Breakdown of Het kindje staat zwaaiend bij het raam.
het kind
the child
het raam
the window
staan
to stand
bij
at / near / by
zwaaien
to wave
Questions & Answers about Het kindje staat zwaaiend bij het raam.
How do we form the word zwaaiend in this sentence?
It is the present participle of the verb zwaaien (to wave). To make this form, you simply add -d to the full infinitive verb. In this sentence, it acts as an adverb to describe how the child is standing.
Why does the sentence use het for kindje?
Kindje is a diminutive, meaning a little child (from kind plus the ending -je). In Dutch, all diminutive words automatically become het words, regardless of whether the original word used de or het.
Why is bij used here to mean at the window?
The preposition bij is often used to indicate proximity, meaning near, by, or at. Standing bij het raam means the child is standing next to or close to the window.
Why is zwaaiend placed before bij het raam?
This follows the general Dutch word order rule of Time-Manner-Place. The word zwaaiend describes the manner (how the child stands), while bij het raam describes the place (where). Manner usually comes before place.
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