Breakdown of Dat oude schilderij is een belangrijk erfstuk.
zijn
to be
een
a/an
oud
old
dat
that (het-words)
het schilderij
the painting
belangrijk
important
het erfstuk
the heirloom
Questions & Answers about Dat oude schilderij is een belangrijk erfstuk.
Why does oude get an -e but belangrijk does not, given that both nouns are het words?
This is a great refresher on adjective endings. Schilderij and erfstuk are indeed both het words. However, schilderij is preceded by dat (a specific demonstrative pronoun), so its adjective gets an -e. Erfstuk is preceded by the indefinite article een, and het words after een take the bare adjective without an -e.
What are the component parts of the word erfstuk?
It is a compound of erf (from the verb erven, meaning to inherit) and stuk (piece or item). Literally, it means an inherited piece, which perfectly translates to heirloom.
Since this lesson is about possessive locative states, how would I use that structure to say 'I have that old painting hanging in the hall'?
You would use the structure hebben + direct object + posture verb. Because a painting naturally hangs, the posture verb is hangen. The sentence becomes: Ik heb dat oude schilderij in de gang hangen.
Could I use staan instead of hangen if the painting isn't mounted on the wall yet?
Yes! If the painting is resting on the floor or leaning against a wall, you would use staan (to stand) instead of hangen. For example: Ik heb dat schilderij op de grond staan.
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