Breakdown of Zet de tas in de kofferbak.
in
in
de tas
the bag
zetten
to make (coffee/tea) / to put
de kofferbak
the trunk
Questions & Answers about Zet de tas in de kofferbak.
Why do we use zet here instead of another word for "put"?
In Dutch, "to put" is translated differently depending on how the object is placed. We use zetten when putting something in an upright or standing position. Since a bag (de tas) usually has a flat bottom and stands upright, we use zet. If you were putting a flat object down, you would use leg (from leggen).
This lesson is about directional words like naartoe. Why don't we say in de kofferbak naartoe?
You usually add naartoe or heen when the destination isn't fully specific, or to emphasize direction with a verb of motion like gaan (to go). Here, the phrase in de kofferbak already gives a complete, specific destination, and zetten is a verb of placement rather than travel. Adding naartoe here isn't necessary.
Why does the sentence start with the verb zet without a subject like jij (you)?
This is an imperative (a command or instruction). In Dutch, you form a command by placing the verb stem (the ik form) at the very beginning of the sentence and leaving out the subject. The stem of zetten is zet.
What are the two parts of the compound word kofferbak?
It is made up of koffer (suitcase) and bak (bin, container, or tray). So a car's trunk is literally the "suitcase bin"!
Learn Zet de tas in de kofferbak and more in Dutch
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
- ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
- ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free