Breakdown of Ik leg de kabel naast de stoel.
ik
I
de stoel
the chair
naast
next to
leggen
to put
de kabel
the cable
Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Dutch grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about Ik leg de kabel naast de stoel.
What is the role of the verb form leg in this sentence?
Leg is the first-person singular present tense form of the verb leggen (to lay or to put). It tells us that the speaker, Ik (I), is performing the action right now.
Why do both kabel and stoel use the article de?
In Dutch, de is the definite article used for common gender nouns. Both kabel (cable) and stoel (chair) are common gender, so they both take de rather than het, which is reserved for neuter nouns.
How does the preposition naast function in this sentence?
The preposition naast means next to, indicating the spatial relationship between the cable and the chair. It shows that the cable is placed adjacent to or beside the chair.
What is the overall structure of the sentence compared to English word order?
The sentence follows a Subject-Verb-Object-Prepositional Phrase structure: Ik (subject), leg (verb), de kabel (object), naast de stoel (prepositional phrase). This is very similar to English ("I lay the cable next to the chair"), making it easier for English speakers to grasp.
Could another preposition or verb form be used, and what would be the effect?
While naast specifically means next to, using a different preposition like bij (meaning at or near) might slightly change the spatial nuance. Also, using a different verb tense (for example, legde for the past tense) would shift the time frame of the action. It’s important to choose the correct preposition and tense to match the intended meaning.