Breakdown of We zetten elkaars mokken naast het koffiezetapparaat.
naast
next to
we
we (unstressed form of wij)
zetten
to make (coffee/tea) / to put
elkaars
each other's
de mok
the mug
het koffiezetapparaat
the coffee maker
Questions & Answers about We zetten elkaars mokken naast het koffiezetapparaat.
How does elkaars work here? Do I need to change it if the noun is singular or plural?
No, elkaars never changes. It is the possessive form of elkaar (each other), created simply by adding an -s. Just like "each other's" in English, it stays exactly the same whether the noun following it is a de-word, a het-word, singular, or plural.
Why use zetten for putting the mugs down? Could I use leggen?
You should use zetten here because mugs normally stand upright on a base. In Dutch, you use zetten (to set/stand) when putting objects in an upright position. If you used leggen (to lay), it would imply you are knocking the mugs over to lay them flat on their sides!
Why is it het koffiezetapparaat and not de?
Is the zet in koffiezetapparaat the same word as the verb zetten at the beginning of the sentence?
Yes! Zetten is a very versatile verb. While it means "to put" or "to place" (as in we zetten), it is also the specific verb used for brewing coffee or tea (koffie zetten). So a koffiezetapparaat literally translates to a "coffee-brewing-machine".
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