Questions & Answers about Ik zoek de sleutel van de auto.
Why isn't there a word for "for" after zoek?
In English, you say "looking for", but the Dutch verb zoeken already means "to look for" or "to seek". It connects directly to the thing you are trying to find. Saying ik zoek voor is a very common trap for English speakers, so just remember to use ik zoek directly followed by the object!
The translation says "I am looking", but ik zoek is simple present. Should I use a continuous form here?
You don't need to! Dutch does have ways to express that you are in the middle of doing something, but they are used much less often than in English. For an action happening right now like searching, the simple present tense (ik zoek) is the most common and natural way to say "I am looking".
Could I just say de autosleutel instead of de sleutel van de auto?
Yes, absolutely! Dutch loves sticking words together to make compound nouns, just like English does with "car key". De autosleutel is perfectly natural and means exactly the same thing as de sleutel van de auto.