Word
De ober is de krukken op aan het stapelen.
Meaning
The waiter is stacking up the stools.
Part of speech
sentence
Pronunciation
Course
Breakdown of De ober is de krukken op aan het stapelen.
zijn
to be
de ober
the waiter
de kruk
the stool
opstapelen
to stack up
Questions & Answers about De ober is de krukken op aan het stapelen.
Why is the prefix op separated from stapelen and placed before aan het?
The verb in this sentence is the separable verb opstapelen (to stack up). In spoken and informal Dutch, the prefix of a separable verb is often split from the main verb in the continuous form. Instead of using the standard format aan het opstapelen, native speakers frequently put the prefix before the continuous marker, resulting in op aan het stapelen.
Would it be incorrect to say is de krukken aan het opstapelen instead?
Why does the direct object de krukken appear before the continuous phrase?
In a Dutch continuous sentence using aan het, the direct object must come before the entire continuous phrase. Because of this strict word order rule, de krukken has to precede op aan het stapelen.
Does the word krukken have another common meaning here?
Yes, the noun kruk can mean either a stool (a seat without a back) or a crutch (a medical walking aid). While a waiter could technically be stacking crutches left behind by patrons, the context of closing up a bar or restaurant makes stools the obvious translation here.