Breakdown of De kinderen maken ruzie met elkaar.
het kind
the child
elkaar
each other
ruzie maken
to quarrel
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Questions & Answers about De kinderen maken ruzie met elkaar.
Why do we use maken ruzie to say "quarrel"?
In Dutch, arguing or quarreling is expressed with the fixed phrase ruzie maken, which literally means "to make an argument" or "to make a fight". The noun ruzie works together with the verb maken.
How does elkaar work with the preposition met in this sentence?
The word elkaar translates directly to "each other". Just like in English, you argue with someone. We combine the preposition met (with) and elkaar to create the phrase met elkaar (with each other).
Why is the word order maken ruzie met elkaar and not maken met elkaar ruzie?
In a standard Dutch main clause, the direct object (ruzie) usually comes immediately after the verb (maken). Prepositional phrases like met elkaar are usually placed later in the sentence.
Will I ever hear a different word used instead of elkaar here?
Yes, you might hear native speakers say mekaar instead. It means the exact same thing, but it is an informal, spoken version of the word. When writing or taking a test, you should always stick to elkaar.