Ik ben klaar met het eten.

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Breakdown of Ik ben klaar met het eten.

• zijn: to be
• met: with
• klaar: finished

Questions & Answers about Ik ben klaar met het eten.

What does klaar mean in this sentence?

In this context, klaar means "finished" or "done." So, Ik ben klaar met het eten translates to "I am finished with the food" (i.e., I’m done eating). Although klaar can sometimes mean "ready," here it clearly indicates that the action of eating has been completed.

Why is the preposition met used after klaar?

The preposition met links the adjective klaar with what is finished—in this case, het eten (the food). In Dutch, when expressing that you’re done with something, the phrase klaar met is used, similar to saying "done with" in English.

How would I express the idea of having finished eating using a different structure in Dutch?

Another common way to express that you have finished eating is by using the verb hebben in the present perfect form. For example, you could say Ik heb gegeten, which translates to "I have eaten." However, Ik ben klaar met het eten places emphasis on the fact that you are now finished with the eating process.

Can klaar mean both "ready" and "finished"? How do I know which meaning is intended?