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Questions & Answers about Ik wil de hond binnenlaten.
What does binnenlaten mean, and why is it written as one word?
Binnenlaten is a separable verb made of binnen (inside) and laten (to let). In its infinitive form—particularly after a modal like wil—the two parts stay together and are spelled as one word. When binnenlaten functions as the main verb without a modal, you split it: Ik laat de hond binnen (I let the dog in).
Why is wil placed before de hond binnenlaten instead of at the end?
Dutch main clauses follow the verb‑second (V2) rule: the finite verb (wil) must occupy the second position. After the subject (ik), wil comes next, and the rest of the verb phrase (de hond binnenlaten) goes to the very end of the clause.
Could I say Ik laat de hond binnen instead of Ik wil de hond binnenlaten?
Yes—but the meanings differ.
- Ik laat de hond binnen means I let the dog in (present action).
- Ik wil de hond binnenlaten means I want to let the dog in (expressing desire with the modal wil plus infinitive).
How do I form the perfect tense of binnenlaten?
With separable verbs, the past participle inserts ge between the prefix and the verb root: binnen + gelaten = binnengelaten.
So: Ik heb de hond binnengelaten (I have let the dog in).
What’s the difference between binnenlaten and binnenkomen?
- Binnenlaten (“to let in”) is an action you perform on someone/something.
- Binnenkomen (“to come in”) describes someone/something entering by itself.
Examples:
• Ik wil de hond binnenlaten. (I want to let the dog in.)
• Ik wil dat de hond binnenkomt. (I want the dog to come in.)
Why do I need dat in Ik wil dat de hond binnenkomt but not in Ik wil de hond binnenlaten?
In Ik wil dat de hond binnenkomt, you’re using wil to introduce a subordinate clause (“that the dog comes in”), so Dutch requires dat. In Ik wil de hond binnenlaten, you use wil directly with an infinitive (binnenlaten), so no dat is needed.
Can I use naar binnen instead of binnen?
Yes. Naar binnen (“toward inside”) highlights movement into a space. You can say:
Ik wil de hond naar binnen laten.
Here laten is the verb, and naar binnen is a prepositional phrase indicating direction.
Why is it de hond and not het hond?
Dutch nouns are either common gender (use de) or neuter gender (use het). Hond is common gender, so the correct article is de.