Er ligt geld op de tafel.

There is money on the table.

Breakdown of Er ligt geld op de tafel.

• de tafel: the table
• liggen: to lie
• het geld: the money
• er: there

Questions & Answers about Er ligt geld op de tafel.

Why is er used in this sentence?

In Dutch, er often acts as a placeholder or introductory word when talking about the existence or location of something. It helps structure the sentence before you identify what is lying on the table.

Why do we say ligt instead of a more direct verb like is?

In Dutch, verbs like liggen (to lie), staan (to stand), and zitten (to sit) are commonly used to describe the position of objects. Ligt implies that the money is lying flat on the table.

Is it necessary to say op de tafel rather than just op tafel?

In everyday Dutch, both op de tafel and op tafel can be used. Adding de makes it more specific ("the table"), whereas op tafel might feel a bit more general. Both are correct, but op de tafel is more explicit.

Why is there no article before geld?

Geld is usually treated as an uncountable or mass noun in Dutch. Since we’re talking about an unspecified amount of money, we don’t use an article. If we were referring to a specific sum, we might add more detail instead.

Could we use er staat geld op de tafel?

Generally, staat suggests something is standing upright. Money lying on a surface is more naturally described with ligt. You might use staat in situations where the object is tall or upright, like a bottle or a vase.