De kleding ligt op de tafel.

the table

Breakdown of De kleding ligt op de tafel.

• liggen: to lie
• de kleding: the clothing

Questions & Answers about De kleding ligt op de tafel.

Why do we use ligt in De kleding ligt op de tafel instead of staat or is?

In Dutch, different verbs are used to describe how an object is positioned. Liggen typically suggests something is lying horizontally or in a relaxed position. Staan is used if something is upright (like a bottle). While in English you might simply say is, Dutch more often uses these specific positioning verbs.

What does kleding refer to in Dutch?

Kleding is a general term for clothes or clothing. It can encompass various items of clothing (shirts, pants, dresses, etc.), but it’s treated as a singular collective noun rather than a plural.

Why is the article de used before kleding and tafel?

In Dutch, nouns have a grammatical gender: either de words (common gender) or het words (neuter). Kleding and tafel are both de words, so they always take the article de.

What does the preposition op mean in this context?

Op translates to on in English. It indicates that the clothing is resting on the surface of the table, not inside or underneath it.

Could we say aan de tafel instead of op de tafel?

No, aan de tafel in Dutch usually means at the table (as in sitting at the table), which suggests a different context. To show the clothing is resting on top, you need op de tafel.

Is there any special word order rule in De kleding ligt op de tafel?

Dutch typically follows a Subject–Verb–Object word order in simple declarative sentences. Here: • De kleding (subject) • ligt (verb) • op de tafel (prepositional object / adjunct)

The emphasis is on what lies where, so the order is quite straightforward.