Ergens in deze buurt staat een opvallend huis met een blauwe deur.

Somewhere in this neighborhood there is a striking house with a blue door.

Breakdown of Ergens in deze buurt staat een opvallend huis met een blauwe deur.

• in: in
• het huis: the house
• de deur: the door
• met: with
• staan: to stand
• deze: this
• ergens: somewhere
• de buurt: the neighborhood
• opvallend: striking
• blauw: blue

Questions & Answers about Ergens in deze buurt staat een opvallend huis met een blauwe deur.

Why is the verb staat used instead of the English is in this sentence?

In Dutch, when talking about the location of a building or structure, it is common to use the verb staan (to stand). This usage emphasizes the physical positioning of the house. So, "Ergens in deze buurt staat een opvallend huis met een blauwe deur" literally means that somewhere in the neighborhood, an eye-catching house stands, rather than simply "is" there.

Why does the sentence begin with "Ergens in deze buurt" instead of starting with the subject?

Dutch sentences often follow a variation of the verb-second (V2) word order rule. When an adverbial or prepositional phrase like "Ergens in deze buurt" (somewhere in this neighborhood) is placed at the beginning of a sentence, the finite verb (staat) follows directly in the second position. This is why the subject, "een opvallend huis met een blauwe deur", comes after the verb.

Why does the adjective opvallend appear without an ending, while blauwe in "een blauwe deur" includes an -e?

This difference is due to Dutch adjective inflection rules that depend on the gender and definiteness of the noun they modify. Huis is a neuter noun (a het-word) and appears in the indefinite singular form, so adjectives modifying it typically remain uninflected (no -e added). In contrast, deur is a common gender noun (a de-word), so when used with an indefinite article, the adjective takes an -e ending, resulting in "een blauwe deur".

What role does ergens play in this sentence?

The word ergens means "somewhere" and indicates an unspecified location. It shows that the house is located in a certain part of the neighborhood, but without giving an exact address or position. Its placement at the beginning of the sentence also helps set the scene by introducing the location.

Why is the preposition met used in "met een blauwe deur"?

The preposition met in Dutch functions just like the English word "with". It connects the noun huis (house) to the descriptive detail about the door, specifying that the house features or is characterized by a blue door.

What does opvallend mean in the context of this sentence?

Opvallend translates to "striking," "eye-catching," or "remarkable." It describes the house as being noticeable or distinct, likely because of its unusual design, color, or features that stand out in the neighborhood.