Breakdown of We krijgen de kast niet stevig totdat we de achterwand monteren.
niet
not
wij
we
de kast
the cabinet / the closet
krijgen
to get (receive)
Questions & Answers about We krijgen de kast niet stevig totdat we de achterwand monteren.
How does krijgen work in this sentence to mean getting the cabinet stable?
Here krijgen is used in a resultative construction: krijgen + direct object (de kast) + adjective (stevig). At this level, it is important to know that this structure implies making an effort to achieve a certain state. It translates closely to the English concept of getting something into a certain state, but in Dutch, it strongly emphasizes the struggle or effort involved in reaching that specific result.
Why does niet come right before stevig?
In Dutch, niet generally comes immediately before the specific word it negates. Here, you are specifically negating the result (stevig), meaning the effort to make it sturdy is failing. The structure remains intact: object (de kast) + niet + adjective (stevig).
Could I use stabiel instead of stevig here?
You could, but stevig is much more natural for physical objects like wooden furniture. Stevig means sturdy, solid, or firm, which fits perfectly with assembling a cabinet. Stabiel is often used more abstractly for things like a stable economy or a stable patient, though it would be understood here.
Why is the verb monteren at the very end of the sentence?