Ik zet de sleutel op de tafel.

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Breakdown of Ik zet de sleutel op de tafel.

• de tafel: the table
• de sleutel: the key
• zetten: to put
• op: on

Questions & Answers about Ik zet de sleutel op de tafel.

What does the word zet mean in this sentence?

The word zet is the first-person singular present form of the verb zetten, which means to put or place. In this sentence, it indicates that I am placing the key on the table.

How do I know which definite article to use with sleutel and tafel?

In Dutch, every noun is associated with a specific definite article. Both sleutel (key) and tafel (table) are common gender nouns, so they take the article de. (Note that neuter nouns take het.)

What is the role of the preposition op in this sentence?

The preposition op translates to on in English. It indicates the location of an object—in this case, showing that the key is placed on the table.

What is the sentence structure in Ik zet de sleutel op de tafel, and can it be rearranged?

The sentence follows the typical Dutch word order for main clauses: Subject (Ik) + Conjugated Verb (zet) + Object (de sleutel) + Prepositional Phrase (op de tafel). While this is the standard order, Dutch allows for reordering (especially for emphasis) as long as the conjugated verb remains in the second position.

Why might the word order change in a sentence like De sleutel zet ik op de tafel, and what does it imply?

Reordering the sentence to De sleutel zet ik op de tafel serves to emphasize de sleutel (the key). This fronting technique puts the object at the beginning for contrast or emphasis, while keeping the conjugated verb in the second slot. The overall meaning remains the same, but the focus shifts to highlight the key.