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Questions & Answers about Wij dragen de boeken in de auto.
What is the meaning of dragen in this sentence, and can it have other translations in Dutch?
Dragen means "carry" in this context, referring to the act of physically moving something from one place to another. Note that while dragen can also mean "wear" when talking about clothes, in this sentence it clearly denotes carrying the books.
How is the sentence structured in terms of word order, and how does that relate to English sentence structure?
The sentence follows the typical Dutch word order:
• Wij (subject)
• dragen (verb)
• de boeken (direct object)
• in de auto (prepositional phrase indicating location)
This order is very similar to the English structure “We carry the books in the car.”
Why are the definite articles de used before both boeken and auto, and what do they signify?
In Dutch, many nouns use de as the definite article. Boeken is the plural form of boek, and auto is a common gender singular noun. Using de specifies particular items—just like "the" is used in English. The choice of de or het depends on the gender and number of the noun.
How does the prepositional phrase in de auto function in this sentence?
The prepositional phrase in de auto indicates the location where the action is taking place. It tells us that the books are being carried inside the car. This is directly comparable to the English phrase “in the car.”
What tense is the verb dragen in, and how does that compare to the English equivalent?
Dragen is in the present tense, corresponding to the English present simple as in “We carry the books.” It indicates that the action is happening in the present moment.
What is the role of the subject Wij, and how does it compare to the English "we"?
Wij means "we" in English. Although Dutch speakers sometimes use the shorter we, using wij adds emphasis or clarity to the subject. It functions in the same way as "we", specifying who is performing the action.