Breakdown of U moet deze deur vrijhouden.
u
you (formal)
deze
this / these
de deur
the door
moeten
to have to, must
vrijhouden
to keep clear
Questions & Answers about U moet deze deur vrijhouden.
How would you write this as an impersonal imperative sign, like we learned in this lesson?
To make it a short, direct instruction for a public sign, you drop the subject (U) and the modal verb (moet), leaving just the object and the infinitive verb at the end. The sign would simply say: Deze deur vrijhouden.
If public signs are often impersonal infinitives, why does this sentence use U moet?
While punchy signs use the bare infinitive, slightly longer or more conversational notices use full sentences. When addressing the general public in writing, Dutch almost always defaults to the polite U rather than the informal je.
Why is vrijhouden written as a single word here? Isn't it a separable verb?
Yes, vrijhouden is a separable verb made of vrij and houden. However, because the modal verb moet is the conjugated verb in this sentence, the main verb is pushed to the very end in its full infinitive form. When separable verbs are in the full infinitive, the prefix and the core verb stick together as one word.
What does vrijhouden literally translate to?
It literally means to keep free. Vrij translates to free or clear, and houden means to keep or to hold. You will frequently see it on signs instructing people to keep exits, driveways, or pathways clear.
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