Hij krijgt promotie.

Breakdown of Hij krijgt promotie.

hij
he
krijgen
to get
de promotie
the promotion
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Questions & Answers about Hij krijgt promotie.

What does krijgt mean in this sentence?
Krijgt is the third person singular present tense form of the verb krijgen, which means “to get” or “to receive.” In this context, it indicates that he is receiving his promotion.
Why is there no article before promotie?
In Dutch, when certain nouns are used idiomatically or refer to a general idea, the article can be omitted. In the sentence Hij krijgt promotie, promotie is used in an abstract sense (referring to the idea of a promotion as a status change) rather than a specific instance, so no article (like een or de) is needed.
How does Hij krijgt promotie compare to Hij wordt gepromoveerd?
Both sentences express that he is being promoted, but there’s a subtle difference in construction. Hij krijgt promotie emphasizes that he is receiving the promotion (focusing on the result), while Hij wordt gepromoveerd uses a passive construction that highlights the process of being promoted by someone else. In everyday speech, Hij krijgt promotie is often preferred to indicate that promotion is the reward or benefit he’s receiving.
Does promotie only refer to a job promotion, or can it have other meanings?
Although in many contexts promotie refers to a job promotion, it can also mean the act of obtaining a PhD (in which case people might talk about one’s “promotie” in an academic setting). The intended meaning is usually clear from context; in Hij krijgt promotie, it’s understood that the promotion is work-related.
What is the structure of this sentence and how does it compare to English?
The sentence Hij krijgt promotie follows a straightforward subject-verb-object order: Hij (subject), krijgt (verb), and promotie (object). This structure is very similar to English (“He gets promotion” or “He gets a promotion”), making it easier for English speakers to recognize and construct such sentences in Dutch.