……
Questions & Answers about Hij is voorbereid op de maaltijd.
What does the word voorbereid mean in this sentence?
It means prepared or ready. In this context, it indicates that he has already taken the necessary steps or actions to be ready for the meal.
Why is the preposition op used after voorbereid?
In Dutch, certain adjectives require a specific preposition to link them with the object they refer to. Here, voorbereid op translates to prepared for, so op de maaltijd means for the meal.
What role does the definite article de play in de maaltijd?
The article de is used with common gender nouns in Dutch. Since maaltijd (meal) is a common gender noun, it takes de to form the definite phrase, much like the word the in English.
How is the sentence structure of “Hij is voorbereid op de maaltijd” similar to or different from English?
The basic structure is quite similar. The sentence follows a Subject (Hij), Verb (is), Predicate Adjective (voorbereid), and a Prepositional Phrase (op de maaltijd). This mirrors the English sentence “He is prepared for the meal,” although more complex Dutch sentences might have a different word order.
Is voorbereid merely an adjective here, or does it have any connection to a past participle form?
Voorbereid originates from the verb voorbereiden (to prepare) and does resemble a past participle. However, in this sentence, it functions as a predicate adjective describing his state. Thus, while its form is similar to a past participle, it simply serves as an adjective meaning prepared.
More from this lesson
AI Language TutorTry it ↗
“What's the best way to learn Dutch grammar?”
Dutch grammar becomes intuitive with practice. Focus on understanding the core patterns first — how sentences are structured, how verbs change form, and how words relate to each other. Our course breaks these concepts into small lessons so you can build understanding step by step.
Sign up free — start using our AI language tutor
Start learning DutchMaster Dutch — from Hij is voorbereid op de maaltijd to fluency
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods.
- ✓ Infinitely deep — unlimited vocabulary and grammar
- ✓ Fast-paced — build complex sentences from the start
- ✓ Unforgettable — efficient spaced repetition system
- ✓ AI tutor to answer your grammar questions