Breakdown of De instructeur helpt mij, na de theorie te hebben uitgelegd.
hebben
to have
helpen
to help
mij
me
uitleggen
to explain
te
to (infinitive marker)
na
after (preposition)
de theorie
the theory
de instructeur
the instructor
Questions & Answers about De instructeur helpt mij, na de theorie te hebben uitgelegd.
Why is the word order te hebben uitgelegd instead of uitgelegd te hebben?
In Dutch perfect infinitive clauses, the te + auxiliary verb (te hebben or te zijn) usually goes right before the past participle (uitgelegd). While you might occasionally hear the reverse order, putting the auxiliary before the participle is the standard word order you should learn at this level.
How exactly is this 'after having done' phrase constructed?
You build it using na (after) + any objects or details (de theorie) + te hebben or te zijn + the past participle (uitgelegd). It acts as an elegant, concise alternative to using a full clause like 'nadat hij de theorie heeft uitgelegd' (after he has explained the theory).
With the separable verb uitleggen, why doesn't the te go in the middle of the word here?
You are remembering the rule for the present infinitive, where te splits the verb (like uit te leggen). However, this sentence uses a perfect infinitive. The word te attaches to the auxiliary verb hebben, leaving the past participle uitgelegd intact as one solid word.
Why is there no subject in the second part of the sentence?
In an infinitive clause like na ... te hebben uitgelegd, you must drop the subject because it is assumed to be the exact same subject as the main clause. Since De instructeur is the one helping, the grammar automatically tells us the instructor is also the one who explained the theory.
Learn De instructeur helpt mij, na de theorie te hebben uitgelegd and more in Dutch
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
- ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
- ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free