Breakdown of Tijdens de verhuizing tillen we de bank aan de zijkant.
de bank
the sofa / the couch
aan
on / at (attached to, edge)
we
we (unstressed form of wij)
tijdens
during
Questions & Answers about Tijdens de verhuizing tillen we de bank aan de zijkant.
Why does the sentence say tillen we instead of we tillen?
Because the sentence starts with the time phrase Tijdens de verhuizing (During the move), the word order flips. In Dutch main clauses, the conjugated verb must always sit in the second position. Since the time phrase takes up the first spot, the verb tillen has to come right before the subject we.
Why is the preposition aan used for 'by the side'?
In English, you lift something 'by' its handles or 'by' the side, but Dutch uses aan. This preposition indicates physical contact or attachment, and it is the standard choice when talking about grabbing, holding, or carrying an object by a specific part.
Is de verhuizing the only word for 'the move'?
It is the specific word for moving your residence or office (derived from the verb verhuizen, meaning to move house). If you meant a physical movement of the body, like moving your arm or making a dance move, you would use de beweging instead.
How does tillen differ from placement verbs like leggen or zetten?
Tillen only refers to the physical act of lifting or carrying a heavy object. The verbs leggen (to lay down flat) and zetten (to place upright) describe what you do after you are done lifting—putting the object into its final resting position.