Breakdown of Het vliegtuig staat al klaar, maar we mogen nog niet instappen.
niet
not
maar
but
wij
we
staan
to stand
al
already
klaar
ready
mogen
may
het vliegtuig
the airplane
nog
yet
instappen
to board
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Questions & Answers about Het vliegtuig staat al klaar, maar we mogen nog niet instappen.
Why is het used with vliegtuig?
In Dutch, nouns are classified as de‑words or het‑words. Vliegtuig is a neuter noun, so it takes the article het rather than de.
What does staat al klaar literally mean?
Word for word, staat means “stands” or “is positioned,” al means “already,” and klaar means “ready.” Together they form the idiom staat al klaar, which translates as “is already ready” or “is standing by.”
Why use staan with klaar instead of zijn?
Dutch often uses staan with certain adjectives (like klaar) to express a state of readiness resulting from preparation. Klaarstaan (“to stand ready”) emphasizes that the plane is set up and waiting. You could also say is klaar, but staat klaar is more idiomatic in this context.
What is the function of al in staat al klaar?
Al means “already.” It indicates that the action (being ready) is completed by now, perhaps sooner than expected.
Why do we say nog niet and not niet nog?
Nog niet is the fixed Dutch expression for “not yet.” Nog (“still/yet”) always comes before niet (“not”) to convey that something hasn’t happened up to this point.
What meaning does mogen have in we mogen nog niet instappen?
Here mogen is a modal verb meaning “to be allowed to.” So we mogen nog niet instappen means “we are not yet allowed to board,” expressing lack of permission rather than inability.
Why does instappen stay together instead of splitting into in and stappen?
Instappen is a separable verb, but when used as an infinitive (after another verb like mogen), the prefix remains attached. Only finite forms split: e.g. Ik stap in (I board).
Why isn’t there a preposition like in het vliegtuig before instappen?
The verb instappen already implies entering a vehicle or aircraft. The context makes it clear you’re talking about the plane, so in het vliegtuig is optional. You could add it for emphasis: we mogen nog niet in het vliegtuig instappen.
What role does maar play, and why is there a comma before it?
Maar is the coordinating conjunction “but,” linking the two contrasting main clauses. In Dutch, you typically place a comma before maar when it connects independent clauses.
Why is mogen the second element after maar, and instappen placed at the end?
In Dutch main clauses, the finite verb must occupy the second position. After the conjunction maar, the order is: maar (1), subject we (2), finite verb mogen (3). As an infinitive, instappen goes to the end of the clause.