Breakdown of Ze zijn bezig met de uitbreiding van de fabriek.
zijn
to be
met
with
van
from (possession, starting point) / made of
ze
they; she (unstressed form of zij) / them (object)
de fabriek
the factory
bezig
busy (occupied, engaged)
de uitbreiding
the expansion
Questions & Answers about Ze zijn bezig met de uitbreiding van de fabriek.
How does the suffix -ing work with a separable verb like uitbreiden?
When you turn a separable verb into a noun using the -ing suffix, the prefix (uit-) and the verb stem (breid) stay glued together before adding -ing. You don't split them up like you would in a normal main clause. So, uit + breid + ing simply becomes uitbreiding (expansion).
How do I know whether to use de or het for uitbreiding?
Nouns ending in the suffix -ing are always de words. This is a very reliable rule in Dutch! Because they are grammatically feminine, you will always say de uitbreiding (the expansion), just like de vergadering (the meeting) or de beslissing (the decision).
Could I say het uitbreiden instead of de uitbreiding in this sentence?
Yes, but there is a subtle difference in nuance. Het uitbreiden (using the whole infinitive as a noun) emphasizes the physical, ongoing action of 'the expanding'. De uitbreiding uses the -ing suffix to refer to the broader concept, the project phase, or the final result of 'the expansion'. Both work perfectly here.
Is bezig zijn met the standard way to say they are 'working on' the factory?
Exactly! While it literally translates to 'to be busy with', the fixed expression bezig zijn met is the most natural and common way in Dutch to say you are currently 'working on', 'engaged in', or 'occupied with' a specific task or project.
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