De wekker staat op de tafel naast het bed.

The alarm clock is on the table next to the bed.

Breakdown of De wekker staat op de tafel naast het bed.

• de tafel: the table
• staan: to stand
• naast: next to
• het bed: the bed
• de wekker: the alarm clock

Questions & Answers about De wekker staat op de tafel naast het bed.

Why does Dutch use staat (literally “stands”) instead of ligt (literally “lies”) or other verbs?

In Dutch, staat can simply mean “is positioned” rather than strictly “stands.” Dutch often uses staan, liggen, zitten, or hangen to describe an object’s placement, depending on the object’s orientation or shape. For an alarm clock placed upright, staat is the most neutral choice.

Why do we say op de tafel and not something like aan de tafel?

Op de tafel means “on the table,” implying the alarm clock is physically resting atop the table’s surface. Aan de tafel would suggest something attached or next to the table in a different way (like sitting “at the table” for a meal), so it doesn’t fit this situation.

Is it possible to say De wekker ligt op de tafel instead of De wekker staat op de tafel?

It can be understood, but it slightly changes how the placement of the alarm clock is perceived. Ligt might imply it’s lying down or not in an upright position. Generally, an alarm clock is seen as standing, so staat is more common.

How do I know when to use de versus het?

The words de and het are articles used with nouns in Dutch. De is for most nouns (both masculine and feminine) and all plural nouns. Het is used for certain neuter nouns. Unfortunately, there’s no simple rule, so memorization or exposure is key. Tafel takes de, while bed takes het.

Are there any other ways to say next to the bed in Dutch?

Commonly you’ll see naast het bed, which means exactly “next to the bed.” You could also say bij het bed, though that could imply “near the bed” without necessarily directly beside it. Naast is the more precise preposition when you mean “immediately next to.”