Breakdown of De crème ruikt aangenaam en smeert makkelijk uit.
makkelijk
easy
ruiken
to smell
uitsmeren
to spread
de crème
the cream
aangenaam
pleasant
Questions & Answers about De crème ruikt aangenaam en smeert makkelijk uit.
Why is the active verb smeert used if the cream isn't spreading something itself?
This is the facilitive middle voice, the focus of this lesson. Dutch often uses an active verb with an adverb of manner (here, makkelijk) to describe how an object experiences an action. It translates perfectly to the English phrase 'spreads easily'.
Where does the word uit at the end of the sentence come from?
It belongs to the separable verb uitsmeren, which means to spread out or rub in (like lotion or butter). Because this is a main clause, the verb splits, and the prefix uit is sent to the very end of the sentence.
Is ruikt aangenaam also an example of the facilitive middle voice?
Not quite. The verb ruiken (to smell) is a sensory verb acting like a linking verb here, just connecting the subject to a quality. The middle voice specifically takes an action verb that usually requires a direct object (like uitsmeren) and uses it without one to describe how the object handles the action.
Why isn't there an -e at the end of aangenaam or makkelijk?
Both words are acting as adverbs in this sentence, describing the verbs ruikt and smeert uit. In Dutch, adverbs take the base form of the adjective and never get an -e ending.
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