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Questions & Answers about Het gras niet betreden.
Why does this sign use the infinitive betreden instead of a normal command like betreed?
Public signs and general rules in Dutch often use the bare infinitive to give a command. This is called an impersonal imperative. It tells everyone in general what to do (or not do) rather than speaking to a specific person directly.
Why is the object het gras at the very beginning of the sentence?
Would I use betreden if I were telling a friend not to step on my lawn?
Probably not. Betreden (to tread on or enter) is quite formal and is mostly used in writing for official rules. In casual speech, you would be much more likely to use a regular imperative and a more common verb, like Loop niet op het gras (Don't walk on the grass).
Why does niet come right before the verb here?
In a standard sentence, niet often comes after a definite object. That rule still applies here: the definite object het gras comes first, followed by niet. Because this sign structure pushes the infinitive verb to the very end of the phrase, niet naturally sits right in front of it to negate the action.