Breakdown of De ober zegt dat hij de stoelen klaarzet.
hij
he / it (referring to a 'de'-word)
de stoel
the chair
zeggen
to say
de ober
the waiter
Questions & Answers about De ober zegt dat hij de stoelen klaarzet.
Why is klaarzet written as one connected word here?
This is the main rule for separable verbs in subordinate clauses! In a normal main clause, a separable verb splits up. But because this part of the sentence starts with dat (that), all verbs are pushed to the end. When the separable verb goes to the end, its parts attach back together into a single word: klaarzet.
Could I say ... dat hij klaarzet de stoelen?
No, that is a common mistake for English speakers. Because the clause starts with dat, it is a subordinate clause. In Dutch subordinate clauses, all verbs must wait until the very end of the phrase, coming after the object (de stoelen).
How would you write 'He is setting up the chairs' as a standalone sentence without dat?
You would write: Hij zet de stoelen klaar. In a regular main clause, the separable verb splits. The conjugated part (zet) takes the second position, and the prefix (klaar) is sent to the very end of the sentence.
How do the parts of klaarzetten create the meaning 'setting up'?
The verb is made up of klaar (ready) and zetten (to put or place). So literally, the waiter is 'putting things ready.' In English, we usually translate this action as setting up or preparing.