Learn Dutch: Ze zitten samen te studeren voor het tentamen. - They are studying together for the exam.

Ze zitten samen te studeren voor het tentamen.

They are studying together for the exam.

Breakdown of Ze zitten samen te studeren voor het tentamen.

Questions & Answers about Ze zitten samen te studeren voor het tentamen.

Why does the sentence say zitten te studeren rather than just studeren?

Dutch often uses a "posture verb" (zitten, staan, liggen, or lopen) followed by te + an infinitive to express that an action is currently ongoing. It translates to the English "-ing" form ("are studying"). You could say ze studeren samen, but zitten te studeren heavily emphasizes that they are in the middle of doing it (while sitting down).

Could I use aan het for this continuous action instead?

Absolutely. Ze zijn samen aan het studeren is perfectly correct and means the same thing. Native speakers often prefer the zitten te construction when the physical position—like sitting at a desk to study—is obvious or naturally fits the action.

What is the difference between a tentamen and an examen?

A tentamen specifically refers to an exam or test taken at a university or college. An examen is usually reserved for final, formal exams that grant a diploma or license, such as high school graduation exams or a driving test.

Why does samen come before te studeren?

In a main clause with a verbal phrase, the conjugated verb (zitten) takes the second position, while the rest of the verbs (te studeren) are pushed to the very end of the clause. Adverbs like samen come before that final verb block.