Breakdown of Die trockene Wäsche gehört ordentlich gefaltet.
ordentlich
tidy / neat
trocken
dry
die Wäsche
the laundry
gehören
to need to be (done)
falten
to fold
Questions & Answers about Die trockene Wäsche gehört ordentlich gefaltet.
Why is gehört used here? Doesn't gehören usually mean "to belong"?
While gehören normally means "to belong", combining it with a past participle (like gefaltet) creates a passive alternative. This structure expresses that something needs to be done or should be done. So, gehört ... gefaltet translates to "needs to be folded".
How would I write this sentence using the standard passive voice?
To express the exact same meaning with the standard passive, you would use the modal verb müssen (must) alongside the passive infinitive: Die trockene Wäsche muss ordentlich gefaltet werden.
Is the gehören + past participle construction appropriate for formal writing?
No, this is a colloquial structure mostly used in everyday spoken German. It is especially common in southern Germany and Austria. For formal writing, you should stick to the standard passive with müssen or sollen.
Why does the adjective trockene end in just an -e?
Since Wäsche is a feminine noun and acts as the subject (nominative case) here, the adjective takes a weak ending after the definite article die. The weak ending for feminine nominative is -e, giving us die trockene Wäsche.
Does ordentlich just mean "neatly" here?
Yes. While ordentlich often means "tidy" or "orderly" when describing a noun, it functions as an adverb here describing how the laundry should be folded. In this context, it translates best to "neatly" or "properly".
Learn Die trockene Wäsche gehört ordentlich gefaltet and more in German
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
- ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
- ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free