letter at the typing'.
Could I also just say De student typt een brief?
Yes, you can! In Dutch, the simple present tense (typt) can mean both 'types' and 'is typing'. You only need to use the aan het structure when you want to strongly emphasize that the action is in progress at this exact moment.
Does brief mean the same thing as the English word 'brief'?
No, brief is a false friend. While it looks like the English word for 'short', in Dutch, een brief specifically means a letter that you write or mail to someone.
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