Zet de kom op de tafel en vul hem met water.

the water

Breakdown of Zet de kom op de tafel en vul hem met water.

• en: and
• de tafel: the table
• met: with
• zetten: to put
• op: on
• de kom: the bowl
• vullen: to fill
• hem: it

Questions & Answers about Zet de kom op de tafel en vul hem met water.

What does the verb zet mean in this sentence?

Zet is the imperative form of the verb zetten, which means "to put" or "to set." In this command, it instructs someone to put the bowl on the table.

What does the verb vul mean in this context?

Vul is the imperative form of the verb vullen, meaning "to fill." Here, it directs the listener to fill the bowl with water.

How does the pronoun hem function, and why is it used instead of a neuter pronoun like "het"?

Although hem might look like it refers to a masculine person in English, in Dutch it is the correct object pronoun for common gender nouns. Since kom is a de-word (a noun using the article de), hem is used to refer back to it—even though the bowl is an inanimate object.

Why does the sentence combine two imperative commands connected by en?

The sentence contains two actions: first placing the bowl on the table and then filling it with water. The conjunction en ("and") links these commands into a single, cohesive instruction, indicating that both actions should be performed in sequence.

What is the function of the prepositional phrase op de tafel in the instruction?

Op de tafel translates to "on the table." It clearly specifies the location where the bowl should be placed when you follow the command.

Why is there no article before water in vul hem met water?

In Dutch, just like in English, uncountable nouns such as water are typically used without an article when referring to them in a general sense. Thus, met water means "with water" without the need for a definite or indefinite article.